Anti-fascism on the terraces

With neither the big money nor the big gates to propel them into premiership star status Rovers have never really competed with the glory hunters, but what they lack in big names they make up for in a big personality and a lot of local passion. The fans are some of the most committed for a lower league club and The Kop can be a boisterous and intimidating place for away teams and their supporters.

Rovers also have some pretty impressive cultural associations. Cult indie band Half Man Half Biscuit famously turned down a live appearance on national TV to see Tranmere play, and the book Awaydays by Kevin Sampson (which was recently made into a feature film) was based on Tranmere’s hooligan firm of the early 1980s.

The fans set up a Supporters Trust which has just reached its initial goal of raising £100,000 in its ambition to take the club into community ownership. Supporters Trusts are directly democratic, not-for-profit organisations where fans have a formal say in running the club, and ultimately take them over as fan owned and controlled.

But perhaps the most interesting of recent developments on the terraces of Prenton Park has been the formation of Tranmere Rovers Anti-fascists (TRAF). With their mighty 12ft high banner declaring working class unity, TRAF have been promoting anti-fascism in the local area as a response to the increased presence of the EDL at home games. They have already had a mass leafleting campaign outside the ground and been involved in joint actions with other anti-fascist groups, including joining anarchists in Liverpool to counter the BNP’s protest against Question Time being recorded in the city.

TRAF politics are clear: “We are a cross section of Tranmere fans, concerned at the rise of the extreme right wing. History tells us that when we stand together we can achieve anything as a community, as a society, as a class and as a people. History also teaches us that the rich and ruling class are the only beneficiaries of our class divided. We stand vehemently opposed to all forms of racism, fascism, sectarianism and discrimination” which impressed Billy Bragg enough to sport one of their t-shirts during his set at this year’s Tolpuddle festival.

To contact TRAF
Email:  tranmere-antifascists@hotmail.co.uk
Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001730385604

 http://www.freedompress.org.uk/news/2011/12/23/anti-fascism-on-the-terraces/