The Northern Lensois these English Blood'n'Gold
Previously a fan of Newcastle United, the English group decided to tackle British football, become too frica, civilized and agreed to come and support the RC Lens. And it was not for the wallet Mammadov. Beautiful intuition.
The country that invented football, where it is customary to support the club of your hometown or your neighborhood, they would appear aliens. When many Frenchies pulsate with the exploits of the stars Man U, Man City, Chelsea or Arsenal in front of their TV screen, they plug into matches in Ligue 1, and RC Lens in particular: even if they are sometimes mocked or chambered by their compatriots. Richard, Alex and Adrian - the most active in Northern Lensois - can't be called "gloryhunting bastards": the equivalent of French footix (supporters who loved football in France when they won the World Cup in 1998). "The English football has sold its soul to the devil for money, claims Richard from the outset, 45 years teacher and founder of this group of fans blood and gold in the UK. Now there is no more atmosphere in the stadiums. "
Like many English fans who no longer believe in a Premier League governed by money, Richard and his friends turned to amateur football. Now, "When saturday comes," they lift their pints and sing songs in praise of the team Whithley Bay, their small town North East of England near Newcastle, who plays in the Northern Division One Football League, which is the 7th country level, only the equivalent of the DH in France. "There are 250 fans in every game, said Richard.There, at least, we sing and have fun. Not like Premiership grounds, full but quiet, as bibilothèques. "Even more surprising, the old fans of Magpies or Rovers were enamored of Racing Club de Lens. "I was on holiday in the Gironde, says Richard in good French. I went to see a match in Bordeaux, I met fans of Lens, we hit it off, they sang the whole game, a fantastic atmosphere. I finally found the stadium atmosphere of my youth, when we were all standing in terraces and we sang the whole game. "The click. For several years, Richard has indeed deserted St James' Park . "The Newcastle fans now only 'sing when they win'. And it's the same everywhere in England. Except perhaps at Crystal Palace, where all fans gather in one place and where there is a leader to the songs. "Above all, he admits not being able to pay to get in, especially since he became a Dad: "To have a season ticket at St James' Park, it costs £ 500 for the cheapest (around 700 euros, editor's note). At Arsenal, the cheapest is 1000 pounds. Only businessmen can afford season tickets. And they do not sing, they are just there for the show. It's sad. "Richard is nostalgic for these popular stages" all-seater "70-80 years. Without these businessmen that the Football Association has targeted to fill the aisles and eradicate hooliganism "Now, stadiums no longer vibrate, supporters of subclasses are found in pubs to watch the games, it is the One tradition that remains. But beware, because young people do not love football as their elders, they prefer the Xbox. "
So, Eldorado for an English fan of "subclasses" lies on the other side of the Channel?This is certainly what Richard thinks since he discovered Bollaert: "Even in Ligue 2 matches in Lens are electric, he believes and travels several times a year to support the Blood and Gold. Standing in Marek, it pulses, it has voice, it sings for 90 minutes. My English friends I've taken all wanted to come back. "The British are" moving "when Bollaert croons Les Corons, including Alex, whose mother is Ch'ti. While they admit they do not always watch great football football but a "wonderful atmosphere and the pride of the fans' compensate for the rest. "We are very proud to be accepted by the Lens fans says Richard. They are very friendly and love the English when they come to the Worldnet tournament (international meeting of supporters, ed) in Leeds and Preston each summer." True friendships are born between them. And the passion of the British in Lens even goes beyond football: "Before the game against Monaco in Amiens, we went watch Boulogne-sur-Mer and the Belgian club Kortrijk. We have Northern friends in these clubs too. We even had a picnic on top of Un Terril (mining slag heap). We love this region. "The Facebook page UK Lens Division has 70 likes. The Northern Lensois count 165 members. "Some Englishmen who lived in Calais and others who met at Lensois Worldnet or have followed the adventures of Lens in Europe on TV a few years ago," says the leader of the Northern Lensois. They are about ten who travel regularly to France for Racing. Including Richard, subscribed to France Football. On the Web, they comment on the news of the club. They gather to watch matches on the Internet. "I also listen to France Bleu Nord, but do not understand everything, especially when Christian (Palka, the star commentator local radio, ed) talks too fast." These Sticks so British are now looking forward to the Blood and Or find their lair Bollaert. After all, L2, it's still better than the Northern Football League. And it's not Taylor Moore who say otherwise.
