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Why? Because they got off their arses and did something...something that is actually quite special and puts fans of clubs like us Arsenal and United to shame?Hung said:Caveman said:With Palace it isn't because they've been out of the Prem for eight years and now they're back in the big time. Palace fans were getting sick to death of the shit atmospheres in English football so took it upon themselves to change it. They looked at different sets of fans around Europe and made links with one club's Ultras (can't remember which club) and made the effort to visit that club and experience what supporting a football club is about.Hung said:The fact is that over the last 30 years, things have changed and if you were to read the forum of any 'big' club, the atmosphere debate features. Small clubs in small grounds these days can't believe their luck that they are playing in the Premiership (it never used to be like that). As a consequence, their fans go mental all game. As an example, Selhurst Park never used to be a ground renowned for its atmosphere, but it seems that it has been transformed into a cauldron. This is down to the fact that Palace have been out of the top league for a decade. It's the same at Stoke, Swansea, Cardiff etc. Double the size of their grounds, give them 10 years in the Premiership and you'll find that the atmosphere at their grounds isn't quite so intimidating.
The more used we get to success, the bigger the ground becomes and the more we become established as one of the 'Big Four', the more sanitised the atmosphere will become. It's not the fault of City fans per se, it's a phenomena that effects English football. Alternatively, we can move back to a Maine Road esque ground and struggle for survival with the occasional relegation and experience a better atmosphere.
From there they created their own Ultras group called Holmesdale Fanatics. Some of the lads involved have said it's been like a full time job getting to the level they have reached now. They've been at this level for a fair few years now though, even before they nearly went out of business they were getting very good.
They're organised and up for it. If they were in City's situation they'd still be creating the noise because of the hard work their lads put into it all. It's not just about turning up and singing because they're back in the Prem with Palace.
Sounds like the Palace fans are taking it far too seriously.
Do you think the stand-long banners paint themselves? Lads have to go to multi-story car parks when they're closed and paint through the night. They're not just bringing shit flags in from 'barmyflags.co.uk' they're creating things like this:
They foresaw that English football atmospheres were heading the way they've gone at our ground and did a positive thing about it. This is exactly what Eintracht Frankfurt fans did in the late 90s and within a decade everyone else in Germany had followed suit. That's what Ultras and Barras Bravas are all like around the world. It's a way of life.
Look at the Aris fans. They were God-like, but these things don't just happen. They have to take it seriously.