The 13th Ward

Not even when I play cricket and watch the BBC afterward?

 

That makes you an Anglophile. If you were a Europhile, you'd be playing Bandy.

 

Or Korfball.

 

Or, even worse, team handball.

 

Maybe even American Football?

 

I agree 100%! I'll be right with you letting security know

 

Then I shouldn't admit that I love watching this during the olympics?

 

That's the one sport I hate even during the olympics. Except one of the Scandanavian countries had about 5 amazing women on it.

 

Its funny I read this now because it seems in the last month everytime I meet someone new at the bars here in Reading and I talk about the Sons of Ben/Union they ALWAYS ALWAYS jump right to... "OH MAN, do you want to start a firm out here in Reading?" And I just have to sigh and explain the difference to them. That's what its all about right now out here where I live. No one has any clue what a supporters club is.

 

What? I live in Reading. The people I have contact with hardly know what soccer is, much less a firm. Where the heck are you?

 

West Lawn.

 

Cool. I used to drive right through there when I was working at Phoebe. Traffic is horrible in the morning.

 

Hot girls playing niche sports is like my second biggest reason to watch the Olympics. I had a major crush on USA Curler Cassie Johnson for the whole of the Turin Olympics.

 

like rugby. Everyone goes to the bar/pub after the game to get hammered together with camaraderie.

The other problem with "firms" is the problems that occur when WE are the visiting fans. The wife and I are already planning vacations around away games. The kind of childishness displayed by Toronto fans at Crew Stadium wrecks it for everyone.

 

so I'm here then - what do I do now jimbo?

funny thing about firms is
1) nobody calls them firms, in fact they usually don't call them anything unless they're middle class nonces from 2nd division english teams who like to send SMSs to one another to arrange 'fights' for bored overweight bank clerks on their weekend off. not hard-core punks with mohicans or skinhead mods. just really boring drunk people
2) most of the people who like to fight at football games end up missing most of the football meaning they probably wouldn't be on a site like this which is basically for proper soccer nerds-fans (in a good way - i'm one too).

if you want to see real firms look up the panorama documentaries about leeds utd and millwall fans OR watch the Gary Oldham film "The Firm".

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOTGe12Wu0U"]YouTube - Hooligans Untold Story - Part 1[/ame]
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXBtZwzv3EI"]YouTube - Hooligans Untold Story - Part 2[/ame]
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9WpaDXBDt4"]YouTube - Hooligans Untold Story - Part 3[/ame]

Grim viewing. not like that Green Street crap - really well researched that one. Most people that I've met that were in one regret it and are slightly embaressed about it, apart from the fact that they can't remember most of it becasue of the pills/booze etc..

so called firms don't intimidate away fans anyway, its just a mid life crisis version of what happens in school yards and usually causes a much bigger disturbance superficially than the proportion of people that are actually involved.

Rather, a big stoic crowd of people that refuse to disperse and sing together, loudly and proudly, come rain or shine will silence the opposition crowd. but you should be able to have a drink with most sets of fans or else what's the point? It's supposed to be a form of socialising and overcoming difference after all.

I don't know whether it's a false impression but I get the idea that columbus have this sort of nonsense going on at times and their normal fans can get quite annoyed by it.

 

Synopsis: Following the deadly climax of "Green Street Hooligans," several members of the West Ham firm and numerous members of Millwall end up in jail. The GSE quickly discover the brutality of life on the inside, as they are constant targets of the superior numbers and better-financed Millwall crew. Football on the inside and out is followed fervently by the prisoners and wins and losses by both are quickly followed by punishment or reward. This could mean a beating or an extra shower or a day of visitation, which inspires extreme behavior. When overcrowding compels a need for the early release of a fortunate few, fate brings West Ham and Millwall together again this time on a Pitch. The stakes are the highest they have ever been for all concerned with death or freedom quite literally a goal away. Game on.

 

I realize that some have been romancing FF or GSH, but after last night's "disturbance" in London, I thought some of those who think this is fun might need a small reminder of why this crap should never be tolerated.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=670734&sec=england&cc=5901

 

We've had "stadium porn" on these boards before, is this the equivalent in "firm porn"

 

And we ALL come together (well, many of us) for the MNT!!!!!!!

 

I also like the conceit of this direct-to-dvd first ever release of the film being an "unrated director's cut." Not that watered-down, studio-edited version you didn't see in theaters.

 

Jason. Statham.




Right around 2:00 is the hottest fight scene ever. Not to get too TMI or anything, but yes indeed!
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQb-hqfZ-2E"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQb-hqfZ-2E[/ame]

 

Firms are an absurd idea in MLS for this reason; I know and recognize many people from RBNY and DCU, which will likely be our most heated rivals. We've tailgated together, sung together, and stood together many times...

I'd just feel awkward and childish challenging them and their friends to a big group brawl, just because they live in New York or DC and I don't.