While we may be quiet in the stands, we tend to be a bit louder proclaiming our support for teams on the street with our cars – there is much noisemaking during Euro games and World games especially. Some area much louder than others. I used to live in the Italian/Portuguese quarter and you could always tell when a game was on, and especially if they won, just by the sounds of the traffic.

As for boxes – blech. You are absolutely right – paid for by entertainment accounts to entertain clients, none of which have the slightest interest in the game. Very very sad on too many fronts.

It was all stands for the working class and for kids like me it was a quick train ride and maybe a tube ride to get to the parks like Highbury, Stamford Bridge and others like Crystal Palace.

Unfortunately it’s also where the yobo culture rooted in the 70s when hooliganism exploded. Still, there’s enough of that “brothers-in-arms” mentality to carry forward as a unique tribal culture without the idiots who cause the trouble.
As a season ticket holder at TFC in Section 114 behind the goal I’ve seen the best of the culture and the worse of it.

Still, too many people use the game as an exuse to get drunk and do stupid things like throw fireworks and golf balls onto the field.

The good news is that over time a true TFC culture is emerging. One that does borrow from the English experience but also blends the Latino, the Carribean, Italian and eastern European footie cultures.

In a couple of years we may still borrow from the standards but we will create our own voice and our own content.

It’s hard to get chants going because most Canadians are programmed to sing along with the organ music at hockey and baseball games.

Spontaneity is not their forte. So when the savvy Euros among the crowd do start to sing something other than, Toronto Till I die, or when the Reds go Marching in or Mo Mo Mo Mo Mo Mo Edu, it’s usually one or two voices and the surrounding folks are lost because they have no play list.

This will change. Right now there’s only two or three players with songs….Danny Dichio, Mo Edu, Armando Guvera …Jimmy Brennan’s song is too complex to resonate and the others are just reworked lyrics over tired melodies ripped off from Europe.

It’s probably indicative of the fact that there are different fan factions, the U Sector, Red Patch Boys North End Elite ect and each wants to be the “true” voice.

When they put aside rivalries and get behind one team, TFC, this too will change and when one section takes up a chant or song, the rest will get behind it.

Having said all that, I had a chance to sit in a box for a game recently and what a difference.

It was boring!!!!!!! Talk about yer prawn sammie brigade.

That’s where English football changed..it was an affordable working class pastime where dads, brothers and kids could go to a game in the stands.

With the arrival of seats, then boxes,, it became much more upscale. Just look at the price of an EPL ticket today.

Hardly working class anymore.

I miss Richard Whittal and Wayne Boyce on sunday mornings