Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Thrills Of Traveling To Soccer Matches

By Kevin Owen

Soccer fans all over the world look forward each week to following and watching their favorite teams play. The feeling they have is unrivalled in many aspects of their lives. Not only does this practice become a habit, but it borders on the religious.

The trip to and during a soccer game can stoke the fires in fans' bellies. The excitement is strong and can be felt whether one attends the game with fellow fans or as an individual. Those who prefer going in large groups can do so with fan clubs who prefer having organized trips, engaging in songs and dance as they make their way there.

Fans are also generally allowed to bring along banners they have made in support of their teams. These are often draped on their shoulders and around the stadiums. They can add color and life to otherwise normal grounds, especially in smaller venues.

While most of the cheering is done inside the grounds, doing it outside, before and after the games are equally important. For the uninitiated, watching the loud crowds going to and from matches and singing their hearts out can be inspiring and intimidating at the same time. But it is an integral part of creating the right environment for a great day out for soccer.

This behavior continues unabated once the supporters have walked into the stadium stands. The singing and cheering can reach several decibels loud, and it is hard to prevent your hair standing on ends all over the body when experiencing it.

Musical instruments and other objects are also allowed in most grounds to help create such atmospheres. These include horns, drums, whistles and the ever popular balloon clapping sticks. They contribute to the rowdy noise and positive energy that seeps from the stands to the teams on the pitch.

A common scene in Italian and Eastern European football matches is the use of flares. While this can be a danger risk to fans and players, they are allowed and can drench the whole stadium in color and smoke. Turkish fans are also famous for using them widely to create an intimidating atmosphere for visiting supporters.

The animated happenings, passion of fans and other additional factors have made attending soccer matches an ever lively event for fans, family and friends. This has continued throughout generations as people flock to games in order to both experience the atmospheres and support their teams. - 16887

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