UK Football News

Crystal Palace ultras ‘Holmesdale Fanatics’ fold after 21 years, slamming ‘unsustainable’ set up

By AsiaEurope


Crystal Palace ultras ‘Holmesdale Fanatics’ have made the decision to fold after 21 years, slamming the ‘unsustainable’ set up.

They formed back in 2005 and grew famous after putting on displays that would be so rarely seen in English football, but more familiar across Europe.

But on the 27th of August, they listed a number of reason as to why there are disbanding, attending games as individuals and not as a group.

They wrote in a statement:

‘For more than twenty years, the HF has stood on the Holmesdale and travelled across the country and beyond supporting this great football club.

“Born from a desire to create a strong unit that could support Palace, resist the passivity that had captured the stands, and fight the draconian restrictions that had been imposed on football supporters, the group was founded in 2005 by a group of Palace fans who had grown disillusioned with the state of the game
Two decades later, and after the club’s most successful period in its history – marked by an FA Cup, our first European trophy and a record run in the top flight – attempts to sanitise the game are stronger than ever.

“In an ever more atomised society, football is one of the last remaining spaces where people can come together and unite over something bigger than themselves. But genuine, lifelong fans are no longer prioritised by their football clubs and young lads were never wanted by the authorities in the first place.

“Increasingly driven out by sky high ticket prices, needless restrictions that are designed to strip away the dignity of supporters, and relentless harassment and legal action, many young people are choosing to opt out of a game that seems determined to push them away.

“It’s a testament to the strength of the HF and the receptiveness of Palace fans to new ideas that, despite this climate, an active supporter culture has developed at Palace in recent years, building on the passion of earlier generations. We are proud to have operated 100% independently and have never taken a penny for ourselves. From fighting for the most basic of rights just to take materials into Selhurst and stand up in Block B in the early days, to never ending problems with the club right up to the present day, we have been uncompromising in fighting for what we believe in and the rights of football supporters everywhere.

“But the current setup is unsustainable. We have repeatedly warned the club that likeminded fans cannot congregate at Palace in the numbers required to sustain a growing active supporter culture. The conditions are simply not there. While we have seen some of the best atmospheres at Selhurst since the group’s formation during our time in block E, it has been a mixed picture in the stands as expectation has grown after more than a decade playing at the highest level.

“There needs to be a drastic shift at Palace towards younger fans and a move away from a culture in which people attend the ground expecting to be entertained, towards a culture of supporters turning up to play an active role in influencing the result.

“The story away from home is even more dire. In domestic away fixtures, supporters are banned from bringing materials into stadiums, coaches are regularly stopped, and fans are arrested. Away ends across the country are increasingly dominated by older fans, with the next generation failing to come through in significant numbers.

“Given these conditions, we have immense pride in all the group has achieved over the past twenty years. From being at the heart of the protests that rescued the club in 2010, to securing the away ticket price cap that has saved working class people millions and supporting the club through a record breaking period, the HF has helped write a chapter in the club’s history that many did not believe was possible. But now is the time for us to recognise we have taken the HF as far as it can go in the current climate. We are therefore choosing to stop all organised activity as the HF inside the stadium.

“We do not take this decision lightly. The HF has always been about more than football. It has helped shape our worldview, seen us forge unbreakable friendships and given us some of the best days of our lives. It has been an honour to have stood behind our group banner for more than two decades and to have represented our football club.

“We want to thank everyone who has ever stood with and supported the HF. You have made the last twenty years possible. Tomorrow, we will be at Selhurst as always. Not as an active group, but as a group of mates supporting Palace alongside you all.

“HF05”

The news caught the attention of the club’s former player Stan Collymore, who wrote: “These points are frighteningly accurate. Clubs are deliberately looking at long standing supporters, taking away long fought for rights and making basic things like season tickets a weapon to remove rather than a part of “ownership” and support of the club.

“A study was done over a decade ago and they are right, stadiums are full of people my age, with previous few avenues for youngsters, the vibrant future of any club, to congregate together as a large, noisy, feisty and sometimes intimidating group.

“I’m surprised Palace owners have let it get this far because with greatest respect to a club I started at, 90’s Palace was old, Surrey based and “nice”. HF undoubtedly have made Selhurst a prickly place to play so their attendance is proof that embracing positive supporter change works. And works well.

“Going to be honest, not a fan of the mimickery by English supporters of European Ultras groups per se, we have a 150 year old raw, passionate culture and we do things differently, so that’s my tuppence on the “look” of groups like HF rather than the extremely valid points they make, which I support 100%.

“We’ve just come off the $1000 a ticket World Cup, we know tourists from afar’s spend is more valuable to clubs that a season ticket holder who doesn’t need to spend £600 in the shop, and we know that through a cost of living crisis, youngsters are finding cheaper teams to support ( a very welcome unintended consequence of Prem pricing) or move away from football entirely.

“If I were shouting still on radio this is exactly the debate we’d be having tonight, rattling cages of those in power, inviting guests into squirm a little as they try to defend pricing, strategy and bringing more youngsters into stadia. Alas, the Premier League, like FIFA and UEFA want only happy clappy official broadcasters to ” tell them how great we are “, so you won’t find HF statement being answered by anyone relevant in football, they just ignore and ride it out. It’s why we are where we are now.

“I hope HF reconsider, and I hope good people like @CEO4TAG can find a solution, we need more, not less HF.

“Football without hardcore fans, is nothing.

“Football without tourists, is fine.

“Look after those who’ve looked after uou for 150 years. Today, tomorrow and in the future. It’s why English football IS so special.”

Here’s how fans reacted as the Crystal Palace ultras ‘Holmesdale Fanatics’ fold after 21 years…

@HLTCO: The contribution the HF made to the club’s atmosphere is absolutely without question. 20 odd years of constant backing is something no one can overlook. With the game more expensive to follow than ever, active fan-led groups are essential to the game’s long-term sustainability.

@HolmesdaleChina: A part of our identity is gone. Whenever I saw people say that England had no ultras, I would proudly point to the HF I was genuinely proud that Palace had them. Proud of what they stood for, proud of what they gave to the club… Selhurst park will never be quite the same again. #CPFC

@FYPFanzine: This is incredibly disappointing news. The HF have been a force for good in our support. Their aims should be supported.

@BhoyinRed: And just like that the only atmosphere worth a damn in that tourist league is gone.

@TalkCPFC: Jesus. That’s really sad. A truly iconic group within the club. Hope that this isn’t the end forever







Source link

AsiaEurope 11669 posts 0 comments
You might also like More from author