I was ten when Chumbawamba released ‘Tubthumping’ in 1997, too young to get the melancholy: it was just something enjoyable to sing along with, and matched the elation of the adults I knew who were happy to see the back of a Conservative government.
According to data compiled by the streaming site Roku, nine out of ten football fans have avoided watching football in the pub, citing ‘getting drenched in albania phone data beer’ as one of the main reasons. A third of fans have experienced aggressive or intimidating situations. But 84 per cent of those avoiding the pub would go back if improvements were made. So Roku have set up ‘The Quiet Lion’ at a pub in Croydon. Like a silent disco but for football, it allows you to watch matches in ‘headphone mode’. ‘Is this a library?’ is often chanted at matches by fans deriding the opposition for a lack of atmosphere: in this case, it might be justified.
At my local all drinks are served in plastic cups for the big occasions and the landlord locks the doors while the players are on the pitch, allowing a breather only at half time. He’s strict on numbers and won’t let in anyone who looks like trouble. All this to safeguard the pub and punters from – let’s face it – men.