Don't just boo the player, boo the club

By Hunter Davies Published 18 April 2012
New Statesman

“I’m so depressed,” I said to my friend Jack as we left White Hart Lane after Spurs’ humiliating defeat by Norwich.

“I’m more depressed,” he said. “At least you still like Harry.”
 
We continued like that all the way home, with me clinging on to the thought of ’Arry as a symbol of, oh, I dunno, something.
 
Jack, who thinks Harry is a phoney, was forcing me to give reasons why Harry is good: what has he done, who has he discovered, why are Spurs useless at free kicks, why was Harry not ranting and raving and changing things at half-time? And so on , with me saying, pathetically, that I still like him. I’m rubbish at intellectual arguments, whereas Jack, as a barrister, well, it’s his job, innit.
 
“It’s only the media who like Harry.”
 

False pretences

I had to pause and think. I am not technically media any more, not at Prem games, since the rotten old Prem League imposed a £5m insurance cover in order to get a press pass and the poor old NS can’t afford that.
 
I can see that the media love Harry as a character, as I do, but I still think that the fans are on his side, though surprisingly, in that Norwich debacle, there were many who were beginning to mutter against Lovely Luka and Gorgeous Gareth, how dare they?
 
Intellectual arguments in football are pointless, anyway. Who can possibly explain the collapse of both Man City and Spurs, when early in the season they were doing so well, playing so fluently, so effortlessly, in such style, with such confidence?
 
What caused it? You tell me. You’re clever. I refuse to believe it was caused by Harry being tipped for England. Sheer coincidence. Spurs just look knackered. And it’s Harry’s job to unknacker them.
 
I did find myself during the Norwich game uttering the odd boo under my breath, feeling I had been personally let down – nay, affronted – by what appeared to be their attitude, even though I knew it could only make things worse. 
 
Having talked to so many players, I know they don’t know what happens, why they appear in certain games not to be trying. They can’t help it, poor petals. And I know it does mean more to them than us. It’s all they’ve got. So should fans boo? We’ve paid a fortune, so surely that gives us the right. Or does it?
 
I can’t think of any comparable activity where customers get conned into paying a whole year ahead for a product that is unlikely to be exactly what they expect and might well turn out total rubbish.
 
Season ticket renewals start next month, with clubs demanding and getting £1,000 to £2,000 in advance to watch teams whose stars might not be there, or might be playing in different divisions and tournaments.
 
Only football could get away with trading on such false pretences. Most Prem clubs know there are waiting lists, so they can take cynical advantage. So, yeh, we should boo more, but at the clubs, not just the players.
 
In defence of fans, it only takes the merest glimmer of hope – a really good tackle, a strong run and then, oh, rapture, a shot at the goal that doesn’t end up in Tottenham High Road – and we are all cheering and roaring them on.
 
And as we all know, that does have an energising effect. We can and do help. But it needs something to latch on to. The Norwich fans kept it up all through the game but they could see, from the kick-off, their players were knocking their guts out.
 

Daydream believer

We also know that things can change, fortunes turn round in just a few games. Look at Arsenal, booed by their fans just months ago. Man United, not booed by any fans as far I observed but roundly criticised by the back pages as useless, finished, too old, too injured. Now look at them.
 
Spurs did try harder in the FA semi-final against Chelsea but a lot of good it did them. Their luck ran out.
 
I still have some belief in Harry, unlike my friend Jack. But my main football belief is that this is what it is like, will always be like – and all fans have to go through this at some time. Coming home depressed after a Spurs game is excellent practice.
 
“For what?” Jack asked.
 
For watching England in the summer, of course. 

Tags: Sport  Football    

 
 

6 comments

RobDonkey's picture

Thu, 2012-05-10 11:28 — RobDonkey

As a Leeds fan I spend 70% of my time screaming at the club (that is more than likely owned by Ken Bates but nobody can prove it), 20% of the time cheering and 10% of the time bashing my head against a wall as we utterly flop at the end of the season.

hugh markey's picture

Thu, 2012-05-03 18:21 — hugh markey (not verified)

You're only as good as your last movie.
Nevertheless, Howard Davies suggested, on the BBC's Daily Politics, that Harry should take over the governorship of the Bank of England from Sir Mervyn King.
Now that we can believe. Horses for courses and all that guff.

Balls Up

Nodbod's picture

Wed, 2012-05-02 17:13 — Nodbod (not verified)

I supported my home town team. Started following them to away matches. I could not afford a season ticket but my father, sister and brother-in-law all could. They went to the seats, me and my brother stood on the sides. We had some great times. Then we were relegated, my wife said that we couldn't afford it anymore (my mum used to slip me the entrance money when my wife wasn't looking) and one miserable, rain soaked Saturday I watched a match and thought - I am no-where near as skillfull but I could put a bit more (lot more) effort into it than those lazy buggers. I never went again.
It took two weekends to break the habit. I started watching park football. They pay to play. It's raw but committed.
During my time watching my home town team (15 years), they had the best run of success that they had ever had and yet, at the end of those 15 years, the facilities for supporters were actually worse than when I had started watching them.
As my own children grew up they started playing in local youth football. The local club tried for years to have someone from my home town team come to prize evening; nothing. We tried to get them to come along to see how our club was developing and to see if they would help coach; nothing. We asked them to come and watch some of the more talented players; nothing.
It is a completely different set up at the home town club now but the old regime left a very nasty taste. I have never gone back, some of my friends have and they are full of praise. I think that there is something mad, bad and soulless in English professional football. In many instances the spectators are taken for granted and there to be fleeced. Many spectators, with their slavish stupidity to the cause, deserve it.
It permeates right up to managerial selection for the England Manager. Stupid decisions by tiny minded people behind closed doors. England, as a footballing nation will continue to suffer all the time that this secretive, self-congratualtory (best league inna world, innit), financially successful, bunch of cretins continues on its way.
I desparately want us (England) to be successful. I want to see beautiful, artistic play. I want to see us score goals for fun. I want to see us win with style. I want world peace and a Ferrari. Looks like I'm gonna be disappointed on all counts.

Ron Greenwood.'s picture

Wed, 2012-05-02 12:43 — Ron Greenwood. (not verified)

Oi you! I got England to the world cup after they had failed two times before. Whilst I didnt win the world cup we still went out undefeated which is pretty good considering that all we did during the mid-70s is not qualify for anything. Cheeky little shi....

Robert Taggart's picture

Wed, 2012-05-02 14:17 — Robert Taggart

You the ghost in Ingerlands machine ?!

Robert Taggart's picture

Tue, 2012-05-01 15:38 — Robert Taggart

'Woy' Hodgson can only improve things - not to mention your mental health - HD...
Has any other England managerial appointment been greeted by so much disinterest ? (Ron Greenwood ?), not to mention inexpectation ? (Steve McClaren ?).
Things can only get better ?!

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