There is a wave that has been hitting British Football Grounds in the past couple of years. Ultras. Now, don't see the word and be terrified of Italian skinhead knife wielding football hooligans, that's not what being an Ultra is all about. British Ultras are all non-violent groups, focussed with the sole purpose of getting behind their team, through traditional flag displays, chanting, and similar. Ultras (Latin word deriving from ultrā, meaning beyond in English, with the implication that their enthusiasm is 'beyond' the normal. There are four key points to being an Ultra, all of which must be obeyed, these are:
- Never Stop singing or chanting during a match, regardless of scoreline.
- Never sit down during a match
- Attend as many games as possible, home and away, regardless of distance/cost.
- Loyalty to a particular stand, for example, the Kop.
Current list of English ultras groups, taken from Ultras UK...
Stanley Ultras (Accrington Stanley)
Phoenix Supras (Aldershot Town)
Ultras Barrovia (Barrow AFC)
Forza Eastend (Bristol City)
Ultras Carvetii (Carlisle United)
Blue White Army (Colchester United)
Crawley Devils (Crawley Town)
Holmesdale Fanatics (Crystal Palace)
Cowshed Loyal (Huddersfield Town)
Toon Ultras (Newcastle United)
Giallo Escercito (Oxford United)
Sector N3 (Telford United)
Jorvik Reds (York City)
Phoenix Supras (Aldershot Town)
Ultras Oxford (Oxford United)
Stanley Ultras (Accrington Stanley)
Ultras Barrovia (Barrow AFC)
Blue White Army (Colchester United)
I've been playing a big role in getting Ultras Carvetii off the ground, after afew teething problems, with the club/other fans failing to understand the concept of Ultras, things are starting to look good, will upload some pictures soon!
