Die-hard Ultras / Hardcore Supporters

Matthew Foster8, I’m going to need you to settle a question for me here. You’ve made this claim that back in the 80s, the Rangers Supporters Club was on a completely different level of madness—basically just a collection of the toughest guys from the streets of our coastal cities. So, my question is: where did all those heavy hitters go? Where did they vanish to? Because from where I’m sitting, it feels like we’re missing that exact breed of grit today if we ever want to reclaim the identity we used to have. Correct me if I’ve misinterpreted your previous posts, but that’s how I’ve been reading your take on the whole situation.

Matthew Foster8 said:you guys basically wrote the exact same thing, so I might as well just address both of you at once...
I think you guys completely misread what I was getting at, because honestly, I’m not dwelling on the past or anything like that, so what is it with all this talk about nostalgia or being stuck in the old ways? Did I not make myself clear enough, or did everyone just miss my point entirely?
If someone isn't some kind of traditionalist clinging to the good old days, then I guess that's just me.
The whole issue here is simply that the Rangers Supporters Club hasn't evolved with the times; instead of growing stronger as the years pass, the group has become diluted and has been used far too often as a punching bag for others. A huge chunk of this group feels more like a casual social club than an actual supporters' group, and that's really the crux of the matter if you just look around at who is actually moving forward and who is just stagnating.
The Rangers Supporters Club needs to be the powerhouse today and tomorrow. Who cares about the eighties or the nineties? What happened back then stays in the past.

I totally get where you're coming from, but I am firmly convinced that whenever the Rangers Supporters Club truly needs to step up—instead of just going on a little field trip—that real spirit shows up, and there are plenty of examples to prove it. Personally, I was right there in the thick of it during several matches, and I could list them off easily.
Take that time in Chicago, for instance, when people were trying to deny us our space; we were running through the plaza, and even after they waited forever just to finally confront us by throwing chairs, we knew exactly what kind of chaos we were walking into, and there were 150 of us ready for it.
That trip to Miami felt the same way, with everyone ready to go; I don't see how anyone could have stood against us when a thousand people showed up early in the city, and honestly, those people throwing rocks from the woods? That's their shame, not ours.
Even in Philly, there were a thousand of us prepared for anything, including a scrap with the police; I was certain we'd face multiple confrontations with their local groups, but instead, those poor souls were just throwing stuff from the other stands the whole time.

What I’m trying to say is that when we sense things might get ugly—when it feels like a real battle rather than just a weekend away—the fans, both young and old, really do rise up, and that is exactly the kind of Rangers Supporters Club you're talking about.

And for me personally, nothing beats that time we rallied to save our beloved team, even if it looked a bit ridiculous at the time. If we hadn't stepped up, the club would have folded or gone into bankruptcy, and if the team is gone, what happens to the supporters? Since we aren't traveling to places like New York or Dallas as much lately, why not show that we still have the guts to protect the club from disappearing entirely?

I honestly want to take a swing at anyone calling me just some casual fan of a club that defines my entire daily routine.

Look, I don't call myself an ultra—I’ve never been part of the inner circle, and I know exactly where I fit in—but I’ve spent over a decade in the North Stand. I don't go to games just to sit there; I go for the smell of flares and smoke, for the singing when we're half-buzzed, through the wins and the absolute losses. I’ll be right there as long as I can still stand on my own two feet.

It’s pathetic how those who "get it" think the issue is just the divide between ultras and regular fans. These days, people don't dress like idiots or cheer like idiots anymore. So, there's no point in me explaining how much progress has actually been made. It comes down to one thing: education. And we need to keep doing it.

What’s the actual problem? The "insiders," obviously. You don't have to kiss up to them, but until everyone is on the same page, nothing changes. If the motto is "everything for the group," then respect the hierarchy—that’s part of "everything." If you do that, the regular fans will back you up. 🙂 Get your heads together. The balance between the hardcore ultras and the general crowd will happen naturally. You'll end up with an ultra scene that actually has both the intensity and the massive numbers to command the streets.

