Football without fans is nothing. A statement that runs round the terraces throughout the country. With some clubs having a massive following around the UK and some having very little. In this article I will dive into different supporter groups around the UK and how they show their support in a positive and negative way.
Supporter atmosphere has a massive impact on the performance of football teams and this was some what proven during the COVID-19 era where no fans were able take their seat and watch their beloved football teams.
It is important that football clubs gain a good relationship with their supporters as it will provide more potential for the club to have a better understanding of it’s supporters and to better leverage those relationships in further of it’s financial, social and community objectives.
The first supporters group I will look into is Wor Flags supporter group of Newcastle United, they have a very straight forward goal is which is to create displays at St James’ Park that is worthy enough for their great club. They achieve this by creating:
- Hundreds of black and white hand-held waver flags
- Larger custom design one and two poler waver flags
- Large text banners featuring messages of support
- Foils, surfers and custom tifos
The original fan group Gallowgate Flags was founded in 2016 following Newcastle’s second relegation to uplift the stadium’s atmosphere.
In the following year both groups formed to create one group that today is “Wor Flags” who create wonderful flag displays with the movement to bring back atmosphere to St James’ Park.
Newcastle United supporters are one of the most passionate supporters in the country and after welcoming Champions League football back at St James’ Park for the first time in 10 years and the atmosphere is well and truly picking up after a complete take over by The Saudi PIF when they secured a majority stake in Newcastle in October 2021.
This takeover ended a 14 year ownership with Mike Ashley where Wor Flags started to boycott the club “After another year of poor relations between club and fans, Wor Flags along with thousands of other season ticket holders decided enough was enough and to boycott St James’ Park until Mike Ashley left the club.”
When the takeover was secured the fan group returned to St James’ Park and started to create the atmosphere they are famous for, and in the past two years the club have progressed massively and started to gain a new record form where they finished fourth in the Premier League achieving Champions League football.
The takeover had a massive affect on Newcastle United supporters and built a brand new relationship with the new owners very quickly.
From St James’ Park in Newcastle to St James Park home of Exeter City FC on the other side of the country.
The fan owned football club is a great example of importance of supporters as the club stay a football club because of the fans. The Grecian’s recently celebrated the clubs 20 year anniversary of being fan owned. The club celebrated this with a flag that has the supporters trust logo on and the names of every fan that is apart of the trust.
The fans are very important towards the atmosphere around the ground and are one of the best supporters in the EFL. The support has been incredible over numerous years as they have created fan displays for important games in the clubs history for example FA Cup, League Cup, Devon Derby games against Plymouth Argyle and Play Off semi/final games.
The most recent one was on Tuesday where Exeter hosted Championship club Middlesbrough in the Carabao Cup 4th round. Exeter made history in the previous round where they beat Premier League side Luton Town.
Julie Thorne, one of the East Devon Grecians members got some supporters together to create a display around all 3 sides of the ground for the fourth round game.
“I think its very important to create atmosphere around the ground, it shows positivity towards the club and players.
“The club have been fantastic not only helping towards the cost and purchasing flags but by getting the manager (Gary Caldwell) and 1st team coach (David Perkins) who helped us paint and clear up, for us is a huge boost to us, the club is amazing when it comes to supporting the fans” she said.
Being a supporter owned club is very risky but with a club like Exeter it is so important that they have a fantastic relationship with their supporters and looks to continue that relationship for many years to come.
