clawsfour

When the music has to stop

In the mid 70s about 50 Saints supporters, me included, were chased up Milton Road by around 500 Manchester United fans. Modern football hooliganism in England was about to reach a peak that would last for nearly a decade.

On the terraces it was a weekly bloodbath. Along with thousands of others I left the game I loved to the thugs. Off the terraces it was a weekly game of who's to blame - football or society. But the game went on. At no time during the decade of despair was a game called off because of the possibility of disorder.

And the hooligans were contained and convicted. Football was regained by supporters from those who came to bury the opposition, not to praise them.

Last night, two cup games were called off because of the possibility of disorder. An international game at Wembley has been called off for the same reason. Not because of a threat from rival crews threatening to take their loathing for the other team to the streets and the terraces with blades and zip guns. But because a few hundred teenage hoodies might be helping themselves to a new mobile from a shop window.

With the Tory government absent without leave (well, on leave actually - that's the problem) and the police seemingly paralysed, trainee hooligans and their older siblings are having a riot. And unfortunately football supporters are missing the opportunity to make a real stand.

Instead, what is claimed to be traditional terrace humour has just been chants to invade Tesco. Idiotic supporters on twitter have repeated the same nonsense. And have cried foul when the police have taken it seriously. The England players - hardly role models - issued a statement condemning the recent thuggery and urging people to turn away from violence. It's time for football fans to finally renounce their hooligan history and be unequivocal and consistent in their condemnation too.

So don't praise Nick Griffin and the racist BNP for 'protecting' the streets just because a few footie scarves are being warn. And don't sing songs that encourage violence, even as a joke.

On the terraces at Southampton the song still reverberates about "shooting the Pompey scum" - deliberately louder and more frequent when we are on TV. It's not funny. It's certainly not clever. It's no different in intent to the sectarian garbage which blights some games north of the border.

There must always be a passion about our game. Saints must always be better than Pompey. It goes without saying. But you can be passionate without encouraging violence, even in jest.

I don't sing about shooting fellow supporters. Never have, never will.

It's time for football fans, once again, to stand up to thuggery. And it's time the music (or at least the violent and sectarian music) stopped once and for all.

Can Saints learn to love the Sinners?

The current plight of Portsmouth Football club is not something that any football fan would be happy about. Although it is tempting for Saints fans given the lack of sympathy from Pompey when we were days from liquidation in the summer of 2009.

I'm not a great fan of the hatred that some football fans exhibit toward each other. I want to see Pompey survive so that the mighty Saints can thrash them on the football pitch. I have always refused to sing the crude anthem about "shooting the Pompey scum" because football should be about entertainment rather than murder. And anyhow we have perfectly acceptable, family friendly song about sparrows with cow sized arses which can shit on the Pompey bastards below. Below.

However, the situation is there. Pompey may be going bust. And we Saints fans have to accept that in a mature and responsible way. Fortunately the very source of the doom of Portsmouth FC may be the saviour of the Saints fan's morale compass.

The Revenue. Her Majesty's Inspector of Taxes. They have served the winding up order on Portsmouth FC. And there is the solution. For Portsmouth. And more importantly for Saints fans everywhere.

When you can't pay your taxes, there is occasionally the opportunity to gift your possessions in lieu of the tax. We often here of works or art being gifted to the nation as payment of taxes. So why not the whole club in this case?

Portsmouth FC could become the first nationalised football club. The whole of its assets - ground, players, the whole lot - could be gifted to the nation to pay its tax bill. And who better to manage the club for the nation but the National Trust.

And this is where it gets better and better for Saints fans. Fratton Park would have to be preserved as it now is. Obviously opening once a week during the season. There could be tours - coaches by arrangement, and let's face it, Pompey having a coach would need some arranging.

Of course, there would be some benefit for Pompey fans too. No National Trust property would be without a decent cafe, so that would be a nice change. 

But there is a serious side to this too. Football is in a complete financial mess and it will probably need a big club to go out out of business to make people really take notice  of what is going on. Whether Pompey is big enough - if they do go bust - to make people care time will tell. Personally I hope they survive.

On the other hand, I hope that Harry Redknap, who has ruined every club he has been involved with, gets everything he deserves.

Oh F............

Just close your eyes and listen. The script almost completely reflects my view of the half time scores in Championship today. Let's home for better in the next 45 minutes.

Just keep the faith