This drum has no beat
Tuesday, April 17, 2012 at 12:38PM You might or might not be aware there's been a campaign recently to get Spurs to allow back a drummer + drum into the corner of the Shelf Side.
There will be no return for the drum at the Lane. The club have finally responded and there are two reasons given why we wont be seeing it at matches.
Firstly, the infamous rhythm the original drummer used encouraged the 'systematic chanting' of the word "yids" and the club do not want to be seen as endorsing this as to avoid being slapped on the wrist by the football authorities and anti-racism campaigners. So basically no chance of an instrument being used to orchestrate this chant, although it would appear that football supporters can still use their mouths to achieve the same thing. That's until the time when said mouths will be surgically removed on entry to the ground as per the small print you didn't read.
The current drummer would be happy NEVER to play that particular rhythm. I guess the club still believe it's a risk to allow it back in even if they stipulated rules concerning the removal of the drummer and the drum if they deviated from the agreed song sheet. To think once upon a time all this was good enough to be featured in the clubs Opus.
The second reason given is a joke. Probably an exaggerated excuse. The club are saying that they received complaints from other supporters about the noise generated from the beating of the drum. Really? The noise? Is it that ear-bleedingly loud? Is it that annoying? That persistent? Can I officially complain about the knee-jerking t*ats in the Park Lane Lower that mouth off garbage all game? Can we have them banned too? Who exactly goes to a football match and complain about noise? Is this the same ilk of person that remains seated even if a player is about to run through and score a goal? The same that gives a dirty look towards fans who dare to stand up and sing for Tottenham? I wonder how many people complained? A thousand? A hundred? Ten?
Apparently:
"We are firmly of the belief that White Hart Lane is a unique stadium, with a fantastic atmosphere organically generated by the crowd without the need of additional instrumentation"
Fantastic for category A games, sure. For other games, I guess I can agree that the atmosphere is organically generated at times, say based on say a poor home performance and the resulting boos echoing around our stadium proudly.
The fact that loyal supporters who frequent Spurs every game want the drum back speaks volumes about this illusion that the atmosphere is always buzzing. But then we're back with the same arguments relating to modern football and the fact that we are continually conforming, from free to express ourselves football fans to nothing more than a client reference number. This shouldn't be and isn't about needing a drum to inspire the fans (although it would help). There's a far bigger problem in football these days in that people turn up to sit down as if they're watching the game from the comfort of their home on the sofa. The way football is policed and packaged, you are made to feel guilty for daring to achieve genuine organic atmosphere. From the heart.
Some fans are stuck neck-deep in the pressure and want for success they forget what it means to be emotive. There's also the new breed of modern football supporters that prefer to sit and watch in silence. The club are doing their very best to appease this particular group (the family with the money to spend spend spend). Keep it clean for the kids. Then to top it off there's a hefty slice of the home support that would happily have sung their hearts out when we were mediocre but now expect victory without wanting to voice their passion. They tie into the ones that can't handle the pressures of competing at the top.
Fragmantation aside, the crux is we not trusted with a drum. It's also a cultural thing what with this country being a complete mess with its politically correct overload. I'm not suggesting they let us walk into the ground with a pigs head or a moped, but come on, please treat the ones that are responsible like adults. This is about the freedom of expression, more than it is about some bloke and a drum.
There's a contradiction with what Spurs are saying. But then this is about politics and about the word 'yid' more than anything else. Which is fair enough and its probably appreciated by most that the club has shown transparency here. But the middle ground is being ignored for far more controlling reasons. At a recent game (Spurs youth team) at Charlton we had a drum taken off us because apparently the home supporters were required to be informed in advance about the potential noise we would generate from it so that they could be prepared for it on the night. Ridiculous. The club (Tottenham) gave our support that night a mention on the official site/official Facebook page.
There is no valid reason other than the powers that be wanting to control your experience.
The club owns us. We are consumers. We are replaceable. We are a walking wallet. Football is sports entertainment and standing up when you've got a seat is unacceptable.
I'm looking forward to seeing the clubs plans for 'the wall' (the massive kop end) pencilled in for the new stadium. You'll remember it from the illustrations, it looked majestic in size in illustration. The noise emanating from it will probably be lunch-boxes open and closing whilst everyone tucks into their prawn sandwiches.
