Hooligans have been grabbing unwanted headlines at Euro 2016, but here in Guangzhou a group of Fuligans are making a name for themselves in a far more positive way.
At the start of the 2013 Chinese Super League season, this band of brothers – and sisters – became the first foreign fan group in the country. It was created by Scot Tom Simpson, who explains: “Fuli was formed in Guangzhou in 2011. For the last game of the 2012 season we hired a bus for a match in University City, and out of that trip the idea of a fan club was born.”
Tom not only set up the group, after a few beers he came up with the inspired name, and last month he was back down south from his new home in Beijing to join his fellow Fuligans for the game against Guoan. Over pre match drinks at McCawley’s the current crop shared their thoughts on both the club and the group.
The general consensus is that one thing missing in China is that feeling of following a football team with your friends, hanging out and having a pint, a problem the Fuligans has remedied.
Following Tom’s move to Beijing, Englishman John Hassett has taken over as organiser in chief, and he credits social media with a boost in the group’s activity. “There was a dip in the numbers but we now have a very active Wechat group that has got it going again,” he says. “We have more than 40 members, and about 20 people who regularly go to games, including a couple of families with kids.”
As well as taking over as president, John designed this year’s Fuligans shirt, combining his love of the club with that of the British street artist Banksy.
“To be honest I thought I was signing up to follow Evergrande,” admits teacher Will Gomm, who came on board from the beginning. “But now when we go to play them we all sing, ‘There is only one team in Guangzhou.’” Will is moving to Shanghai, where he is ready to welcome fellow Fuligans for exciting away trips in the future.
There is no doubt that the attractive price of season tickets, just RMB450, is a draw, and the members have remained loyal after a drop in standards since the glory days of qualifying for the Asian Champions League under former England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson.
“We are not pot-chasers,” adds UK deputy consul general in Guangzhou Andrew Massey. “We are a great family community with all welcome.”
The desire to back the underdog may come from the fact that many of the Fuligans have a history of supporting clubs that are strangers to glory. St Johnstone, Wolves, Coventry City, Bristol City and Brighton are some way from the elite back in Britain where the majority of Fuligans are from.
But this is no British clique, as they are joined by Dutch, Australian, New Zealand, Japanese, Italian, Serb and local Chinese fans, to name but a few. For those members who skip the pre-match pint, the meeting point is a shop near the ground where the beer is sadly often warmer than the welcome from the somewhat grumpy shop owner. But that is in great contrast to the gathering local fans who love the singing and camaraderie shown by the Fuligans and take countless photos and sights to share on their WeChat moments.
Inside the Yuexiushan Stadium the Fuligans are part of the fervent support created by the club’s four Chinese fan clubs, joining and sharing songs with the likes of Blue Dream. Much fun has been had on the Fuligans WeChat forum, creating songs to back their team, with a particular favourite in honour of Swedish star Gustav Svensson.
Sitting in mid table, the Fuligans are happy with the job being done by coach Dragan Stojkovic, although they are concerned about a lack of firepower and a fear of losing ground in the cash-rich CSL.
Legendary Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson famously spoke about Manchester City as the noisy neighbours. There is no doubt the Fuligans are helping to turn up the volume for Guangzhou R&F as they challenge the supremacy of Evergrande.
If you want to know more about the Fuligans contact John at johnfhassett@yahoo.com, gzfuligans@yahoo.com or see James at Rebel Rebel.
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