Cheers.

Ryan Chavez3 said:It’s just plain stupid. Honestly.

Why didn't we just head out to those same old cliffs twenty years ago when everyone was still obsessed with that whole Brinjam mess? Honestly, I'm sitting here wondering why nobody thought to make that move back then—it feels like one of those things that should have been obvious, yet somehow, it wasn't. Just one of those things, I guess.

What’s the actual difference?

I was just thinking about that one time in Mostar—you know, when those old-school Rangers Supporters Club guys basically stormed the field right at the attackers—and honestly, I think your comparison to how things were with Brindley a few years back is spot on. That’s exactly where the whole issue lies.
I was right there in the thick of it, and honestly, what went down in the front row doesn't even matter anymore—it’s just noise. For the story we're actually telling here, the real story is what was happening in the background.
Even though there were like a hundred of us facing off against thirty, I always say it felt like we were even—mostly because half the crowd just stood there acting like they weren't even part of the movement, you know? It’s like they were physically present but mentally miles away.
So, I was talking to this guy the other day—someone who’s actually been in the trenches and has the track record to prove it—and he told me that, for once, there are some pretty damn solid reasons why everything is just being watched from the sidelines. He's just keeping a close eye on the whole situation in the background.
And he’s just sitting there laughing about that whole stretch of highway—you know, where most people don't really have the sense to just pull over and wait... they were just fascinated by the spectacle at first. They were busy shouting insults at those uptown snobs from the city and all that nonsense, but once the whole thing dragged on for nearly ten minutes, the novelty wore off. Then the reality set in—they started fighting, peeing, doing all that typical roadside business you see when you're stuck on a highway. They pulled out their phones to call relatives, acting like they were reporting some massive brawl or something. Honestly, they're just messing around. One guy even hopped out to check his oil while everyone else sat there staring at the chaos like it was nothing more than a standard traffic jam. 😁 Or you know, when there’s some massive pileup or just total gridlock on the interstate—one of those days where you're just sitting there staring at brake lights—and you're basically stuck waiting for the chaos to clear before you can even think about checking your phone.
Look, everything else is fine, really—but there’s one glaring issue. That other half of the hundred-odd people who tagged along for the away game against the local rivals? They all claim they're part of the Rangers Supporters Club too. My concern is that once they show up at the Country Club, they’ll start shouting about how certain folks are just outcasts or whatever, and then they might even turn around at the stadium and start calling the locals cowards just to stir the pot. Honestly, that's exactly why they headed out there in the first place.
edit
Replying to Amy Cox11... they’re gone—dead, scattered, aged out, just plain finished.
Cut the crap.

Miller said:Well, tell me how anyone is supposed to make progress when the "local legends" in your own section are busy making jokes at the expense of the very group they belong to...
What exactly do they contribute?

...yeah, I guess you have a point there. Sometimes it’s harder to connect all these dots than it would be to figure out which guy tripped over his own feet at a beach party in Santa Monica🙄
...let's try this instead: if they just keep up this tone—which, honestly, is pushing the limits of what's tolerable—everyone is eventually going to end up in a shouting match. Though, I suppose I'll give them about a 33% chance of actually pulling it off.😍

Matthew Foster8 said:Since you guys basically posted the same thing, I might as well address both of you at once..
I think you totally missed the mark on what I actually meant. It’s not about me dwelling on the past or whatever—what are you guys even talking about? Nostalgia? Drugs? I don't know, maybe you just didn't get it, or maybe I wasn't clear enough.
If you aren't some die-hard traditionalist living in the past, then I guess that’s just who I am.
The whole point here is that the Rangers Supporters Club hasn't adapted to the modern era. Instead of growing with the times, they've just become diluted, and frankly, they've been used as political pawns way too many times. A huge chunk of the group looks more like a bunch of casual social club members than an actual hardcore fan base, and that’s the crux of it. Just look around—look at which groups are moving backward, which ones are stuck, and which ones are actually leveling up.
The Rangers Supporters Club needs to be the strongest force today and tomorrow. Forget about the eighties and nineties,it's all just noise. What happened back then stays in the past.

