Saturday afternoons. Meeting up for a drink with your mates in the local before pub crawling your way to the ground. Once there, you make a lot of noise, enjoy the entertainment on show, probably lose 1-0 and return to the public house of your choice before retiring to a curry and Match of the Day. A well enjoyed (and usually cheap) day out – not anymore.
Football nowadays is a more sombre affair. For casual-goers, your £38 ticket will be accompanied by six pints of watered down, over-priced beer and soaked up with a £4 pie. You’ll be forced to sit down by fluorescent jackets who are ruled by those who operate the CCTV. You may win the game, but have you really enjoyed your well earned day out?
Now obviously there isn’t much we can do about the inflated prices of alcohol or your choice of snack, but there are people who are fighting towards fairer ticket prices, safe standing and enhancing the enjoyment of your day at the football.
Union FS (Filbo Spirit) are an organised fan group who are linked with Leicester City. They are striving towards re-creating the atmosphere of yesteryear and work closely with other fan groups and the club in pursuit of success.
James Challinor was one of the founding members of the group when it was formed in September 2013 and he sees getting Leicester City on-side as a top priority when any fan group is born.
“We’ve worked hard at forging good contacts there (at the club) and have made some incredible strides in building relationships with the fan liaison side as well as across the Directorship,” he said.“We also have a place on the Fans Consultative Committee which allows us to raise plenty of fan related issues and try to force action in a open environment. We’re firm believers that without the Club onside, any group would struggle to grow – and they have been very supportive of us so far.”
These relationships have helped the group hold regular meetings with the club – something that has helped Union FS decorate their adopted home in SK1 with confetti displays, flags and a drum.
Obviously, Union FS aren’t the first group in the UK (or even in Leicester) to start an organised fan or Ultra movement. The Fosse Boys were another group connected with Leicester City who swayed closer to the Ultra scene but failed to get the club on side when trying to make a change. Because of this, James is confident that Union FS won’t suffer a similar fate.
“I think it’s important to say that those lads’ (The Fosse Boys) hearts were in the right place. Their ambition was to improve the atmosphere at Filbert Way. It wouldn’t be right to focus too much on what they did wrong. A lot of the songs they sang are actually now widely used across the Football and Premier League – but we have learned lessons.”
Away from Leicester, there are groups that Union FS have taken inspiration from. The Union Bears (Rangers), Green Brigade (Celtic) and The Holmsdale Fantatics (Crystal Palace) have all proved to be hugely successful in creating an atmosphere at their respective grounds. The latter, with a huge Ultra inspiration, have even managed to set up a stall in their stand where fans can buy their merchandise.
James sees the Croydon outfit as proof that it can be done if all parties sing from the same hymn sheet.
“We’re certainly open to inspiration from a wide range of fan groups – England, Scotland and Europe-wide. Honestly, you have to admire what HF have done at Selhurst Park, and their club have supported them as a group fantastically – I think they are a credit to the Premier League.”
Whilst Union FS may take inspiration, they are a different group all together, as James explains:
“There’s a fine line between fan organisation and the Ultra-scene and the two are intrinsically linked. Union FS have not once referred to ourselves as Ultras. We would consider ourselves an organised fan group, and that’s because we see organisation as pretty much vital in providing a great atmosphere in 2015.”
Huge organisation is required with fan groups. Following the high profile incidents in the late 1980’s, the FA and the Government are rightly cautious to bring back safe standing but there are also many arguments to suggest that football and fan culture has changed completely since then. In order to create an atmosphere at football grounds, like-minded fans must be allowed to find and join each other.
“It’d be great if we could stroll up at 3pm on a Saturday knowing it’d be rocking. But those days went with the introduction of seating areas,” James said.
“Fans of the same mindset could no longer congregate freely and resolving that issue is one of our overarching ambitions: to ensure that like-minded fans who want to sing for 90 minutes, whatever the score, can gather and do just that.”
Obviously, a small group of supporters cannot create an atmosphere alone, every group requires numbers. Union FS are still in their infancy and currently have over 100 people on their mailing list. Everyone is then invited to meetings, reminded about upcoming events and offered Union FS-inspired stickers to purchase.
On match-days, hundreds of vocal fans congregate at SK1 in the South Stand at Filbert Way but James insists that his groups’ members should be measured differently.
“it is probably more worthwhile to measure our numbers by the 30-odd ‘active’ members (those that attend our meetings, contribute to flags, ‘tifos’, co-ordinate with the Club etc). We want that number to grow and are confident it will do so significantly over the next 12 months. People may snigger at 30-odd but groups like this don’t become thousands overnight – people have to trust you as you’re asking them to invest a lot of their time, potentially relocate in the stadium and meet a lot of new fans.”
The group have been heavily involved in the Football Supporters’ Federation’s (FSF) movement for cheaper tickets and safe standing. This has led to a large banner reading “legalise safe standing” being unfurled before City’s game with Hull City in March.
Also, during Leicester’s defeat to Aston Villa in the FA Cup, the group displayed banners calling for fairer ticket prices. The ’20’s plenty’ campaign is quickly gathering momentum after being backed by those within the game.
Groups such as Union FS have different ambitions. Some just want the atmosphere at their club to be improved whilst others want to make changes on a much larger scale.
It could definitely be argued that those in their mid-twenties have ‘missed out’ on football culture to an extent. Due to all of the laws and restrictions in place to football fans, those of that age have never been able to stand up freely at football without fear of being thrown out, having their season ticket revoked or even just obscuring the old bloke’s view behind them.
They have never felt the feeling of togetherness that comes with huddling on a cold terrace on an away trip up north on a Tuesday in Yorkshire.
Union FS and broader groups such as the FSF are fighting for the future generation of football fans.
“We want to ensure that young fans of the future have an exciting, passionate and affordable game to enjoy for their generation and beyond,” James said. “We’re not delusional; we can’t do that on our own and we know that. But we do believe if we continue to shout about things, changes will start to be made.”
They have indeed. Leicester City chief executive Susan Whelan – who has met with members of Union FS – has attended parliamentary events where the issue of safe standing has been discussed. Despite this, James and his group concede that such changes could only happen way into the future.
“We know, from meetings with the Club, that the introduction of a rail seated area at Filbert Way would take a fairly sizeable investment from the Club in terms of re-configuring (in terms of gradient, exits and facilities) and strengthening the stands to accommodate a safe standing section.
“We just hope one day they will be given the opportunity, by law, to realise a return on said investment because it is possible.”
Union FS are making all the right noises for a group that only want the best for supporters of their football club. They are improving the atmosphere at home games, creating engaging artwork and getting fans excited for football day.
Of course, results on the pitch will ultimately decide the fate of Union FS – but with hard work behind the scenes, anything is possible for this group of enthusiastic and passionate ‘football activists’.
Their call for vocal support has been backed by Leicester City’s vice-chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha. Before his side’s crucial visit to Burnley, he said:
“The incredible support of our fans, particularly away from home, has been a great source of pride for our Club this season and I am extremely grateful for the passion and loyalty they have all shown in support of our cause.
It must be stressed that Union FS are not a clique or a cult. They are simply a group of football supporters who want to improve the atmosphere. Anybody is welcome. Follow them on Twitter @FilboSpirit or look out for future meetings at filbospirit.wordpress.com.
“We as Leicester City fans will likely never support the best team. But there is no reason as to why Leicester City’s team can’t be supported by the best fans. And ultimately, that’s what we want to achieve.”
thatcouldbe thegoal 