Terrace Retro

Well! Here we are at last! Welcome to the new section. We hope to keep this section updated as much as possible. Don't expect too much, it's not as if there's fuckall else to do. We do get out, occasionally.

First of all, it's good to see the FA decided to pay respect to the Hillsborough victims and their families with a mark of silence on April 15th. None the less, it's 11 years on and still no justice for the bereaved families of those Liverpool supporters who lost their lives. However, the FA have hardly been a shoulder of strength to date.

The UEFA Cup took a turn for the worse, with the senseless death of two Leeds fans at the club's semi-final game against Galatasaray SK in Istanbul. No doubt, the debating of events leading up to the tragedy in Turkey will continue. It would seem that semi-finals are becoming a culture of tragedy, all of their own. Mr Shankly's philosophy on the relationship comparison of life and football has well and truly been shattered.

It was interesting to see Leeds being compared to Milan. The piece that provides us with such a notion (Life, The Observer Magazine 5/3/00) went onto deliver a very worrying insight into an element of right-wing Lazio fan, backward knobheads! The old racist card is being played and a worrying spad of support for the late neo-facist "Arkan". The latter, apparantley, leading to that late great liberal Mussolini's grand-daughter announcing Lazio as her "new team". The Italian FA has been forced to consider banning right-wing political messages at matches. I'm surprised, considering the history of Italy, that these messages are allowed in the first place. Contrary to popular belief, Italian facists do not go around wearing hats with feathers, engaging in situation comedy with camp German army officers and pictures of Madonnas with big boobies. They usually spout a load of shite. As events unfold with current Leeds players, Bowyer and Woodgate, it would seem that there may well be a sad link to the Italian game after all.

The above article finished on a lighter note, going onto compare the English and Italian fans. There were labels galore at Elland Road (Leeds v Spurs game) and a less impressive presentation at San Siro, loads of scarves and buying cushions from Milans club shop (Milan v Lazio). All the same, the sample was small...so on...so on. In all reality, it doesn't matter what the fuck you wear, considering how many peoples lives have been turned upside down by the games more worrying elements.

For anyone who hasn't yet caught ooberman's excellent re-released tune Shorely Wall, do so. "Burning sugar, as black as smoke", Very Yellow Submarine, man! Catch the word on the band at www.ooberman.com. If you're involved in a band or organizing a gig/event let us know. There will be a gig/event guide in the fanzine soon.

This one goes out in support of Liverpool's Kop Wing Section Boys, Richies lads, who stand and sing alone in the face of sad opposition (LFC suits). "Leave them alone and get a life!".

Kevin Sampson's Awaydays finally makes it to the screen, and quite rightly so, with filming about to begin. Hopefully it will keep the 79/80 season setting. It will be interesting to see how the wardrobe department copes. All those drainies and mad haircuts will bring a smile, one of embarrassment at that. The book was excellent, as was Extra Time, and gives an in-depth insight into a coming of age that is obsessed with clothes, wonderful hairstyles and a struggle for a sense of morality. The latter in reference to footy violence. "Carty", the novels central character is a member of Tranmere Rovers Crew . He lives in a nice suburban area of the Wirral, in contrast his fellow "pack" members live in the realistic council estate world of Birkenhead. His escapades with the crew lead him to evaluate where he's at, and his friendship with "elvis",

more your thinking mans kick-off, has him struggling for a sense of what he perceives to be right. There have been various attempts to capture the terrace atmosphere, one of the best being The Firm with Gary Oldman. Still, that left a little something to be desired. Who even wants to remember Made In Britain? This just had to be some middle class authors concept of terrace tribalism. With Awaydays, Sampson was there, he seen it, possilbly even done it, so who better to know about it? It'll be worth the wait.

Finally, Ken Livingstone has declared himself as an independent candidate in the election for mayor of London (6/3/00). I can't say that I personally support the role of a mayor, just ask Larry the lamb, Noddy or Liverpool's own Liberal-Democrat administration and they'll tell you that every ToyTown needs a mayor. There are, however, wider implications with regards to London's situation. Londoners know only too well that the major party candidates have only their mates in the business community in mind. Personally, if I was voting in this election, I would choose the Socialist Alliance candidate as my second choice . Still! You don't need me to canvass on Mr Livingstone's behalf, see for yourself at www.livingstoneforlondon.org.uk .