Back by popular demand: The HF thread.

Storytime 1: Arsenal away - 2019/20 : I arrive at the Emirates, take my seat about 20 mins before kick off. I know the HF were gunna be present, but there was no sign of the Men in Black, must have been late from their meeting. I see a Palace/Rangers flag hanging up, and (1)

think “Nice flag”. Later, the HF arrive and start to set up near to the flag. “Nice” I think, “some good atmosphere for a change”. To my UTTER HORROR, I see the aforementioned adornment being ripped off. Video evidence is attached. 25 or so black bloc lads against one (2)

middle aged man. A few stewards intervened. The flag had a poppy, rangers crest and palace crest on. The HF must’ve been threatened by these images as they didn’t put anything in its place. Strange, I thought. So I’ve decided this is my hypothesis. (3)

The HF think that if they are in a big group, they are more powerful than anyone else. To rip off another Palace fan’s flag because it has a Rangers crest on it, is just a bit weird. Mob mentality is present in that group, and it’s a bit cringe. End of the first story...(4)

Come back tomorrow for another instalment of - “MONGS IN BLACK”

Just gunna address something - I did used to like the HF (when I was about 13/14). But opinions do change, and I never experienced the absolute mongery that actually exists in the group. If you’re that rattled over a Twitter thread - I recommend seeing a specialist. Xx

Storytime 2: Everton away - 2019/20. It was the second half, I think we’d just equalised, maybe gone 2-1 down. Where we were standing (a few of my mates and I) was right at the back of the top bit of the away section. We were in front of some people that we recognised (1)

as being in the HF, or at least in Block E for home games. Being the rowdy lads we are, we decided to start a chant of “Sign on with a pen etc etc etc”. Cliché, I know, but still harmless banter between fans. Midway through the first verse, possibly the chorus, I hear a shout (2)

of “Lads, shut the fuck up” from behind. My first thought was it was the police officers who were kind of near us, but it wasn’t them. It was coming from the people (HF) behind us. Seemed a bit strange that they would get aggy about us starting a chant. Hmm...(3)

I know this ain’t the first time it’s ever happened. People have been told to “shut the fuck up” plenty of times for starting chants, particularly at away games. I also believe the HF kill their atmosphere at away games. Think Sheffield United away...okay wasn’t a prime (4)

performance, but considering it was the first away game of a new season, the atmosphere was incredibly dull. Also, I thought we were meant to get behind the boys, even when we’re losing? Only livened up once one of them shat themselves/threw up in the stands. (5)

Compare it to United away. No visible HF precense, from the first minute the atmosphere was electric. Songs were being started from everywhere, not just some little pocket of black in the corner. So, here’s my hypothesis: The HF don’t like the atmosphere when it’s not them (6)

who are creating it. I’m not saying they don’t create atmosphere, because they do. But they also kill some atmospheres by 1. not singing when other fans start a chant 2. telling other fans to “shut the fuck up”. End of story xx