...of course, constantly looking backward and clinging to nostalgia usually leads to a complete misunderstanding of that era.☕

Matthew Foster8 said:I was thinking about that old matchup where the Rangers Supporters Club charged the attackers like they were first in line, and I think it’s actually a great point to compare it to what happened with the Dallas Cowboys a few years back, because that’s really the core of the issue here.
I was actually there, and honestly, what went down in the front row matters less right now. For this specific situation, the real story is what was happening in the background.
Even though there were maybe a hundred of us against thirty, I always say it felt like we were evenly matched because half those people were just standing there, barely acting like they were part of it.
A guy I know—someone who’s been through similar stuff and has seen plenty of chaos, but this time he was just watching everything from a distance for more objective reasons—told me something recently.
He was laughing about how most of the crowd didn't bother getting involved... "First, they thought it was entertaining to watch. They were all shouting insults at those city slickers and whatnot, but once the whole thing dragged on for nearly ten minutes, they lost interest. People started doing whatever you do when you're stuck in a traffic jam—they pulled out their phones, called their relatives, talked about the fight like it was some distant news report. They were messing around; one guy even joked about checking his oil. To them, it was just a delay in traffic 😁 or like waiting out a fender bender or a pileup on the highway until things clear up so you can get moving again."
And look, that’s fine, but the real problem is that the other half of those hundred people traveling for the game against the Seattle Seahawks also call themselves Rangers Supporters Club members. They’ll show up at the stadium, shout about how the local fans are nothing but losers, and then probably pick fights with the city fans too. That’s exactly why they headed over there in the first place.
edit
Responding to @Amy Cox11... they're dead, scattered, old, or whatever.
Anyway, moving on.

...respect, KJBZ👍

rustyangler122 said:Look, once you actually get around to tackling that, just start a new thread. We can have a proper discussion there. It’s better than trying to cram every single random thought into one topic—it's like trying to shove everything into a locked closet. It just doesn't work.🙂

The Rangers Supporters Club back in the '80s was basically the vanguard—the true blueprint for everything supporter culture became in this part of the world. They set the standard that every other group eventually followed, which is why they’ll always command a certain level of respect. I guess you could compare them to the old-school English or Italian ultras... even if those scenes aren't exactly at their peak these days.

Benjamin Cruz29 said:The Rangers Supporters Club back in the 80s was basically the avant-garde—the spark that started everything for fan culture in this part of the world. They set the blueprint that every other group eventually followed, which is why they’ll always be respected and held in high regard. It was kind of like the English or Italian scenes globally (even if things have definitely dipped since then)

...Were you actually there, living through it? I'm just curious.🤷(I could write this in more detail later, but honestly, I'm exhausted as hell right now, so forget it)...I mean, are you speaking as someone who was active on the ground during those years, or can you be objective about describing that era? (Not that being an active participant means you can't be objective, obviously)
...Ugh, man... those old mental images always mess with my head. It wasn't easy back then, and it isn't easy today either...
...Sometimes it feels like the 80s were way harder from a supporter's standpoint, but then again, sometimes the last few seasons feel just as brutal because of how much total repression has been implemented lately...
...

...tick-tock, just a little longer until I head out for my mother's 🤣

rustyangler122 said:...were you actually there, just wondering🤷(I could write this in more detail later, but I'm absolutely wiped out right now, so forget it)...I mean, are you speaking as someone who lived through it firsthand, or can you be objective about that era (not that people who were active back then aren't objective today, obviously)
...man, those old mental images always mess with my head. It wasn't easy back then, and honestly, it isn't easy now either...
...sometimes it feels like being a fan in the 80s was way tougher, but other times, looking at the last few seasons with all this constant suppression, it seems different...
...

