Should I support Fulham?

[TrippyLondoner]

Yep they sure are, from what ive seen. Can you even call them fans??

 

[bluestreak]

Do you remember that riot they had when about 30 of them held off a couple hundred cops for ages.

I want to take that video to anarchist meetings, and do a compare and contrast to our protests.

"Now gentlemen, how is it that a 1000 anarchists can be held in check by 300 cops, but 300 cops can't contrain 2 dozen Millwall fans?"

 

[scalyboy]

I support Citeh and always will be a Mancky Blue, but living in London and often working weekends I don't get to see them except on away fixtures.

Which is fine, but I miss me footie on a Saturday.

I was thinking of supporting Fulham as a kind of second string thing. There's some nice pubs near Craven Cottage, and I don't reckon it would bve over pricey.

Thoughts?

Yes definitely. We have a great old 'stadium', lovely river views, nice walk/ to from the ground, good pubs as you have already noted, a team that tries to play proper passing football, friendly fans, eccentric chairman - what more could you ask for.

Only thing is, it may not be Premiership football next season...

 

[scalyboy]

Millwall fans? Pleasant? Jesus, they're fucking mentalists.

I remember when they used to come to Craven Cottage, f***ing terrifying. Very good support, they would fill the away end (and take ours) and do that primeval 'Mill-waaaaaaaallll' chant that chilled the blood. You know the one - one of 'em would start "Milllll", slowly, and gradually they'd all join in, "MMMiiiilllll" - then it would descend 4 notes and fade away on the "Waaaaaaaaaaaaaallll". Then repeat, over and over again.

They all joined in, even the old fellers.

Impressive - an eerie sound.

 

[hendo]

Only thing is, it may not be Premiership football next season...

I'm used to that. In a weird way supporting Citeh in the lower leagues was a lot of fun, maybe more fun than it is now although easier because they score goals. But I even enjoyed Luton, as I recall.

I was at the riot with the Millwall fans, because thety were attacking the police to get through to us standing in the car park. It was the only time when I've been genuinely frightened at a football match.

 

[Donna Ferentes]

Dulwich Hamlet mate.

Quite.

 

[tommers]

Do you remember that riot they had when about 30 of them held off a couple hundred cops for ages.

I work really close to the ground. We've had a couple of tenants chased onto the project by Millwall fans who have then beaten the crap out of them. This was partly the reason why we installed a big metal gate, CCTV and a new wall.

The annual BNP march starts from the Millwall pub opposite. They are the only club I know of that feels the need to devote a large part of their seating to a "kick racism out of football" banner.

 

[co-op]

Transport's an issue, I never drive to footie.

I went to Brentford's place once, is there a chippie? It's got a tube hasn't it?

Crystal Palace is nearish to my place, so there's another option. What are the pubs like there?

Did you go to that FA Cup game vs Citeh when it was frozen off and then played a couple of weeks later? Georgi Klinkladze had a classic big-star non-event of a game , that one? I think Brentford gave a 17 year-old Marcus Bent a run out for the last 20 minutes (should have given him longer imo, uncharacteristic caution from Big Dave Webb in the Bee's dugout there)

The nearest tubes are a way off from Brentford, but there's an overground station really near and it's only 30 mins from Waterloo, much easier. Nice ground and they need the support at the moment - actually they always need the support as they are chronically short of cash. Good pubs round the ground + if you are feeling energetic you can stroll over to Kew Green (about a mile) and drink over there. The main downside is going to be Terry Butcher as manager....

First game I ever went to was at Griffin Park, they beat Bradford City 4-0, must have been 1976-7 season I think, cost me 12p to get in...

/end nostalgia


I have been following Palace over the last couple of decades of south London living so I can't really be unbiased here - but the pubs are mostly pretty bad! Personal favourites are the Cherry Trees at Norwood Junction station, fairly welcoming to one and all I'd have said or the Selhurst Arms, but that's a bit more of a Palace fans pub.

I don't think the ground's as bad as people say - the Away section is apparently utter shite (literally I hear) which may explain the rep. but the Holmesdale End is a great place to watch football from and has a decent bar (the Red and Blue) upstairs which is warm and fairly good service. The bars in the lower tier are way too crowded and hard to get served at. The Main Stand and the Arthur Wait are also ok - you just have to get to know where to sit to not have a pillar in front of the goal. The Main Stand was designed by Archibald Leitch who designed many a classic football ground before WW1, including the old Ibrox and the mythical Shelf side at Tottenham. As far as I know this one is about the last proper Leitch stand left - living history mate!

The football will also be quite fun for a while, partly because Neil Warnock's getting everything excited but also because there are some seriously interesting young talents down there at the moment; Victor Moses, Sean Scannell, and John Bostock - the latter looks like he could well play for England one day to me, a really classy left-side midfielder who looks like a 25 year old but is only 17.


eta; agree with what people say about Millwall. Horrible bunch of wankers.

