BANNING THE BOUNCE
ANFIELD'S stewards hate the Torres Bounce.
The sight of a few hundred excited Reds jumping up and down to the most well-received song on the Kop for years has got them, or their employers rather, seething.
The word on the terraces is that warnings are being given to fans who partake in our newly invented ritual.
At a time when fans, managers, players, and journalists complain about the lack of atmosphere in English stadium, their attitude seems misplaced.
Of course, safety comes first. But jumping up and down at football matches has been part and parcel for years.
What are we supposed to do when we score? Root our feet firmly to the floor and politely applaud? Shake hands with our neighbour?
Jolly good show Fernando!
Liverpool fans have always been some of the most original when it comes to dreaming up new lyrics and melodies to sing.
Even so, The Torres Bounce genuinely seems the most enthusiastically ditty to have been 'penned' by the Reds composers for many a year.
At a time when good new football tunes are in short supply, it seems a shame that the powers that be want to clamp down.
Apparently, the club have been getting letters of complaint from fans who say they can't see when The Bounce is in action?
Take a straw poll of those who have a ticket on The Kop and I reckon over three quarters will tell you they have no objection to fans getting off their feet once in a while.
According to some, stewards are threatening to kick fans out who take part. That will probably start a mutiny.
It's an over-reaction. And it's behaviour like this that will ruin the already dying atmosphere and passion within our grounds.
Not everyone agrees.
Working a late shift last week, I took a phone call from a very irrate Kop season ticket holder asking why the ECHO hadn't wirtten about fans being 'rightly' (his words not mine) ejected at the Reading game for standing.
He was a firm advocate of the sitting brigade and made some points, some of which I agreed with, others I didn't.
He went on to make claims about certain sections 'standing all the time'. I made the point that for some of the bigger cup games and the Derby standing throughout the whole game had become an almost accepted practice on the Kop.
He didn't agree that it should be accepted, adding some misplaced comments about Hillsborough and ended up slamming the phone down.
I'm sure people will have differing views on this, mine is that some sporadic standing and frollocking about is what going the match is all about.
One thing is for certain, it's definitely bringing the fun back into going the match again.
There's a very amusing vid doing the rounds on You Tube of Reds on the metro on their way to the ground in Milan. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TI86sEwrOeQ)
In full noisy bouncing mood, the camera pans to a bemused, cool, shade-wearing, leather-clad Inter fan looking perplexed at the madcap group of Kirkdale, Bootle and Old Swan Liverpool fans bucking up and down before him.
Priceless.
Some Reds I've spoken to who went to the San Siro said it was an awesome sight to see thousands of Liverpool fans pogo-ing to the Spaniard's theme tune.
The Inter fans were so impressed with Liverpool's support that they gave them a standing ovation as the match drew to a close.
Provided its done in a sensible and safe way, let the fans have their fun.
Otherwise there'll be no such thing as a 12th man at Anfield anymore.
Here's a few 'bounces' to enjoy in the meantime.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=kAHZ3RE1xwE&feature=related
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=RIXKKoBnnYc&NR=1
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Difficult one this, the majority want to have a laugh, but it's not just the up for it young lads who go the match, the 50+ brigade probably get pissed off with the fact they have to rise to their feet every 60 seconds or so.
Sadly, footie isn't the all muck in, take whatever comes like it used to be.
It's a global spectacle people pay good money for.
I have been a Liverpool season ticket holder for almost 25 years and will always stick up for Liverpool fans, but what does frustrate me is how anti-establishment so many LFC fans are. If the stewards were telling them to stand up, the majority of Kopites would sit down. Scousers are renowned for refusing to do as they're told and ignoring any semblance of authority. As one Scouser said on national television not that long ago: "This is Liverpool, it's what we do."
As for the supposed Torres Bounce (or "pogo-ing"), it's not very original. Newcastle have been "pogo-ing" if you love the Toon for several years and more recently Man United created a song for John O'Shea based on the same tune.
A lot of Liverpudlians live in the past and think because the Kop set the standards back in the 60's we're still the best supported club now. We're not. With the exception of European nights, our supporters have been surpassed for originality and noise by a number of clubs.
If some people had their way it would be a polite applause when your team scored a goal and that would be it.
Anfield is famous throughout the world for its atmosphere and especially on European nights we still recreate the 'Anfield Roar'.
Great blog, good read.
Hiya first time post on here my feelin is this, if I'm gonna go on the kop I'm gonna take part in the action, if I just wanna sit there an be quiet I will go somewhere in the stands. You dont honestly think that there are people who wanna just sit there while all around them are havin fun an chantin, if so they should go an watch snooker or chess the stewards will just have to turn a blind eye to this one.
dont listen to anyone who says we copied this song form john oshea or anyone else it is our tune and always has been. here is the original..While on the bus to Villa Park haroo, haroo,
I heard my mate make this remark haroo,haroo,
We made poor Chelsea weep and ill
Its Liverpool 2 and Chelsea 0
and we'll all get blind drunk when Liverpool win the cup.
Chorus:
So here's to Lawrence, Byrne St John, haroo haroo,
Milne and Yeats and Stevenson haroo,haroo
Hunt and Thompson what a man,
Lawler Smith and Callaghan,
and we'll all get blind drunk when Liverpool win the cup
what a stupid article( sorry i didnt mean the writer of the article) i love bouncing and i love lfc!
we have always had songs but doesnt anyone feel that the torres bounce has really given fresh life into the kop? i mean, its such a happy and lively tune, and when everyone is bouncing in time there is such a sense of unity!
i couldnt believe the first time when the whole stand was moving so much.
surely those that prefer to sit should get tickets in the cent stand? cos everyone knows the kop is know for its singin and lively atmosphere!
i just love the kop and would just like to say to those that sit in the kop when its bouncing and complain, please preserve the atmosphere in the kop, sing with us, bounce with us but if not then swap your seat with someone who will!(enough out there!)
sorry if incoherent but pisd! lol
let the kop unite and bounce!!!!