Among the FansThere was once a time, not so long ago, where our sporting heroes were treated with veneration. Players were players and their watchers were passive. Heroes lived on pedestals - they weren't public property. This book explores the many ways this dynamic has changed over the years. From the Barmy Army's loud but loyal support of the England cricket team to the jeers that greeted our returning footballers after the World Cup, the relationship between athlete and fan is now quite dramatically different. With his usual gentle wit and subtle intelligence, renowned sports writer Patrick Collins records one year spent observing a range of different sports and their many and varied fans. From a county cricket match at Canterbury - a place that resists change - to a corporate box at Wembley - watch them eat! see them drink! - from dog racing to swimming galas, this is a wonderful and humorous look at the world of sports - and the fans who make it all possible. |
Contents
1 | |
2 The World Cup in South Africa | 13 |
3 Tennis at Wimbledon | 35 |
4 Cricket at Canterbury | 51 |
5 Speedway at Eastbourne | 65 |
6 606 at the BBC | 79 |
7 The Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor | 95 |
8 Rugby at Twickenham | 113 |
9 A Night at Crayford Dogs | 129 |
Other editions - View all
Among the Fans: From the Ashes to the Arrows, a Year of Watching the Watchers Patrick Collins No preview available - 2012 |
Among the Fans: From the Ashes to the Arrows, a Year of Watching the Watchers Patrick Collins No preview available - 2011 |
Common terms and phrases
afternoon Alexandra Palace audience Australian ball Barmy Army betting callers camera Canterbury Catsfield centre champion Championship cheer Cheltenham club cost course Crayford cricket crowd darts Ding Ding Junhui dogs drink Eagles Eastbourne England English Fabio Capello fans feel Festival football friends golf green greyhound greyhound racing head Henman Hill horses jacket Kent Kevin Ladbrokes lady lager look Manchester United marquee match Nadal never night nods offer Olé pints play players Premier League programme putt queue race racecard restaurant riders Rooney rugby Ryder Cup says screen seats seems shirt smile snooker speedway sport St Lawrence Ground stadium stand stare Steve Davis television tell tennis thing tickets tonight tournament track Twickenham voice walk watch Wayne Rooney wearing week Wembley West Ham United Wimbledon winner wonderful World Cup young