 

[hendo]

Did you go to that FA Cup game vs Citeh when it was frozen off and then played a couple of weeks later? Georgi Klinkladze had a classic big-star non-event of a game , that one? I think Brentford gave a 17 year-old Marcus Bent a run out for the last 20 minutes (should have given him longer imo, uncharacteristic caution from Big Dave Webb in the Bee's dugout there)

Yes I went to that match, the halftime cheerleaders made more of an impact than Kinky. Wonder what happened to him? I don't remeber Bent's substitution though. It was a friendly sort of ground and the fans were a family kind of group as I remember. Maybe it is Brentford.

 

[skyscraper101]

If you live in London surely you should support Man United?

 

[hendo]

If you live in London surely you should support Man United?

I don't want to be like everyon else. Anyway the London Manyoo fans have all defected to Chelski.

 

[Termite Man]

You can't support 2 premier league teams . You need to pick a team from League 1 as the highest possible league you should pick from to prevent any relegation/promotion scenarios resulting in both your teams being in the same league ( obviously if you were to support leeds and Derby then it's likely they will be playing each other next season so that would be a bad choice ) .

 

[co-op]

Maybe it is Brentford.

Hmm. My honeyed words of praise for Palace didn't do the trick...think of the bonds that unite our great clubs, think Stevie Coppell, think Eddie McGoldrick, oh hang on this isn't going to work is it...

 

[Andy the Don]

hey does anyone know a non league team in the norht london area??

Hendon
Harrow Borough
Wingate - Finchley
Boreham Wood
Northwood
Wealdstone
Wembley
Edgeware
Enfield Town

 

[Doctor Carrot]

Yeah support Fulham but it is quite an agonising thing to do though

 

[hendo]

You can't support 2 premier league teams . You need to pick a team from League 1 as the highest possible league you should pick from to prevent any relegation/promotion scenarios resulting in both your teams being in the same league ( obviously if you were to support leeds and Derby then it's likely they will be playing each other next season so that would be a bad choice ) .

This is true.

The danger is removed completely by supporting Brentford or Palace. But I can't face Selhurst Park it's horrid. So....Brentford? Or keep quiet about the Fulham thing to Citeh mates, a bit like having a mistress.

 

[Rollem]

do not support fulham under any circumstances hendo

no

no no no no

no

 

[JTG]

I can't imagine actually singing, it would feel false.

That's fine, you'd fit right in at Craven Cottage

Or most other grounds in London

 

[JTG]

fucking hell. that's got to be the most amazing thing I have ever read on the internet.

how many have you met? have you ever been to the ground? Honest question(s).

1) loads
2) loads

I speak from experience and not stereotypes.

 

[JTG]

I work really close to the ground. We've had a couple of tenants chased onto the project by Millwall fans who have then beaten the crap out of them. This was partly the reason why we installed a big metal gate, CCTV and a new wall.

How does this reflect on all Millwall fans?

The annual BNP march starts from the Millwall pub opposite. They are the only club I know of that feels the need to devote a large part of their seating to a "kick racism out of football" banner.

You appear to be criticising the club for being committed to anti racism.

 

[JTG]

I remember when they used to come to Craven Cottage, f***ing terrifying. Very good support, they would fill the away end (and take ours) and do that primeval 'Mill-waaaaaaaallll' chant that chilled the blood. You know the one - one of 'em would start "Milllll", slowly, and gradually they'd all join in, "MMMiiiilllll" - then it would descend 4 notes and fade away on the "Waaaaaaaaaaaaaallll". Then repeat, over and over again.

They all joined in, even the old fellers.

Impressive - an eerie sound.

Yep, Millwall fans know how to do atmosphere. It's probably why all these bed wetting nu football fans profess to be scared of them tbh.

 

[tommers]

Yep, Millwall fans know how to do atmosphere. It's probably why all these bed wetting nu football fans profess to be scared of them tbh.

who are "all these bed wetting nu football fans"?

 

[hendo]

Right, Coops swung me round.
Palace are meeting Bristol at home on the 19th and I intend to go.
Incognito, natch.
Thanks for the input everyone, particularly coop.

 

[co-op]

Right, Coops swung me round.
Palace are meeting Bristol at home on the 19th and I intend to go.
Incognito, natch.
Thanks for the input everyone, particularly coop.

I am really really sorry. I was just joking. Think again I urge you, while you can still walk away just DO IT







Actually what am I talking about? You support citeh, your pain threshold is far beyond a palace fan's...

Also, looking on the bright side, Sky TV are part of the veritable tsunami of outsiders flooding to the hottest team outside the Prem, so you can see the return vs Bristol City (a), from the comfort of the pub, 18th February, Monday night game. I 'spect you'll be at Ashton Gate though, draped in the red 'n' blue....

