with the opposition. You chant and sing on the bus on the way to the game which creates a really fun atmosphere. That atmosphere the supporters create is cranked up when they arrive at the stadium, and it’s transferred onto the players lifting their morale for the game. Although the games have been just as exciting as they normally would if the fans were actually in the stadium, I can’t help but feel a lot of results would have been different. The phrase “the fans are like a 12th man” is a bit of a cliche, but it’s a fact for some teams. Some teams rely on the atmosphere the fans provide at games to motivate their players, but more importantly, intimidate the opposition. The relationship between players and fans is a strong one. Some teams have such a strong bond with their fans that players struggle to perform without the crowd cheering the team on. Liverpool is a great example of this; the atmosphere the fans create in an enclosed stadium like Anfield
boots brings the players’ performance to another level. The fans will sing You’ll Never Walk Alone, whether the team is winning or losing, so the players know that whatever happens, the fans always have their backs. That type of support goes a long way. Now, without the fans at the games, it can leave the players uncertain and without that extra motivation when things get tough. The form of some teams fell right off without any atmosphere from the supporters, and you can’t help but wonder if some teams would have avoided relegation if their fans were there to back them. Watching a game of football by yourself in your living room is nowhere near as enjoyable as being surrounded by your fellow supporters. I can attest to this myself. Your team scores a goal and you still celebrate, but you feel alone. I know there are thousands of people with the same feeling of elation as myself, but I don’t feel the energy that I normally would if I were watching a game with my mates.
182
Powered by FlippingBook