Page 27 - All Shapes & Zebras From Treorchy

and setting off flares up and down the touchline at matches, they’ll more than likely be found supping a pint of bitter in the bar, dressed in a club sweater or hoodie before leisurely making their way to the pitch in time for kick off!
It’s human nature that supporter numbers will fluctuate with the changing fortunes of a team. Logic states that an in-form side, used to winning games, will normally be backed by a vocal group of enthusiastic support, whereas the fans of a faltering side may be more despondent – although it doesn’t take much for these moods to oscilate or change. Indeed, the volume and vitriol of fans usually shadows what is happening on the pitch. A score, a break up field, a stolen lineout, an almighty shove at a scrum, a try-saving tackle – the ways to get the fans going are endless. It’s not just the players too – a refereeing decision, good or bad, can be enough to send the supporters into raptures or fury.
Aside from crude numbers, some groups of fans will be noisier than others. Again, many would argue that there is something unique about the South Wales Valleys when it comes to rugby. Perhaps it’s the close proximity of the clubs in the area, but fan bases in this part of the world can be particularly...passionate. They’re an inventive bunch too; Rhondda Valley club Wattstown have been known to come up with such ingenious and galvanising gimmicks as “Bring an Instrument Day” to create a somewhat ‘boisterous’ atmosphere on the touchline. Needless to say, you don’t need to have the most vivid of imaginations to envisage what happens during an opposition penalty or conversion during these special days.
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