 

[hendo]

They'll have to be something special to get me down the M4.
Anyone else coming?

 

[Andy the Don]

I remember when they used to come to Craven Cottage, f***ing terrifying. Very good support, they would fill the away end (and take ours) and do that primeval 'Mill-waaaaaaaallll' chant that chilled the blood. You know the one - one of 'em would start "Milllll", slowly, and gradually they'd all join in, "MMMiiiilllll" - then it would descend 4 notes and fade away on the "Waaaaaaaaaaaaaallll". Then repeat, over and over again.

They all joined in, even the old fellers.

Impressive - an eerie sound.

I remember going to Chelsea v Millwall in the FA Cup back in 1985 with a Chelsea supporting mate from school. We were in the Shed & Millwall won 3-2 (two goals from Fashanu). The Millwall support dismantled the away end & lite massive bonfires. The smoke masked the end & all you could hear coming from behind the smoke was 'Mill-waaaaaaaallll' very impressive. Then walking through a riot on the Fulham Road on the way to Fulham Broadway as Chelsea, Millwall & the police had it in a three way battle.

 

[co-op]

They'll have to be something special to get me down the M4.
Anyone else coming?

hendo, I would happily be your guide to the wonderland that is Selhurst Park, but I work Saturdays now so I just can't make it down there now. Incidentally, this hasn't really mattered for the last couple of years - the Peter Taylor era produced some of the dullest football I have seen since, ooh about 3 years previously when Trevor Francis was in charge - but I am feeling a bit like I am missing out at the moment. Hope you enjoy it. If you've been watching Premiership football a lot, you might be a bit shocked at how rubbish it is considering it's just one division down - think League 2, but all the players are about 20% faster and 20% bigger. But the level of tactical awareness - well...you won't be impressed is my guess. But the team have taken on Warnock's up and at 'em attitude so it should be quite exciting at least.

 

[Yossarian]

I was thinking of supporting Fulham as a kind of second string thing. There's some nice pubs near Craven Cottage, and I don't reckon it would bve over pricey.

Thoughts?

Would you really want to support a team nicknamed "The Cottagers"?

 

[hendo]

hendo, I would happily be your guide to the wonderland that is Selhurst Park, but I work Saturdays now so I just can't make it down there now. Incidentally, this hasn't really mattered for the last couple of years - the Peter Taylor era produced some of the dullest football I have seen since, ooh about 3 years previously when Trevor Francis was in charge - but I am feeling a bit like I am missing out at the moment. Hope you enjoy it. If you've been watching Premiership football a lot, you might be a bit shocked at how rubbish it is considering it's just one division down - think League 2, but all the players are about 20% faster and 20% bigger. But the level of tactical awareness - well...you won't be impressed is my guess. But the team have taken on Warnock's up and at 'em attitude so it should be quite exciting at least.

Ah bollocks I was hoping you'd show me the ropes. Never mind.
Don't worry about me being bored, there've been entire months when Citeh have shown no tactical awareness of any kind at all. And as for slumming it, I was following the blues to all sorts of odd places just a few years ago and as you say the right spirit can make up for silky skills acquired in teh Serie A. Or so I will tell myself as I board the bus to Norwood.

 

[co-op]

Ah bollocks I was hoping you'd show me the ropes. Never mind.
Don't worry about me being bored, there've been entire months when Citeh have shown no tactical awareness of any kind at all. And as for slumming it, I was following the blues to all sorts of odd places just a few years ago and as you say the right spirit can make up for silky skills acquired in teh Serie A. Or so I will tell myself as I board the bus to Norwood.

I think the absolutely worst game of football I have ever seen in my life was Palace vs City! Must have been about 1991, 'twas a hot day so beginning or end of the season. Palace had Mark Bright up front, City had Niall Quinn - it was literally 90 minutes of long balls being slung up front from the respective keepers to the Big Lads up front to duel over with their centre-half. Even if they won the header there was no one to pick up on it...All Game. Unbelieveable.


But evening games I am up for - I think the next 'un is vs Ipswich, 12th Feb, a Tuesday night (there is Charlton away earlier but that ?looks like it's on telly). I'd certainly be up for the Ipswich game.

Also; "the bus". Are you sure?

Depends how near you are to the tube of course, but quickest way is nearly always to go to London Bridge (pretty quick from Brixton) and get the overground to Norwood Junction, there's a fast train that has its first stop at Norwood Jct (you have to check out in advance when they are, I think there's only one or two an hour) - but it's 12 minutes to NJ. From here in Stockwell, with good timing I can be in the Cherry Trees (pub right by NJ) from my front door in 45 minutes which is pretty good. I don't know what route your bus goes but if it's anywhere near Streatham, forget it, the traffic can be totally mental. My general experience is that that goes for most routes there. When I did use to drive I finally worked out a route that was not too bad but it was obscure and non-bussable.

Anyway have fun!