Listen! They’re singing our song …
Are Hull FC fans the scourge of the engage Super League?
I doubt it. Yet there was a time when Warrington and Hull could both justifiably have laid claim to having had the most intimidating set of yobs in the sport.
I was reminded of this Sunday, whilst strolling from the car park to my seat in the comfortable confines of Warrington’s Halliwell Jones Stadium. Yet its almost impossible to believe. Certainly the Wolves’ current set-up is a very visible indication of the progress made by them and by the wider Super League, no matter how nostalgic one may be about their former home at Wilderspool.
‘Almost impossible’, I say. That’s because as I made that short walk – via Tesco’s – my ears were assailed by the dulcet tones of a coach load of recently disembarked Hull FC fans belting out that old Warrington anthem.
You know the one. We’ve all sung it … at least once … when we were like 14 maybe; It’s the alliterative one. Yes the, “Oh Hanky, Hanky. Hanky, Hanky Warrington.” one … only it’s not hanky, you understand. No hankies are involved … oh, or maybe they are.
As that song drifted across the car park and into the Tesco’s store – a store thronged with middle class shoppers, with middle class children and middle class aspirations – it seemed almost surreal. Like a scene from a time-shifting episode of Dr Who, where a rampaging gang of 1970’s soccer-hooligans are suddenly transported into the gentle surroundings of a Windsor croquet party.
The chants of the small band of vociferous if misguided Hull fans making their way from the coach to the shop were taken up by a smaller group inside the store for a moment. But the appearance of a large Tesco bouncer, the stern stares of middle-class moms, a few muttered ‘not in front of the kids’ and a good scolding from the Tesco customer service girl, soon quelled the uprising.
Although peace was quickly restored, for a little while I remained annoyed at those fools for their singing; initially for the shocking disrespect it showed, but increasingly because instead of wasting that hot air on foul-mouthed chants, they could instead have given us a rousing rendition of Hull FC’s own ‘Old Faithfull’ ballad.
Surely that would have served them better. It raises the hairs on the backs of necks and sends pulses racing, rousing fans and players to greater efforts. More than that it reflects credit on the Hull club, the city and even the sport.
So come on rugby league fans, it’s time to ditch that 1970’s epic in the same place you stuffed those tank tops, bell bottoms and parkas. move on … after all this is 2009, this is Super League and these, these are the “Wolfy, Wolfy Warrington Wolves”.
