Yorkshire Post
Clubs split over use of vuvuzela horn in grounds22 July 2010 By Nick Westby
As if transfer speculation was not enough to entertain us through the close season, now we have a lot of hot air over the vuvuzela. Nick Westby gauges the local reaction.
THE vuvuzela is the football fans' Marmite accessory – you either love it or you hate it.
For a month in South Africa, the monotonous hum of the African horn drowned out the atmosphere at the World Cup for some fans.
As the performances and the matches failed to inspire the thousands in the stadium and the millions back home, the debate over whether the vuvuzela should be banned or the sound on television sets tinkered with took centre stage.
By the time FIFA – not renowned for being the quickest to react to public opinion – chimed in, it was too late.
Opinion may have been polarised from Polokwane to Port Elizabeth, but the hum of the vuvuzela became an accepted part of the South African World Cup, and if it was just a month, then those who watched football in silence could accept it.
Not so, it seems, as the vuvuzela and the attention it generates has crossed the equator and headed north, and could be coming to a football ground near you.
Earlier this week, without a ball having been kicked, Premier League football clubs decided to get out in front of the anticipated furore. Tottenham were the first to ban the vuvuzela, with seven clubs quickly following suit like a row of spectators covering their ears.
A quick canvas of Yorkshire's 10 Football League clubs yesterday found that opinion in the county echoes the feeling during the World Cup – namely, it is split.
Two of the region's clubs are for it, two against, with six sitting firmly on the fence while they consider what to do.
Huddersfield Town and Sheffield Wednesday are all for fans blowing the vuvuzela, so much so that both tried to claim it was they who actually invented them.
Alas, they did not, but the vuvuzela was imported to the Galpharm Stadium and Hillsborough before the end of last season as they attempted to get fans in the World Cup spirit.
"We gave them away at our last home game of the season against Millwall," said a Huddersfield Town spokesman. "There's no reason to believe that stance will change."
The club stressed that the decision is actually not theirs to ratify with the stadium management team at the Galpharm having the final say when all health and safety, event planners and police checks have been consulted.
Wednesday have been selling an Owls-branded vuvuzela in the club superstore since before the World Cup and welcome their continued use this season.
But a spokesman cautioned: "Unless they start getting on people's nerves then we will deal with that when we come to it."
John Hemmingham, the voice of the Wednesday and England band, predicts the vuvuzela will be a passing fad and ultimately, fan reaction will have the final say.
"We got the vuvu blowers to join in, out in South Africa, but on television it was misinterpreted," he said. "In isolation in grounds before the World Cup it just sounded like an air horn."
Those stringently against the vuvuzela are Barnsley and Leeds United.
"We won't be having them," said Leeds United chairman Ken Bates. "We'll be firm. If anyone brings them they will be thrown out. They are a dreadful noise and frankly we can do without it.
"I like all the Leeds songs and the atmosphere our fans create without those awful things."
Barnsley were not so unequivocal, but in publishing their outlawing of vuvuzelas as early as Saturday, they at least trumped Tottenham and set the trend of defiance.
"We have taken this decision following requests from fans and do not want the very unusual noise from the vuvuzela spoiling people's enjoyment of the game," said Don Rowing, a director at Oakwell. Stick that in your vuvu and smoke it Harry Redknapp.
But, as for Yorkshire's other league clubs, they appear reticent to commit.
Doncaster Rovers said it was a decision to be made by stadium management at the Keepmoat, who then handed full decision-making responsibilites back to the club.
At Bradford City, the vuvuzela debate has reached the boardroom but a decision has yet to be made, while Hull City say they have not given the issue a moment's thought.
Sheffield United, Rotherham United and Middlesbrough are also yet to reach a conclusion.
For those fans who cannot resist puckering their lips and blowing away on the vuvu but happen to support a club that has poo-pooed the hum-drum of the African horn, then there is a place for you at Wembley on August 8 for the Community Shield, after the FA yesterday announced that they would be welcome.
Or you can always head down to the park on a Sunday morning and frighten the life out of some unsuspecting pub footballers.
But it would appear we have not heard the last of the vuvuzela.
www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/football/Clubs-split-over-use-of.6433443.jp
