Initially I wanted to go as far back as the early 1900s and onwards but I assume not many people will have stories about how it was so I went with the 1950s/60s.
What I specifically want to know is what it was like in the stands. What kind of people went to matches, how was the atmosphere etc.
I came up with these questions after reading accounts from a Belgian Royal Antwerp fan who attended every home and away game in their last championship winning season in 1956/57. For those who don't know, Antwerp is the oldest Belgian football club and has quite possibly the loudest fans of the country. This guy said football in the stands was a completely different experience back then. For starters supporters would all stand mixed with the away team supporters, there was no violence or fighting in the stands or outside the stadium. Nor was there any violence after the match on the way home in the trams and trains. At worst you would get a disgruntled opponent fan shouting stuff but they were usually shut up immediately.
Songs were also not sung back then except for the club song which was sung during the half time break. The noise in the stands would swell when a promising attack was started and obviously when a goal was scored. Players in general were cheered on but there were no specific chants.
Another thing he noted was that there was limited drinking before the games. When they travelled to away games by bus there was no beer available, it was simply not done. Drunk people were not in the stands.
People often would go to matches in their best clothes, meaning tie and suit and hat, often straight after church on Sunday as all games kicked off on Sunday at the same time. After the game players and fans would mingle in bars and would be very approachable and normal. Some players give rounds.
40+ years later football is super toxic, violent and downright hostile towards opposing fans, players and even player's families. I often wonder why it changed so badly.
What I specifically want to know is what it was like in the stands. What kind of people went to matches, how was the atmosphere etc.
I came up with these questions after reading accounts from a Belgian Royal Antwerp fan who attended every home and away game in their last championship winning season in 1956/57. For those who don't know, Antwerp is the oldest Belgian football club and has quite possibly the loudest fans of the country. This guy said football in the stands was a completely different experience back then. For starters supporters would all stand mixed with the away team supporters, there was no violence or fighting in the stands or outside the stadium. Nor was there any violence after the match on the way home in the trams and trains. At worst you would get a disgruntled opponent fan shouting stuff but they were usually shut up immediately.
Songs were also not sung back then except for the club song which was sung during the half time break. The noise in the stands would swell when a promising attack was started and obviously when a goal was scored. Players in general were cheered on but there were no specific chants.
Another thing he noted was that there was limited drinking before the games. When they travelled to away games by bus there was no beer available, it was simply not done. Drunk people were not in the stands.
People often would go to matches in their best clothes, meaning tie and suit and hat, often straight after church on Sunday as all games kicked off on Sunday at the same time. After the game players and fans would mingle in bars and would be very approachable and normal. Some players give rounds.
40+ years later football is super toxic, violent and downright hostile towards opposing fans, players and even player's families. I often wonder why it changed so badly.