BANNING THE BOUNCE By Luke Traynor on Mar 15, 08 02:23 AM in Anfield ANFIELD'S stewards hate the Torres Bounce. The sight of a few hundred excited Reds jumping up and down to the most well-received song on the Kop for years has got them, or their employers rather, seething. The word on the terraces is that warnings are being given to fans who partake in our newly invented ritual. At a time when fans, managers, players, and journalists complain about the lack of atmosphere in English stadium, their attitude seems misplaced. Of course, safety comes first. But jumping up and down at football matches has been part and parcel for years. What are we supposed to do when we score? Root our feet firmly to the floor and politely applaud? Shake hands with our neighbour? Jolly good show Fernando! Liverpool fans have always been some of the most original when it comes to dreaming up new lyrics and melodies to sing. Even so, The Torres Bounce genuinely seems the most enthusiastically ditty to have been 'penned' by the Reds composers for many a year. At a time when good new football tunes are in short supply, it seems a shame that the powers that be want to clamp down. Apparently, the club have been getting letters of complaint from fans who say they can't see when The Bounce is in action? Take a straw poll of those who have a ticket on The Kop and I reckon over three quarters will tell you they have no objection to fans getting off their feet once in a while. According to some, stewards are threatening to kick fans out who take part. That will probably start a mutiny. It's an over-reaction. And it's behaviour like this that will ruin the already dying atmosphere and passion within our grounds. Not everyone agrees. Working a late shift last week, I took a phone call from a very irrate Kop season ticket holder asking why the ECHO hadn't wirtten about fans being 'rightly' (his words not mine) ejected at the Reading game for standing. He was a firm advocate of the sitting brigade and made some points, some of which I agreed with, others I didn't. He went on to make claims about certain sections 'standing all the time'. I made the point that for some of the bigger cup games and the Derby standing throughout the whole game had become an almost accepted practice on the Kop. He didn't agree that it should be accepted, adding some misplaced comments about Hillsborough and ended up slamming the phone down. I'm sure people will have differing views on this, mine is that some sporadic standing and frollocking about is what going the match is all about. One thing is for certain, it's definitely bringing the fun back into going the match again. There's a very amusing vid doing the rounds on You Tube of Reds on the metro on their way to the ground in Milan. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TI86sEwrOeQ In full noisy bouncing mood, the camera pans to a bemused, cool, shade-wearing, leather-clad Inter fan looking perplexed at the madcap group of Kirkdale, Bootle and Old Swan Liverpool fans bucking up and down before him. Priceless. Some Reds I've spoken to who went to the San Siro said it was an awesome sight to see thousands of Liverpool fans pogo-ing to the Spaniard's theme tune. The Inter fans were so impressed with Liverpool's support that they gave them a standing ovation as the match drew to a close. Provided its done in a sensible and safe way, let the fans have their fun. Otherwise there'll be no such thing as a 12th man at Anfield anymore. Here's a few 'bounces' to enjoy in the meantime. http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=kAHZ3RE1xwE&feature=related http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=RIXKKoBnnYc&NR=1
I noticed some of the stewards trying to stop people from bouncing at the game today ... a real shame, it's class.
You know what scousers are like-if they see 1 or 2 being ejected theyre not gonna stop-theyre just gonna do it even more They might make an example of 1 or 2 but the bounce is here to stay.
you can imagine if the bounce started and your the one on the outside and nabbed by the stewards, be some kick in the balls wouldn it
You'd have to be dead unlucky wouldnt ya-would be some dose I'd say youre grand once youre not at the very edge and standing right next to one.Theyre not gonna go wading through rows of people to pull you out like. Im sure this will all die down eventually and the bounce will remain intact
No surprise really they that HSE don't like the bounce when you consider they don't like us standing either. Can't do much about i though
jesus them bloody stewards. Its just a bounce, what next ban goal celebrations. "Mild mannered applause please"