In the mean time, don't be afraid to show your love for the club. Otherwise...To dare is to be told to do.
Reader Comments (38)
Wish someone would tell the "England Band" to bugger off from England games.......
It's bad enough hearing them via the TV, can't imagine how bad it is at a game!
As for the Spurs drummer, when was he banned? I haven't been to the Lane since the 125th anniversary game against Villa, and can't remember if he was there then.
Personally, for the games I attended it was never a problem. In fact it added something tribal to the atmosphere.
Also, it's not like he was sat where it caused a problem - unlike old Mr Portsmouth with his bell (that has to send you home with a migraine!).
Next the board will be dictating that you can't go for a piss until the half-time whistle has gone, or that you can't cheer when we score a goal.
Damn, I miss going to the Lane - but I won't take my 6 year old down there......
"Damn, I miss going to the Lane - but I won't take my 6 year old down there......"
Why? What a strange thing to say. I've missed only a handful of home games over the last 3/4 years and I've never seen any trouble (and that's in Park Lane, not 'family' Paxton!).
That is a tragic shame, the drum was great for atmosphere. Come on Levy, sort it out! Good atmosphere helps to get good results... good for the bottom line too!
that SUCKS i miss that chant dum dum dum dum dum dum YIDS
We are what and who we are! All the well-meaning attempts to poodle-ize the Yid Army are stupid and doomed to failure. Lets have our drummer back, please, Mr Levy. Cheers!
But I agree with Walkerboy that the England band be banned. I never thought I'd grow to hate Colonel Bogey, but...
I think the drum should be brought back to instruct Harry on team selection.
I can understand the club wanting to distance themselves from the yids chant.
I am Jewish but while I am not offended by it's use and will happily chant 'yiddo' whenever VDV comes across to take a corner, other Jewish people I know do feel uncomfortable with it. By allowing the drum to orchestrate this chant the club are saying 'it's okay to shout yids' when to some people it isn't ok. I'm sure it's mostly fine with everyone actually in the ground but you have to remember that games are shown on TV worldwide to viewers who don't really understand how the word is being used.
As for being too loud - well that's just bollocks. I do agree we need the drum back, just promise them no more yids rhythm.
Please can all the people who sit in the ground without saying a word and complain when you stand up for corners or free kicks please fuck off and support Ar2ena1
Had some tosser behind me complain about standing at Wembley, put him right on a few things and he was as good as gold after that, but seriously our biggest game of the season, if you want a clear view for 90 mins stay at home and watch it on the telly. It is always the ones who sit there for the whole game dont utter a word of support for the team that complain !!!! True ???
Does'nt help either when we give part of the Park Lane away to visiting fans that always hampens the atmosphere!!! Bring Back the DRUM!!!!
those ones that sit there in silence can argue that they have just as much right to be there as you do
and im saying that as a stander
it's a weird one though - it's always a bit of an awkward moment when you get 'told off' by one of your own fans for standing up
I think people should start calling over stewards at football matches and complaining to them about fans who complain about other fans who support.
I wouldn't be too concerned what people overseas hear as they wouldn't be able to understand most of it it anyway! can you understand German or Italian chants?-
The club ARE concerned (IMHO) however, at what might be seen as our own provocative chanting (YIDS!)- which could lead to a backlash- and we know well how some Chelsea (and other) supporters react to that- which sadly is the really offensive stuff, which DOES cause offense... and that is the problem as far as I can see...
Especially the Man U game, they had half of the lower tier, no top tier at all! We should shove all away fans in the top tier like Milan did to us as far away from the pitch as possible, that would definitely help our own atmosphere.
@David - he's not one for big crowds/lots of noise, not to mention the language!
Also, he can't sit still for more then 20 mins at a time.....
Via email:
This is where Tottenham and the rest of the Premier League can take a page out of the book of Major League Soccer. Almost all stadiums have a "supporters' section" where everyone stands, sings and drinks. This is often an entire end. I've stood in La Barra Brava at DC United games a few times and I'd be a member if I lived in Washington DC. The club sell them general admission tickets at face value, and as long as they keep to their section, there's no fighting and they never say anything racist/homophobic, the stewards leave them along. On the opposite end of the stadium in most places is a "family section" where no alcohol or cursing is allowed. There's no reason a stadium can't accommodate all kinds of people, have a good atmosphere and make gobs of money for the club. Just a thought.
