Shankly was wrong, football isn’t more important
On Saturday Blackburn traveled to Stoke, and put in our now familiar no-show away performance. However the game is of little, if any, importance following the events of the half-time break. Details of what occurred in the away end concourse are unclear, but the one fact is that a Rovers fan was hit by a large object (thought to be a bin), and he later died of injuries sustained during this incident. This incident came just a few weeks after a Blackburn supporter was attacked by a fellow ‘fan’ on the way back from Villa Park and left in need of plastic surgery. Shock cannot even begin to explain what I am feeling as a lifelong fan of this club.
Blackburn Rovers have never, in my lifetime at least, been a club with any kind of aggressive fan element. Yet over the past 12 months it has been noticeable that elements of aggression on the terraces have been on the rise. From where I sit in the Blackburn End you can sometimes pick up a sense of something more than just frustration at playing with one up front. I don’t know where it has come from, and I don’t understand it, but it has to be wiped out.
I don’t want to sound like a condescending liberal, but it appears that the small town mentality of blue wkd, racism and aggression is creeping out of the town centre on a Friday night and into football grounds on a Saturday. Whilst incidents have not been seen at Ewood, it is worse away from home. At Villa I was sat in front of two fairly respectable looking lads in their late-teens/early-20s who spent the whole game shouting racist abuse at Villa’s players, players who one would presume they would have no qualms with if they played a role in England winning the World Cup in the summer. Even worse could be heard elsewhere, with racist chants directed towards our own players, whilst those who complained were goaded.
Some have suggested that this ‘hardcore’ element at away games is a result of expected restrictions on tickets for the away fixture at Turf Moor. I, like many other Rovers fans, will not even attempt getting a ticket for this game. The fear now for the club, and for the majority of our fans, is that those who do travel will let Blackburn Rovers down. Burnley’s fans were impeccable at Ewood earlier in the season, supporting their team up the final whistle, and ‘enjoyed’ their day out even in defeat. If the conduct of sections of our support don’t wake up after this incident and see the consequences of their attitude then I doubt the same will be said of those who visit Burnley in blue and white.
For the love of our club, for the love of the game, and for the memory of John Taylor I hope that things will improve.
RIP John Taylor – 1979-2010
Hi Dan,
I didn’t hear about this story until I read this article, and it is pretty shocking to read about. Parents are supposed to be able to take their kids to games like this.
Also interesting to hear that racism has been “creeping in” to the Rovers stands, and that the fans that complained about the racist chants were goaded. Do you think this is just happening in Blackburn because of the high asian population, or this is creeping into the game in general?
I have also noticed that Man Utd fans chant “freeeeeeak” when Peter Crouch touches the ball (they are the only fans I’ve heard do it). Is that alright? Is it better than racism or the same? Racism seems worse, but I have to admit I did feel bad for the lad when the Utd fans were chanting that each time he got the ball.