Seagull over Canaryland
Well-known member
I have really enjoyed seeing both Saints and Palace trip up on TV this week but 'hate' isn't the word I would use to describe my feelings, I just see it as a stronger rivalry with certain clubs. I respect that their fans will feel just as strongly as we do about ours - it's the old tribal instincts coming out. We are proud of our club/team and all want to shout that bit louder than the opposition. Have been to Selhurst several times with the Albion over the years and also as a neutral with Spurs supporting mates and seen similar levels of vitriol between the fans.
We all enjoy healthy and intelligent banter with rival fans but suggest there is an extra dimension now that fans forums give the armchair keyboard warrior element on both sides a chance to do some sparring. Generally this is amusing sport although inevitably there are the less gifted who resort to crude verbals and worse still those that reply in kind rather than laugh it off. These days there is only small minority that would really like to take things to a different level and most of that is from younger JCLs (on both sides) who read/heard about the 'bad old days' of footie violence and feel the need to gain their stripes.
Having supported The Albion since well before our rivalry with Palace developed in the mid/late '70s I am aware that these things come and go. For several years Reading and Pompey used to evoke stronger feelings than most. I guess these things rise to the surface when we are actually in the same Division, Southampton being a recent case in point and get spiced up by managers playing mind games in the media. Of course it doesn't help if a certain manager insists on an irrational arrogance that isn't reflected in their performance.
I suggest that Millwall and Charlton have been more obvious rivals in recent years for Palace because we haven't been on their radar. I recall the Albion / Palace thing didn't really exist until triggered by a dodgy refereeing decision in a cup replay at Stamford Bridge, later spiralling into Mullery v Venables spat when we became promotion rivals in the same Divisions.
To be honest rivalry these days is fairly tame compared to the early 70's when violence (and the underlying threat) around footie matches was far more evident and footie grounds were far less welcoming places and if anything intensified the feelings. Maybe thats why older and run down grounds that are still relics from the mid-20th century eg Palace and Pompey can still provoke such neanderthal feelings. I guess the rather sanitised feel of newer stadia (and have to include the wonderful Amex in that) helps to diffuse such feelings. Thats why standing among a vocal crowd squeezed onto a claustrophobic old terrace at London Road last Saturday was so nostalgic. Didn't feel the urge to kick six bells out of any Posh fans though, these days we are happier to let the footie and our singing do the talking.
We all enjoy healthy and intelligent banter with rival fans but suggest there is an extra dimension now that fans forums give the armchair keyboard warrior element on both sides a chance to do some sparring. Generally this is amusing sport although inevitably there are the less gifted who resort to crude verbals and worse still those that reply in kind rather than laugh it off. These days there is only small minority that would really like to take things to a different level and most of that is from younger JCLs (on both sides) who read/heard about the 'bad old days' of footie violence and feel the need to gain their stripes.
Having supported The Albion since well before our rivalry with Palace developed in the mid/late '70s I am aware that these things come and go. For several years Reading and Pompey used to evoke stronger feelings than most. I guess these things rise to the surface when we are actually in the same Division, Southampton being a recent case in point and get spiced up by managers playing mind games in the media. Of course it doesn't help if a certain manager insists on an irrational arrogance that isn't reflected in their performance.
I suggest that Millwall and Charlton have been more obvious rivals in recent years for Palace because we haven't been on their radar. I recall the Albion / Palace thing didn't really exist until triggered by a dodgy refereeing decision in a cup replay at Stamford Bridge, later spiralling into Mullery v Venables spat when we became promotion rivals in the same Divisions.
To be honest rivalry these days is fairly tame compared to the early 70's when violence (and the underlying threat) around footie matches was far more evident and footie grounds were far less welcoming places and if anything intensified the feelings. Maybe thats why older and run down grounds that are still relics from the mid-20th century eg Palace and Pompey can still provoke such neanderthal feelings. I guess the rather sanitised feel of newer stadia (and have to include the wonderful Amex in that) helps to diffuse such feelings. Thats why standing among a vocal crowd squeezed onto a claustrophobic old terrace at London Road last Saturday was so nostalgic. Didn't feel the urge to kick six bells out of any Posh fans though, these days we are happier to let the footie and our singing do the talking.
