Fyldelatic Posted March 2, 2014 Share Posted March 2, 2014 Am I the only one in feeling uncomfortable hearing ooh Roger Palmer chant at away grounds? I know Roger Palmer was a darling among Latics fans during his time with us. But that chant nowadays is always directed at a black or Asian player, official, steward or supporter, and does sound like mildly racist to me, except that nobody outside our fans knows what on earth we are talking about. Yesterday the linesman to the left of the away end was Asian, and he was subjected to Roger Palmer chant from our singing section every time he came near us. Am I being paranoid or it's something that needs to be addressed? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Latics and England Posted March 2, 2014 Share Posted March 2, 2014 Completely agree. it's pathetic. Roger was one of our greatest ever players and to sing his name at someone just because they are black/Asian is an insult to him and in my opinion is racist. If you chant something at someone solely because of the colour of their skin, that has to be racist. By all means, if someone looks like Ooh Roger, sing at them but not being white doesn't make them look like him. That aside, the atmosphere yesterday wad fantastic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frankly Mr Shankly Posted March 2, 2014 Share Posted March 2, 2014 Isn't the first time our fans have done that. I remember a Huddersfield steward getting the same chant his way but to be fair he was sound about it and seemed to be smiling and sorta joining in the 'banter'. It's probably more ignorant than racist I'd reckon. I always associate racism with menace and sinister undertones. I'd associate this kinda nonsense as idiocy-led stereotyping at worse. You'll never beat Earl Barrett would at least be kind of original. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laticsrblue Posted March 2, 2014 Share Posted March 2, 2014 It's definitely camouflaged racism. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stagger Lee Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 I never felt comfortable singing, and therefore resisted, the oooohhh Roger Palmer chant. I clearly remember it started out as a racist monkey chant by some supporters soon after he joined in 1980 and slowly evolved into something that on face value was harmless. It would be interesting to hear of Rogers view. Don't get me wrong there is no doubt the chant was sung with absolute affection in the mid and later years, it was the origin of the chant I was upset with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oh Heck C-Beck Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 IMO has been less prevalent in recent years but you are right it is camouflaged racism and has been used for as long as I can remember. It is sad but then it's only and idiotic minority that sing it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 Can the trust start incorporating awareness features in the programmes? http://www.footballbeyondborders.org/ http://www.footballvhomophobia.com/ http://www.footballforequality.org/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HarryBosch Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 I can't get far enough past "inane" to give it any other significance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pukka Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 (edited) It's probably more ignorant than racist I'd reckon. I always associate racism with menace and sinister undertones. I'd associate this kinda nonsense as idiocy-led stereotyping at worse. I think it is racist, personally I believe the sinister undertone is there, but what they are chanting isnt that bad so no one cares. Whats meant by it is "HE'S BLACK, HE'S BLACK - LETS ALL POINT" The "Andy Ritchie's magic" song doesn't come out when there is a bald steward there. Its spontaneous. I dont find "Ooh Roger Palmer" racist, but pointing at a random black player, steward or whoever and singing it, I do. Edited March 3, 2014 by pukka Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lags Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 you fat bastard.....I find that really hurtful too. BP must be one of the must pussy cat crowds in the entire world unless they're booing their own players. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimsleftfoot Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 I think it is racist, personally I believe the sinister undertone is there, but what they are chanting isnt that bad so no one cares. Whats meant by it is "HE'S BLACK, HE'S BLACK - LETS ALL POINT" The "Andy Ritchie's magic" song doesn't come out when there is a bald steward there. Its spontaneous. I dont find "Ooh Roger Palmer" racist, but pointing at a random black player, steward or whoever and singing it, I do. That's exactly how I fee about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diego_Sideburns Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 I never felt comfortable singing, and therefore resisted, the oooohhh Roger Palmer chant. I clearly remember it started out as a racist monkey chant by some supporters soon after he joined in 1980 and slowly evolved into something that on face value was harmless. It would be interesting to hear of Rogers view. Don't get me wrong there is no doubt the chant was sung with absolute affection in the mid and later years, it was the origin of the chant I was upset with. The racist element was obvious when the chant by some became 'Oooh Early Barrett' when he started playing for Latics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HarryBosch Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 (edited) The racist element was obvious when the chant by some became 'Oooh Early Barrett' when he started playing for Latics. "Camouflaged racism", the widely sung Chaddy End classic "ooh Early Barrett" - as ridiculous & unacceptable singing OOh Roger Palmer to a black lino was on Saturday this thread does highlight what a minor problem (if a problem at all) racism was and still is at OAFC. Which is good. Edited March 3, 2014 by HarryBosch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leeslover Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 That's exactly how I fee about it.Me too, Pukka nails it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pine Villains Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 you fat bastard... easy, youll have the chubby masses losing their breath Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omar Don't Scare Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 There are bigger problems at OAFC rather than whether this song is 'casually racist' 'meant in jest' or downright 'ignorant' We can't even create 'new' songs perhaps focus our attentions to that instead? We all know deep down there is an element you'll never get rid of. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Latics_Fanatic Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 I remember when "Ooh Roger Palmer" was sung at Oumare Tounkara when he first player. Quicky changed into "Ouuumare Tounkara" naturally. Is this again camouflaged racism? At the time I thought it was quite a thing comparing Tounkara to one of our best ever strikers, but now I can see the underlying hint. Like others have said though, a minor problem in an otherwise very problematic club, at times. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HarryBosch Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 (edited) I remember when "Ooh Roger Palmer" was sung at Oumare Tounkara when he first player. Quicky changed into "Ouuumare Tounkara" naturally. Is this again camouflaged racism? At the time I thought it was quite a thing comparing Tounkara to one of our best ever strikers, but now I can see the underlying hint. Eh? It rhymed/worked. Edited March 3, 2014 by HarryBosch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigfatjoe1 Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 We started it following the great Isle of Man tour of 1987. In truth, we were copying Stoke's 'Oooh Georgey Berry.' It didn't seem racist at the time, and it certainly wasn't intended to be. Alan Hardy even turned it into a scarf. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Latics_Fanatic Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 Eh? It rhymed/worked. I mean the original singing of "Ooh Roger Palmer" at Tounkara... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HarryBosch Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 I mean the original singing of "Ooh Roger Palmer" at Tounkara... I put that down to a few being hard of hearing at the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diego_Sideburns Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 Channel 4's Dispatches at 8:00pm tonight deals with 'Hate on the Terraces' - an investigation of the extent of racism and homophobia in the Premier League. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 I think it is racist, personally I believe the sinister undertone is there, but what they are chanting isnt that bad so no one cares. Whats meant by it is "HE'S BLACK, HE'S BLACK - LETS ALL POINT" The "Andy Ritchie's magic" song doesn't come out when there is a bald steward there. Its spontaneous. I dont find "Ooh Roger Palmer" racist, but pointing at a random black player, steward or whoever and singing it, I do. I sing Andy Ritchie's magic every time I see a witch, wizard or warlock Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChaddySmoker Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 you fat bastard.....I find that really hurtful too. BP must be one of the must pussy cat crowds in the entire world unless they're booing their own players. I will be singing that when Rotherham come to ours next week, 'you loudmouth convict' doesn't scan so well! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maddaftandblue Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 is this real or are you taking the piss Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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