Brilliant Story " A group of six disenfranchised fans "

How Crystal Palace turned their politely clapping fans into a 'cauldron of noise'


A group of six disenfranchised fans started the movement in 2005

16 SEPTEMBER 2015

BY GARETH ROGERS

Crystal Palace's Holmsdale Fanatics claim they've turned Selhurst Park into a fortress that no Premier League rivals enjoy playing at. Here's how they formed and grew



Crystal Palace's fans are some of the loudest in the Premier League

Any Cardiff City fans who have been to Crystal Palace in recent years will probably have been impressed by the match-day atmosphere.

Forget the Crystals cheerleaders, Kayla the Eagle or the Selhurst Park faithful clapping away to Glad All Over, these days it’s all about the Holmesdale Fanatics, who sing, shout and dance their way through every home game.


So, as Bluebirds fans bid to find the answer to remedying their dwindling attendances and anodyne matchday atmospheres, we take a look at the noisy group of Palace ‘Ultras’ who house themselves behind the goal, at the Holmesdale Road end of Selhurst Park, in full view of the travelling fans.



The Fanatics are a group of young fans who are modelled on the European Ultras.

For them, it’s all about thinking up chants, arguing with the club and even fundraising for the colourful array of banners and balloons that brighten up every home Premier League fixture.

The ever-expanding army of members are mostly young, noisy and energetic men, who are very active on social media.

As a group, they are working hard at developing their growing reputation of being among the Premier League’s most passionate fans.

Even manager Alan Pardew loves to praise them with compliments like: “Our Holmesdale Fanatics have made a statement in the Premier League. Every Premier League club wishes they had fans like them.”




How were they started?
A group of six disenfranchised fans started the movement in 2005 in an attempt to recreate the football atmospheres found on the British terraces in the 1970s and 1980s – before the introduction of all-seater stadiums.

Now the Eagles are flying high in the Premier League and images of the Fanatics’ banners, flags and choreographies are beamed around the world on a regular basis.

Their section has been sold out to season-ticket holders and they will be remembered for unfurling the iconic banner that read “Fortress Selhurst” on the night the team came from behind to end Liverpool’s Premier League title charge in 2014.



What do they say?
Similar to the views held by many of the noisiest Bluebirds fans since the terraces of Ninian Park were swapped for the shiny seats of the Cardiff City Stadium, the Fanatics say: “The young lads that had made the terraces such vibrant expressions of passion had been done away with. Attending football had become a commercial and sanitised experience with no freedom of expression and no passion allowed.

“We believed that by creating an organised unit with like-minded Palace lads, we could resist what had been forced upon all football fans and create a culture at the club that both we and the local community could be proud of.”

Distancing themselves from those who say they are too much like the controversial continental Ultras, the Fanatics claim they go to lengths to make sure their songs are in the style of classic British terrace ditties and can be picked up easily by fans all around Selhurst Park.



Crystal Palace fans
What do the media say?
Selhurst Park is cauldron of noise, with the atmosphere generated a distinguishing factor in the increasingly anodyne environment of top-flight football. Guardian

Their chants, drumming, banners and enthusiasm has swept around the ground and encouraged those who might before have politely clapped along to get on their feet and sing. ESPN

The Holmesdale Fantatics are renowned for being the most boisterous group in the South London club’s fanbase.

They are recognised as some of the most passionate in the Premier League. Standard





They make lots of noise, but do they cause trouble?
Even though owner Steve Parish has spoken fondly of the Fanatics, it would be inaccurate to say the relationship between the group and the club is always amicable.

Persistent standing is the biggest issue the club face with the Fanatics, because they have a duty to keep health and safety officials onside.

Two Fanatics were banned for ‘moshing’ (jumping into each other) at a match against Arsenal in February.

The group claimed it was just high-jinks, but Parish publicly vented his anger, saying: “They were banned for creating a dangerous situation where people would get injured.


“We can’t get to a point where there’s almost anarchy, we’re not seen to be in control of the ground and people are doing what they want.

“We have higher masters – we have a safety council that can shut our stadium, if we’re not in control of it.”

And not all Palace fans love the Fanatics either. During their quiet protest at those bans, chants of “can you stay quiet every week?” were heard from the other ends of Selhurst Park.

Also some fans of other clubs feel that the noisy Palace element are too much like the European Ultras and feel they are trying too hard and are a bit nerdy.

A very good read, it could be achieved but city fans have no leadership. Vince alm is trying to take this up and I look forward to the meeting on Monday. People are like sheep, to move the first ten or twenty is almost impossible but when that's achieved all the other sheep follow and they will follow.

It was also proved last night with a small crowd noise can be made sitting down, harder but not impossible

But Vince is a townhill boy these days, seen at the Liberty now and again too

A good read. I have always said our younger fans need to be shown what passion is, as shown last night, they will follow.
Just need a good leader or two.
Couple in the canton, and a couple in the family stand, make it enjoyable for the kids in the family stand, was good to hear them joining in last night.

But Vince is a townhill boy these days, seen at the Liberty now and again too

f**k off and mind your own business you parasite.

We need to offer group discounts for under 21's

We need to offer group discounts for under 21's

surely they already do a student ticket?

The Club has set out from day one to destroy any atmosphere in the CCS. Again last night in the Ninian we was just starting getting the atmosphere going like the Canton was until the yellow perils started there sit down bullshit. It destroyed the atmosphere dead.
Simple solution the canton can stand and sing but we also need a section in the Ninian as well and I mean 116 and those that want to happy clap or sit down or both can move to 115. But as I said that the club wants the atmosphere dead and buried.

But Vince is a townhill boy these days, seen at the Liberty now and again too

f**k off and mind your own business you parasite.

Rightyo Vince

The Club has set out from day one to destroy any atmosphere in the CCS. Again last night in the Ninian we was just starting getting the atmosphere going like the Canton was until the yellow perils started there sit down bullshit. It destroyed the atmosphere dead.
Simple solution the canton can stand and sing but we also need a section in the Ninian as well and I mean 116 and those that want to happy clap or sit down or both can move to 115. But as I said that the club wants the atmosphere dead and buried.

Good idea, it then resolves the issue which I can appreciate with regards some wanting to sit! Having said that growing up it was grandstand if u wanted to sit

We will never follow this route, Wayne Nash is the problem as he wont allow it.

I find them a bit of a pantomime act........