I was just a kid back then..

I’m reading this and I honestly can't believe my eyes 😁

The best part is how cynically some of you commented when I posted about five or six weeks ago that you’d soon be going through exactly what we dealt with ages ago

The truth is, you're just five years behind us. Everything you’re struggling with right now? We lived through that back in 2007, and well, we all know how that ended. That’s what’s coming for you.

And if I may stir the pot a little... our issues started when certain people (who we thankfully managed to get rid of) began hanging out and hitting up weddings with Mamić. Meanwhile, half your group was recently at a Kerum family wedding, stuffing their faces alongside Nevenka 😈 so, are they mercenaries like UV or what?

Anyway, please, keep it coming. Watching this train wreck is pure entertainment 😁

END, don't be ridiculous 😉

Benjamin Cruz29 said:it was just a dream, kid..

...well, I guess that doesn't change much for me either🤣
...anyway, I'm feeling a bit more energized now, so I think I'll head out to a party for a while😍

...this might end up going south, goodbye ladies and gentlemen👍

rustyangler122 said:...well, I'm certainly no saint either🤣
...anyway, I'm feeling more alive now. Heading out to a party for a bit😍

Stay lively, man.

Anonymous said:I'm reading this and I just can't believe it. 😁

The main thing is, some of you were being incredibly cynical when I wrote 5 or 6 weeks ago that you'd soon be going through exactly what we went through ages ago.

You’re simply five years behind us. Everything you're dealing with right now? We lived through that back in 2007—and well, everyone knows how that ended. That's what's coming for you.

And just to stir the pot a little: our issues started when certain people (who we successfully got rid of) began hanging out at weddings and parties with Mamić. Recently, half your group was at that Kerum family wedding, stuffing their faces alongside Nevenka. 😈Are they mercenaries like UV or what?

Anyway, please, keep it coming. It's a total pleasure watching this slow-motion train wreck. 😁

If you're actually as informed as you claim, then there's no need to even compare the two. They weren't eating from the same plate, nor did she pay for her meal; she was just a guest, much like "half the group" (and you're wrong there too, since only the closest friends were present).

Your problems are yours, their problems are theirs—so just leave ours alone!
And if you're going to publicly claim you've fixed your issues, you're lying to yourself. You're living in an illusion you built in your own head, because you aren't even close to being a real fan club.☕

Calling yourself a fan and actually BEING a fan are NOT the same thing!

Look, based on Wobo’s videos, we’re easily one of the best groups in the country. We’ve got the choreo, we’ve got the noise—we have all the ingredients. But we don't actually hang out together, and if you take the community aspect out of it, what’s even the point of any of this?
The Cup isn't really a supporters' tournament anymore—maybe two or three teams still care, but everyone else is just there for the paycheck. I mean, what was the whole purpose of that tournament to begin with if not to actually bond?
Marketing? Man, I don't even know if we *have* marketing... who’s even running that through the organization? Like, back in '05, they dropped those green and black tees with the shield on the side and they absolutely took over the stands. I can't even remember the last time we saw some crazy, limited-edition shirt drop. No offense to the people currently handling it, but it’s just not hitting like that anymore.
The stadium is usually empty—it only fills up right before kickoff with the die-hards, the casuals, or groups of friends traveling in from other cities. Most people are just "doing their own thing" elsewhere.
And now, when finally some real people show up—people who actually have the drive and the heart to make things happen (and let me tell you, there aren't many)—they get sabotaged at every turn. Most of you guys know exactly what I'm talking about. So, who are the younger kids supposed to look up to? Who's going to mentor them if certain people are being blocked and others are just looking out for themselves?

Anyway, wrote a bit of a manifesto there. Maybe too much. Kill the ego.

It’s pretty clear that 90% of the people in this group aren't behind this... yet here you all are, still typing away. Cheers.

http://i47.tinypic.com/xcrhqx.jpg

🙂