One of the perks of being a fan of sports is that we can take witty placards and banners with us during games. I remember going to a cricket match with a quirky banner with hopes that it will be caught by the cameraman and I will be on the TV – the only possible way for me to be on it.
However, it didn’t work as I wasn’t too appealing for the cameraman – to be fair to him, with a face like mine, I wouldn’t focus on me, either. But it’s not always the case as some banners do catch the attention of the cameras.
Football is a sport that is made more interesting with banter – and some fans use banners as a means to make it so. While some banners are disgusting and derogatory, others are hilarious and witty, like the seven banners listed here.
#7 Long Cox
This banner was so hilarious that I actually spent a good five minutes laughing when I first saw it. The Euro 2016 saw some great entertainment, but only a few could beat the Irish humour that the light-hearted people of Ireland displayed during that tournament.
While the Irish team didn’t have stars like Andrea Pirlo and Xavi Hernandez, they weren’t all too upset about it. In fact, they were proud because of only two players: Shane Long and Simon Cox.
In this hysterical banner, the Irish people were delighted by the fact that they have Long-Cox. Actually, replace the word ‘people’ with ‘men’. Not that Long-Cox could penetrate (make of it what you want) many defences, but it sounds like a decent attacking force (again, you are free to interpret what you want) of the fact that they have Long-Cox. .
#6 Not a Welsh Town
This has to be one of the best banners of all time. When Alan Pardew’s Newcastle United were struggling to win games, the fans didn’t like it one bit – obviously, who doesn’t like winning? – and called for their manager to be sacked after a run of terrible form.
With 16 losses from 25 games, the fans had had enough of the English manager and protested for him to be fired from the club. As a result, they came up with banners and flyers to display their dismay, but none better than the banner shown in the above picture. They even opened up a website called sackpardew.com to bring their protest to another level.
Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwll-llantysiliogogogoch is a Welsh town famous for its long name and the Toon Army took the banter to another level with their banner.
#5 England fans at the 2014 World Cup
One of the best things for a football fan is to witness their team in the World Cup. If the fans can do it live from the stadium itself, then it becomes the pinnacle of their football journey. However, the problem is that watching World Cup games is quite expensive given that the fans not only have to worry about the ticket prices but also the inflated food prices amongst other things.
So when a group of English fans went to Brazil to watch their team play in 2014, they were hoping for a prolonged stay in the land of the samba. As it turned out, this group of fans reach the South American nation only after England were already eliminated from the World Cup and had just one last consolation game against Costa Rica.
And the Three Lions couldn’t win even that. Sigh.
#4 Ugly Old Lady
Football is generally known as ‘the beautiful game’, thanks to Pele’s labelling of it. However, not everything is as beautiful as the former Brazil star claims. In fact, when fans witness an ounce of defensive football, they are quick to claim it as ugly.
As if attacking is the only way football is meant to be played, over-defensive tactics are branded as anti-football since, apparently, defending is not a part of football. So when Juventus and Liverpool locked horns against each other, the fans of the Old Lady took a dig a Liverpool’s less-than-radiant playing style by comparing it with then-Britain’s future queen, who was also not known for her looks.
#3 Skrtel tribute
Martin Skrtel is a centre-back that is mostly known for his time in England whilst playing for Liverpool. The Slovakian centre-half was absolutely adored by the fans as he was among the old school no-nonsense defender that took nothing for granted.
Skrtel was often criticised for his overly physical approach, but was generally praised for it when he kept things under control. So, Liverpool fans took to displaying a banner to reveal their affection for the former Zenit man and his aggressive approach.
If someone with a perverted mind reads the banner again, he/she will perhaps grin a little wider.
#2 The list of players Arsenal have not signed
Every window, Arsenal are one of those clubs that are constantly linked with some of the most talented players in the world. This window is no exception either as the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Thomas Lemar are being heavily linked with the club.
However, unlike the previous windows, they have already signed one of the players their name was connected to: Alexandre Lacazette. Previously, though, Arsenal almost often failed to sign their targets and, hence, were an object of ridicule for the football fraternity.
Even their fans weren’t all too impressed with their team as their hopes went unfulfilled the moment each transfer window slammed shut—and what better way to depict that than this banner?
#1 United fans’ answer
There was once a time when Liverpool reigned in England. For the ones that are new to football: yes, this is true and not a glorifying fairy tale that you read in books. Liverpool, not Manchester United, were the kings of England—and like most kings, their fans were full of themselves.
So in a bid to deride their fiercest rivals, some Liverpool fans held a banner, asking their rival fans to come back when their team have won 18 Premier League/Football League titles. Needless to say, Manchester United did win their 18th title when they clinched the league in 2008-09 after beating Liverpool by a superior goal difference.
And then, it was the turn of the Red Devils’ fans to display some banter—and they did it with this banner.