-Kevin
Awesome post, mate. And so true. The weird thing about Wembley, despite the scoreline, is that despite the warnings to sit down 10mins before kick-off, we felt genuine freedom to stand and sing for 90mins. It was a proper atmosphere and it was an awesome experience. We don't tend to get that at the Lane anymore, if I am completely honest, and that is being lost rapidly through every home game we play. The officiating in the stands is becoming stricter. If we stand when we're on the verge of scoring, we better sit down quickly or be warned to sit down.
The banning of the drum is just another way of controlling the fans, and it really is a sad thing to see. Spurs hierarchy pride themselves on the atmosphere generated... well, they are doing their level best to destroy it now.
Dear me this piece is full of vitriol and i assume the author is still smarting from a banging headache induced by the incessent moaning from certain fans about everything and nothing in particular.
Lets face it Danny the drum was not exactly a regular feature at the lane and the beat knocked on on occassion wasnt exactly Cozy Powell in skill and melody.
It got the crowd on its feet on occassion,but often drifted into nothingness after a few attempts at motivating those less vocal than the largely oafish shelf who still insist on standing regardless of wether children or people less able to stand than themselves are behind them.
Football is all inclusive and many varieties of people from all walks of life attend matches at the lane.Let me say i beleive that there should be a standing section for those who want to stand,and those who sit should be allowed to sit and enjoy the spectacle that is premier league football.
Back when I was in my twenties and thirties I would stand ,sing and more often than not throw insults across the divide in the Park Lane at the opposing fans,but time and circimstance change.I now run a business and take my daughter to games so the attitude and behaviour had to be modified.It does not mean I am any less passionate about Tottenham or care less about them than someone a third of my age.I may not sing as much these days or stand as often as i could,but i still go to every match and take just as much flak as anyone over our shoddy performances of late.So in short sorry you cant have your drum but we managed pretty well without it for 100 years and i dont suppose too many will mourn its passing
Dear Mr Levy,
I will be in attendence at the next home game therefore I request that you inform our opposition there will be at least one man who is quite vociferous in his singing. I would request that any objections from the visting fans be made in writing at least 48 hours before the game, as I will entertain no complaints thereafter,
regards,
JohnnyB
re: Knee jerker from park lane lower
You missed the bit in the article that cited expression to support. Bringing in a drum shouldn't be an issue, it shouldn't even warrant banning/campaign to bring it back. We shouldn't even be discussing it. That's the point being made. I have nothing against people that want to sit there in peace and watch although I find it hard to understand why someone would choose the Park Lane Lower for that considering everyone stands up there most of the time.
The issue is fans that do want to stand up and sing and make some noise are being marginalised. Again, the article states 'sports entertainment' and that's where we are heading (if we're not half way there already).
Football is changing. I think I'm allowed to throw my dummy out the pram whilst I can because soon enough the club will own that as well.
thank you spooky for giving us something else to talk about other than how sh*t we currently are
The MLS example works because 1. Standing is allowed, and 2. the fans that do stand, drink and shout their heads off, wouldn't bother turning up if they had to sit and be quiet.
The football fans of PL clubs are too scared to lose their seats to some Tarquin type, and will thus jolly well do what they're told.
Football will only be returned to the fans once it has been bled dry by TV companies, in the meantime, you're just being milked for all you are worth and perpetuating the status quo.
The MLS example works because 1. Standing is allowed, and 2. the fans that do stand, drink and shout their heads off, wouldn't bother turning up if they had to sit and be quiet.
The football fans of PL clubs are too scared to lose their seats to some Tarquin type, and will thus jolly well do what they're told.
Football will only be returned to the fans once it has been bled dry by TV companies, in the meantime, you're just being milked for all you are worth and perpetuating the status quo.
Here in the United States, our rowdiest sports events are often at the university level for football or basketball games. There, you get body paint, constant standing, pep bands, lots of noise, etc etc. By contrast, with a few exceptions, professional sports are tame. As such, it's easy to romanticize English soccer for the ceaseless chanting and singing, live-and-die by your team mentality. I went to my one and only Spurs match a year ago when visiting a friend in London, and spent a half happily standing up cheering before being told to sit by the attendants. Sort of a deflating feeling. Sorry to hear that's the trend.
