Let’s face it, if we really wanted to protest we’d stop going to matches. Ever since Michael Palin threw a clock through the window after losing “8 bloody 1!” in Ripping Yarns, fans have been the masters of the ineffectual protest, as exemplified by that plane over Old Trafford at the weekend.
PLANE STUPID AT MAN UNITED
Man United fans paid £840 to hire a plane carrying a “Wrong One Moyes Out” banner over Old Trafford. The protest backfired as Moyes walked out on the pitch five minutes before kick off and received warm applause. The plane arrived late and was booed from all sides of the ground and then Man United won 4-1. Not only have the fans made themselves look stupid for undermining their own team, now they’ve given rival supporters a good idea. If Liverpool or Man City win the league, surely their fans will hire a plane with a banner reading “David Moyes is a football genius” to fly over Old Trafford.
ARSENAL FANS URGE WENGER TO SPEND SPEND SPEND
As Arsenal lost 3-1 to Aston Villa on the opening day of the season the fans held up A4 sheets of paper reading “Spend Spend Spend” to taunt tight-fisted Arsene Wenger. They contrasted their miserly summer with that of Spurs who had spent £100 million on players. Only a couple of weeks later everyone realised that Spurs’ players were all useless. Wenger signed Mathieu Flamini on a free transfer, who proved to be a real bargain, Mezut Ozil joined for £42 million, Aaron Ramsey couldn’t stop scoring and everyone suddenly thought prudence was a good thing.
GREEN AND YELLOW SCARVES AT OLD TRAFFORD
Back in 2010 Man United fans took to wearing green and yellow scarves in protest at the debt imposed on the club by the Glazer family. Green and yellow were the original colours of Newton Heath, the forerunner of Manchester United, though to the outside world it just looked as if the United fans had suddenly become Norwich supporters. “Let’s be ’avin yer!” they said, but Fergie and his men kept on winning the league and the scarves slowly died out. And if the Glazers were clever, they probably invested in those green and yellow scarf sellers outside Old Trafford anyway…
DERBY CROWD ALMOST GO ON STRIKE
In 1973 Brian Clough, who had won the league, resigned as manager of Derby County after feeling undermined by directors questioning the role of his number two Peter Taylor. Fans took to the streets in protest, supported by the town’s MP, and the players even threatened to go on strike. Yet ultimately both players and fans backed down and the club replaced Clough with former Derby legend Dave Mackay. Instead of proving to be a no-hoper, Mackay went to and win the league again.
CHELSEA FANS SALUTE ROBERTO DI MATTEO
Chelsea fans were incensed by the sacking of Roberto Di Matteo and his replacement with ex-Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez in 2012. Di Matteo wore the number 16 shirt when he played at Chelsea and in the 16th game against Manchester City the fans began to applaud and sing Di Matteo’s name and held up “Rafa Out” and “Chelsea Fans Do Not Forget” banners. The Chelsea fans made themselves look a bit silly by not uttering a word of protest at owner Roman Abramovich, the man who sacked Di Matteo, in case he withdrew his dosh. Then most Chelsea fans did forget as Rafael Benitez went and ruined everything by winning the Europa League.
BURGER THIS FOR A LAUGH PROTEST
I’ll admit that as a protest (or had my missus secretly booked me into football aversion therapy?) I sold my Brainsford United season ticket to my mate Burger Al, who not that surprisingly runs a burger stall, in exchange for four burgers. Didn’t work though as I later had to buy it back off him after we went unbeaten for three games – and he charged me an arm and a leg for it too. minute of the home