Love consumed in Bordeaux
Like many English fans who no longer believe in a Premier League governed by money, Richard and his friends turned to amateur football. Now, "When saturday comes," they lift their pints and sing songs in praise of the team Whithley Bay, their small town North East of England near Newcastle, who plays in the Northern Division One Football League, which is the 7th country level, only the equivalent of the DH in France. "There are 250 fans in every game, said Richard.There, at least, we sing and have fun. Not like Premiership grounds, full but quiet, as bibilothèques. "Even more surprising, the old fans of Magpies or Rovers were enamored of Racing Club de Lens. "I was on holiday in the Gironde, says Richard in good French. I went to see a match in Bordeaux, I met fans of Lens, we hit it off, they sang the whole game, a fantastic atmosphere. I finally found the stadium atmosphere of my youth, when we were all standing in terraces and we sang the whole game. "The click. For several years, Richard has indeed deserted St James' Park . "The Newcastle fans now only 'sing when they win'. And it's the same everywhere in England. Except perhaps at Crystal Palace, where all fans gather in one place and where there is a leader to the songs. "Above all, he admits not being able to pay to get in, especially since he became a Dad: "To have a season ticket at St James' Park, it costs £ 500 for the cheapest (around 700 euros, editor's note). At Arsenal, the cheapest is 1000 pounds. Only businessmen can afford season tickets. And they do not sing, they are just there for the show. It's sad. "Richard is nostalgic for these popular stages" all-seater "70-80 years. Without these businessmen that the Football Association has targeted to fill the aisles and eradicate hooliganism "Now, stadiums no longer vibrate, supporters of subclasses are found in pubs to watch the games, it is the One tradition that remains. But beware, because young people do not love football as their elders, they prefer the Xbox. "
"We even had a picnic at the top of a heap"
So, Eldorado for an English fan of "subclasses" lies on the other side of the Channel?This is certainly what Richard thinks since he discovered Bollaert: "Even in Ligue 2 matches in Lens are electric, he believes and travels several times a year to support the Blood and Gold. Standing in Marek, it pulses, it has voice, it sings for 90 minutes. My English friends I've taken all wanted to come back. "The British are" moving "when Bollaert croons Les Corons, including Alex, whose mother is Ch'ti. While they admit they do not always watch great football football but a "wonderful atmosphere and the pride of the fans' compensate for the rest. "We are very proud to be accepted by the Lens fans says Richard. They are very friendly and love the English when they come to the Worldnet tournament (international meeting of supporters, ed) in Leeds and Preston each summer." True friendships are born between them. And the passion of the British in Lens even goes beyond football: "Before the game against Monaco in Amiens, we went watch Boulogne-sur-Mer and the Belgian club Kortrijk. We have Northern friends in these clubs too. We even had a picnic on top of Un Terril (mining slag heap). We love this region. "The Facebook page UK Lens Division has 70 likes. The Northern Lensois count 165 members. "Some Englishmen who lived in Calais and others who met at Lensois Worldnet or have followed the adventures of Lens in Europe on TV a few years ago," says the leader of the Northern Lensois. They are about ten who travel regularly to France for Racing. Including Richard, subscribed to France Football. On the Web, they comment on the news of the club. They gather to watch matches on the Internet. "I also listen to France Bleu Nord, but do not understand everything, especially when Christian (Palka, the star commentator local radio, ed) talks too fast." These Sticks so British are now looking forward to the Blood and Or find their lair Bollaert. After all, L2, it's still better than the Northern Football League. And it's not Taylor Moore who say otherwise.
Yannick Lefrère
RC Lens: how two English became absolute fans of Blood and Gold!
PUBLISHED ON 08.19.2015
No need to live in the region to be a fan of Racing. Alex and Richard, two Englishmen, are living proof. At each move, they live what they sought in France and they no longer find in their country: the fervour of the fans and the atmosphere matches. Meet…
If there is something good, as sacred as the cup of tea in the country of his Majesty, that's sport. Rugby or football, Richard Stephenson chose his camp since his early childhood. Unconditional supporter of Newcastle, he has gradually diverted English stadiums to support the RC Lens. Not because the fries were crispier and more cold beer in France across the Channel (that's obvious). No, rather a story of attitude and atmosphere in the stands. And above all the story of a first virtual meeting via Facebook.
Grandfather minor to Grenay
Grandfather minor to Grenay
On the other side of the screen, Alex Halls, born in England of a mother from Grenay. "My grandfather was a miner; even if he was not going to see the matches of Racing, he was still talking. "Normally Alex lives in York (North of England) set up the English fan page (expatriates or not) Racing (RC Lens UK division): "Initially I was the only group member, and then Richard came." Suffice to say that both are here today. Difficult today to choose between which is the biggest fan, they have their own way to know. At Alex on the right arm the tattoo with the three letters RCL, Richard the English car in the colors of Racing. The love of the jersey meets throughout the year and even more like last Friday when they were able to cross the channel to watch a game. If Alex is content in a jersey, Richard is more demonstrative: blood and gold socks (gift from his wife, who understands she should support the passion of her husband fan), laces to the two colors ... and watch with piece of yellow bracelet and another red. "This is the watch of our tenth wedding anniversary ... I bought two watch straps. Now my wife says it's a clown show. "But Richard, a teacher in life, has more than one trick in his bag. He still likes to tell how he had obtained permission to repaint his classroom and had surprised his headteacher when she discovered the result ... Blood and Gold. "Since, she has often changed my classroom."
A jersey with his name
Each movement (two to three in the season) has a price, but every time it's the same emotion. The audience, singing, communion with the players. All that is no longer found in the stadiums of his country and he has found in his new club. Via the Internet, the friends follow the games, communicate with an even broader community and look out for the latest news of theRacing on Facebook.
A meeting with Gervais Martel and Eric Sikora in Lens-Créteil had no small effect. Richard and Alex were in heaven!
This is a great inspiring article.I am pretty much pleased with your good work.You put really very helpful information. Keep it up. Keep blogging. Looking to reading your next post. french press
ReplyDelete