Body paint! By christ even from in my ivory tower of upper west i can see some of shapes in that park lane lower...paint can usually cover all ills but in this case just wont do it...
Koume2 - great one liner mate....took the pain of recent results away...for a few minutes!
If you want to sit all game, and are a bit sensitive to naughty words, here's an idea: Piss off to the Paxton end, West Stand, East Upper, or anywhere over the halfway of the lower. The best atmosphere is created when the Park Lane are allowed to stand. Fact. It's not asking a lot for a lower tier of a smaller stand to be allowed to enjoy an authentic(ish) football experience instead of the sanitised bollocks we usually endure. A sustained campaign for terracing needs to start
got my season ticket renewal pack in the post today. talk about sh*t timing
last thing i want to do right now is throw away a couple of grand on this lot
you will be getting my money on the 15 may mr levy and not a day earlier.
and that's if you convince me from now until then that next season will not be a total and utter waste
actually, make that three grand
£1,450 per ticket x 2
bloody hell, i must be insane
"The issue is fans that do want to stand up and sing and make some noise are being marginalised. Again, the article states 'sports entertainment' and that's where we are heading (if we're not half way there already). Apr 17, 2012 at 4:15 PM | spooky"
Actually spooky there you have it, there, with the oxymoran "sports entertainment", you have the whole "Franchise" arguement/debate... Man. City and Man. Utd., the Chavs, Woolwich Wanderers, etc. are sports entertainment Franchises. Tottenham is not. How long it stays that way is well worth a debate (at season's end).
We don't have much time left. New stadium is pivotal and might well rejuvenate the vocal support (if they move us across in blocks from the old one). If Levy stays true to his word about building something that is 'old fashion' rather than the likes of Woolwich and City then we've got enough fans to make the most of it. Having said that, its 5 years away or so - and by then there's no way of telling what and where this club will be.
@koume2.
Eureka! Well done. The perfect revolt. Hit the arrogant bastards where it counts. If enough fans did the same it would wake them up.
In my 'umble opinion right now is not the time for anything other than getting behind the squad and carrying them over the line (cos' they ain't gonna manage it on their own bruv'). Everything else is academic. Champions League qualification is the Holy Grail. Achieve that and it's open season. Miss it and our beloved Spurs is on the block whoring herself.
And anyway, everything in the hands and ????? of Uncle Jo spooky...
Anyway, here we are awaiting 'yet another' master stroke by Redclapp. If you look at the managers that made something happen out of a desperate situation against those who couldn't hack it, you would say Wenger, Martinize and DeMateo delivered against Coyle, Kean, McCarthy and Redknapp who just couldn't reverse the losing habit.
Redknapp, in particular carries a massive responsibility for the shambles he fielded on Sunday where we had the FA Cup and 4th place as targets and Chelsea had the same plus a massive CL Semi Final clash with Barcelona, no less. Who mentally prepared their team, DeMateo did of course, where Harry's mismash team of disorgansation, nerves and gunghooism achieved fuck all but embarrassment all round. Quite funny that Chelsea had Cahil to call on when they needed him, where when we could have done with a change at the back, our young CB was down in South Wales playing for Swansea.
Now to QPR and more of the same again, while Newcastle will pick up the points and Chelsea will , at least 'hold their own' against the Gunners. We should have been 'out of sight' by now. Oh how I despise that individual.
Excellent post. I am an Arsenal fan but often read DML (Le Grove normally). Just look at it at Arsenal, not even allowed to bring the national flag in. What a fkin joke.
I remember that from a few seasons back and I also remember taking the piss and laughing at Arsenal (the club) for taking that right away. Seems that its catching up with everyone now.
Spurs have told Bolton (officially) not to allow the drum to the away game. Staggering.
Agree Spooky, for one reason or another money is total king even at the cost of history and fans. The support is becoming watered down/sanitised which is sad to see. Stay at WHL, don't through away you history.
Personally I would like the re-introduction of some standing areas within grounds and also a pricing policy that will allow the next generation of fans to attend. The game is bigger than any one club.
Living in dreamworld I guess.
i can understand why someone would want to bring an england/uk flag but what's with all the israel flags at whl?
if anything should be banned it's flags of other countries with political connotations
and im not being anti-semetic before anyone gets all offended