Would Racist Stoke Fans Like to Tell Us The Score?

Weve got Gervinho
By Boris Mellor
October 23 2011

Stoke fans are getting a reputation for being the nastiest fans in the premiership. Now I am not suggesting every Stoke fans is a racist, but the evidence from today’s game is that a sizeable majority of the away fans are. I am fortunate that I sit at the top of the North Bank, as far away as is possible from their racist, and other nasty, chants coming from these particular fans. However, celebrating the 3-1 win in the pub afterwards an Arsenal and Liverpool fan sitting next to the away fans told me how they had witnessed the racist abuse of a young Asian Arsenal Fan.

The fan who had been proudly standing up and showing his support for Arsenal was treated with “Paki, Paki, what’s the score” when Stoke equalised. Well dear racist muppets would you like to tell us the score now?

What a sad stain on a proud club with a wonderful anti- racist tradition, although I doubt if these ignorant louts know anything about it. But on the remote chance they might be interested I will remind them. Two of England’s finest footballers who dedicated their lives to fighting racism played for Stoke.

First Stanley Matthews, and then later George Eastham, spent much of their lives working in the townships of South Africa to encourage and train young black footballers discriminated against by a racist regime. They stood for the oppressed and against Apartheid’s attempt to ignore and destroy black football talent. How would they feel to hear this sickening mob of racists?

Eastham was an Arsenal favourite before he went to Stoke, and Matthews played for Arsenal during WWII. These links always made me fond of Stoke, and I was proud to be at Stoke for the game in Division 1 when Matthews became the first player to play a competitive league 1 game at the age of 50.

Arsenal fans adored Matthew’s and jeered any Arsenal player who dared to foul him, indeed even a robust tackle could earn a round of boos. Eastham was to become a Stoke Manager, a noted opponent of Apartheid and a holder of a 1966 World Cup medal. Eastham a founder of the South Africa Arsenal’s Supporters Club is now retired.

It is time that decent Stoke fans began to fight to restore the legacy of Eastham and Matthews, before it is erased by the stain of racism.

It seems insignificant to write about the match after such a disgraceful display of racism, but I am glad to say that the crowing of these louts was stuck back down their throats by a strong Arsenal second half performance. A good Gervinho goal was cancelled out by a lapse at the far post in the first half. However, Arsenal were far more determined in the second half, but Walcott was reluctant to score, so little was made of the pressure.

Once again Van Persie was central to the win, with all important help from Gervinho. I am not sure what was most important, that Arshavin came on, or that Walcott went off. Arshavin was far more searching and active, and I can’t help feeling that if he had had as many chances as Walcott had then the score would be very different. Without Walcott and Chamakh the whole team increased the tempo. Gervinho with a goal and two assists can be happy with his day’s work. Who knows he could become a bigger icon than Eboue.

In the end what had looked like a struggle at 70 minutes appeared to be a cakewalk on 90 minutes. The crowd were even oleing the team by the end of the game. The crowd cheered their heads off at the news of Citeh beating Man U 6-1, don’t analyse it, just enjoy. Then in the local pubs it was cheers all over again as QPR beat Chelsea 1-0. Almost a perfect day, but racism always leaves a nasty taste. Its time something was done.