The chant....

[Rizzo]

Yep, I love it. Sounds ominous just before a centre bounce and has got to be off putting for the other side.

Keep up the good work trying to vary the chants and songs and I'll keep abusing the umpires when the show their bias.

[Bart]

Aussie sports supporters in general are a pretty tame lot.

I went to the metro on george St a few weeks back to watch Ireland v England in the deciding 6 nations rugby match. The place was heaving and the atmosphere was like being at the game.

The noise from the Stadium was deafening as was the 2000 people crammed into the venue.

The Europeans could certainly teach us a lesson on how to support our team.

I do take umbrage with the Syyyddnnnney chant being embarassing though ! It is fantastic.

What has been embarassing in the past was the Wallabies efforts to dress the crowd in gold in response to the fantastic British and Irish Lions supporters who were here in 2001. Very contrived! The wallabies Lions match at Stadium Australia was one of the best matches I have ever been to for atmosphere. Again they really showed us up.

What is it with us Aussies ? Are we too used to success an have beome ambivilant ? (Can't be us Swannies) Is AFL too fast moving for chants to get going during boring bits ?

[robbieando]

Long Chants during the game would be hard to do, but think of what could be done before the match and when the team comes onto the field.

Just think, your walking onto the ground when the sound hits you. 30,000 Sydney fans singing "You'll never walk alone" and just before the start we get the "Sssssssyyyyyyydddddddnnnneeeeyyyyy" chant going. At half time we could get our wity chants going

HELLO HELLO
WE ARE THE SYDNEY BOYS
HELLO HELLO
YOU'LL KNOW US BY OUR NOISE
UP TO OUR NECKS IN MAGPIE BLOOD
SURENDER OR YOU'LL DIE
WE ARE THE WORLD FAMOUS SYDNEY BOYS

After each goal the "Ssssssyyyyyyyydddddddnnnnnnneeeeyyyyy" goes up.

Then after the match when we win "Cheer Cheer" by the whole crowd without the backing of the load speakers. Then we all stay behind for a while just repeating all our chants.

Now thats what I would love to see. Until then the "Ssssyyyyyyydddddddddddnnnnnnnnneeeeeeeeeeyyyy yyy" will do me fine

[Dpw]

I'd have to say that the first time I visited the SCG I thought my god these guys have no idea everything is holding the ball and they lack the general concepts in the game. But I must say once I warmed to it I loved the ground the people there happy attuide a real refreshing change and there weird chants and the thing they do when they throw the ball back into play I have visited with alot of my friends and I can tell you everyone of them loved it I think the sydney siders view there footy alittle different and its unique and I hope it never changes Subi for visiting sides is hostile and if your not with the home side and your team gets up keep your head down.

[sharp9]

When the Syyyyydneeeeey! chant went up on Friday night I nearly leapt down the tele I was so keen to be in the stands.

However I can't say it is nearly as menacing as 50,000 Kiwis yelling BLACK, BLACK, BLACK, BLACK or as emotional as 45,000 Liverpudlians singing "You'll Never Walk Alone," near the end of a cup semi-final!

But my all time most spine tingling cheer was when the entire SCG crowd at the Billy Joel/Elton John concert sang "Piano Man" with no music and all the stadium lights off. Unbelievable.

[undy]

Kel mentions the chant (and the Wet West Coast game) in his book - he thought the chant was great, from memory, so we should keep doing it.

Andy

(also a Wolverhampton Wanderers fan - for whom Edward Elgar reputedly made up the first ever soccer chant in 1898)

[NMWBloods]

I like the chant. I think the English Premier League games sound fantastic with their constant singing through the game. The atmosphere at one of those games would be amazing. I often watch simply because you can feel the atmosphere through the TV. I think it would be great if we could capture that at the SCG.

[penga]

Originally posted by NMWBloods
I like the chant. I think the English Premier League games sound fantastic with their constant singing through the game. The atmosphere at one of those games would be amazing. I often watch simply because you can feel the atmosphere through the TV. I think it would be great if we could capture that at the SCG.

i completely agree, id love to go to one of those games preferably with someone in the know and start singing... id love to be singing throughout a swannies game whatsmore...

did anyone see the barmy army members at the lions, dogs game? i like the barmy army as well for that very reason coz theyre so vocal

[Angelic Upstart]

I think the chant's brilliant and it's never embarrassed me - it really adds to the atmosphere. And I don't think most Victorians turn their nose up at it - that's why a few other teams' fans are starting to try copy it.

[JF_Bay22_SCG]

If you want to learn new songs.......

I suggest you take in a Northern Spirit soccer game in the off season. Yes, the games are often totally crap. But the highlight is the fact that at both ends of North Sydney Oval there are supporters bellowing out a wide variety of songs and ditties.

It isn't in our culture to sing loudly in Australia. Yet. But if there is an crowd that is open to things that are different and come from other sports it is ours in Sydney at Swans matches. I'm trying to do my bit in the Cheer Squad, but am chanting to a 1/2 full bay. (Don't start me up on the reasons why-the club office has a lot to answer for YET AGAIN! )

I mean, nowhere else in Australia would they get a chant to the tune of "Guantanamaya" going. That transformed into the "One Tony Lockett" and "One team in Sydney!"

JF

PS:- The singing at SCG finals is only bettered in footy by the singing of Central Districts supporters when they get to SANFL Grand Finals. I got tapes of SANFL GFs of the past and have never heard a louder chant than the "CEEEEEEEENNNNTRALS" all the Northern suburbs Poms belted out at the start of the match. They even light flares at matches!

[JF_Bay22_SCG]

Other ideas of things we could try in Sydney

Hi guys once again,
I'm really enjoying the positive energy in relation to this topic. However I have a great interest in the colour and spectacles put on by Italian soccer fanatics (called "Ultras") at matches.

Here are a couple of ideas of things that can be possibly attempted at future Swans match in the future.

1) holding up colour coded cards in the grandstand as the team walks out. Good chroreographies often have messages in the opposite colour like "Forca Barca" etc etc. It would take some assistance from not only a corporate sponsor to pay for the pieces of coloured paper, but it would require people in say the Bill O'Reilly to actually turn up to matches BEFORE they actually start.

Have a lot at the attachments and tell me what you think.

2) Why not have a giant Swans guernsey made that can be passed around the ground over the heads of everybody, as has been done at French national team soccer matches. Of course you couldn't brandish it after every goal. But before a match in the build up to a big one, or as they are warming up it would look amazing. Anyone who was at the 1996 GF may recall the effect of having a huge white # 16 Swans jumper being passed over the heads of the crowd. Do you think it would work?

JF

[JF_Bay22_SCG]

another attachment?

Could you imagine the faces of those in Melbourne if we pulled something like this off?

EVERYBODY would be talking about us!

JF

[Beaussie]

I definately think the Sydney chant is an advantage to our team and also think it's a great idea (if it could be done) to all have red and white cards held up in the stands. It worked in the olympics and even more spectacular in North Korea, why not the SCG or even better a full Stadium Australia. I love you Sydney, comon we can do it.

[Dpw]

JF, you like singing at the northern spirit games check out the Perth Glory 8,000 - 10,000 singing surpporters at a regular season game and at a final held at subi 40,000 plus they are the only team to ever fill subi yes thats right the Eagles and Dockers have never come close even in a home final or derby I don't like the game but the atmosphere is amazing.

[penga]

any chant and singing is great except for:

lets go sydney, lets go

someone tried that one day and i told em to shut up and go back to a kings game, i HATE that chant

id be up for some soccer-type singing and or flares and or cards or whatever