i am not sure whether you are being naive, attention seking or obtuse.

At the end of the day the term Ultra has a perjorative sense and people automatically attach a negative connotation to it.

Why have fans groups called Ultras i think we should just have firms. After all it is just a word and my dad used to work for a family 'firm' and they were lovely people.

Actually on second thoughts i might set up the Huddersfield Hooligans. We are all really nice people we just want to show our Irish heritage as we are related to the houlihans where the name came from.

and as for the person who knows some of those on the youtube video. tell them to grow up.

The ultras idea is brilliant and I showed my interest a while ago and will follow that up.

Why? I also got told a story of about 5 fans going to the clubs owner's restaurant and burning it to the ground with the hope he was inside it.

I know hundreds of United fans who would do the same to Malc Glazer given the chance. Nothing in that video is dissimilar to a United away match



Or actually being someone who has been abroad to several places to get a feel for Ultra culture as it is something that interests and excites me, rather than buying into a popular misconception.

you will always get the minority in every walk of life but lets not them hars oles spoil it for the rest

Strange thread this, but I get the point. I think on the whole rl fans are quite well behaved, you'd have to back to the 80's if you wanted real trouble or 'battling'. I myself am a Widnes fan, but we were not even one of the worst for it, certain grounds you could feel the tension coming out of or walking up to the turnstyles. Wilderspool, Boulevard and Featherstone were probably the worst from what I remember. Odd occasion at Leigh, and a few nasty incidents at Central Park, but they were few and far between. Glad we as a sport, and speccies have moved on, the summer era is all about family and creating an enjoyable atmosphere for all.

Like the ultra's idea though providing it is for the right reasons.

But how will it be seen by the general populace who already percieve it negatively.

How will the press pick up on it

What is wrong with being supporters club or something less loaded.

Its a bit like saying we are fascists but not like that Hitler bloke we are cuddly and kind.

This is going to be one of those head/brick wall issues, isn't it.

The original thread about ultras was started by "Jimmy Birt Lives On", with the idea being to inject colour, volume and passion in to a section of support that is visible in much the same way as it is on the Kop at Liverpool. Down the years Liverpool supporters have gathered the best bits from all their travels across Europe and turned them into something that any where else in Europe would be classed as "Ultras" without ever being regarded as Ultras, in the traditional European sense (ie violent, neo-facist lunatics).

The club are aware of what is being attempted (I feel like I've typed this quite recently) and are very supportive though are understandably wary of any "Ultras" tag. "Jimmy Birt.." has arranged a meeting with representatives of the club to discuss getting things off the ground, help with things like flags, banners etc.

The word "Ultras" was used to give other people an idea of the visual impact that is ultimately being aimed for. The tag "Ultras" will most likely not be used, if for no better reason than the club will be better inclined to support the idea if it isn't used.

The facebook group I started up is named as a bit of a pi$$take. The upshot is, all that the Wigan "Ultras" want is to make a lot of noise, sing a lot, wave flags and have a laugh. There is no intention or desire to be perceived as aggressive, intimidating and certainly not facist.

When asked whether I prefer Latics away games to Wigan ones my response is simple. Wigan.

Why? Well, because I can (if I wish) mingle with and talk to fans of other clubs. At the football I have to drink in a certain pub, sit in a certain place and only breathe when instructed to do so.

I love the Magic Weekends as the atmosphere is superb. On the camp site where we stayed there was plenty of banter from all sorts of clubs and a good old sing song that at football would not have been possible. Granted a large number of football fans are similar to RL fans (like the ones I go to games with) but unfortunately it seems to have more idiots than RL and certainly a worse reputation thanks to the media.

Plus, I think a lot of the trouble that we're now seeing more often is due to the state of the Country rather than 'football fans' turning up.

We are considering going to the Harlequins-Salford match on Saturday. I'd want to wear the Cherry and White. Do you think we should?

Course you should, you should always be proud to wear your club colours. I have worn my saints shirt at a few games not involving Saints and although I have got some stick (mainly from people I was with!) I have never experienced any problems doing so.

My son and his friend also went. Again, they told a different story from the saints fan. Amazing that eh??

And your point is what exactly

It's a tricky one, I've seen plenty of away fans in the south stand at the HJ and not seen too much trouble, the trouble starts when people sing or scream in peoples faces after scores and antagonize people. Like on saturday I seen several Wigan fans walk past a pub full of Wire fans singing "y warrington" although the action after was uncalled for(being sprayed with beer) the action previously doesn't help...Prevention is better than cure.

If people can't take a little bit of banter they really should keep away from rugby games, songs like "w@nky warrington" have been sung for years and they only response should be responding with another song or walking off not throwing things at fans as has been reported on here happened.

I agree to an extent but if you don't sing the song it doesn't happen.

But why shouldn't people? that is half the fun.

As we were walking away from the ground on Sunday there were Wire fans outside the pub obviously celebrating there win/our loss and who can blame them for doing so. At no point though did I think "how dare they sing that I am going to throw something at them" and I didn't notice anyone walking past getting abusive with them, throwing things at them we just congratulated them and carried on on our way - the way the majority of Rugby Supporters would act.

It is wrong to throw things and the people were dealt with correctly by the police. It wasn't just friendly from the Wigan fans though, it's hard to explain...they were trying to give it "the biggun"..look at me walking through all the Wire fans singing aren't I hard.

awww and I can understand why a few naughty words can encourage people to throw things when they are so happy about celebrating the clubs biggest win in years, must have been tough for them having to listen to the naughty wigan fans

A Warrington fan was acting 'the biggun' as you put it after the game. I just ignored him and continued to talk to the sane fans.

It was prior to the game love. Well done in totally missing the point.

Still doesn't make it acceptable in anyway shape or form. Banter happens, fans sing songs if some people don't like it then they should keep away from Rugby games most of us can deal with it like adults and don't need thugs using it as an excuse to kick off, love.

I agree it isn't acceptable. Prevention is better than cure though.

Christ, if I threw something everytime someone sung a derogatory song about Wigan i'd have one hell of an arm

Correct, any idiots caught throwing things or resorting to any sort of physical violence should be banned from the game for good to stop them bringing the name of the game down further and to allow the adults to enjoy the game and the banter without having to worry about the small minority of idiots.

You should have been at Barrow Vs Widnes last night. Was like a throw back, some real d**k heads in there last night, which is worrying. Although i did find it amusing when some youth decided he'd throw a kit kat at opposing fans.