Fans don’t get any more loyal and passionate than the Welsh

WHETHER it’s supporting Welsh artists and actors, getting behind our Olympians or watching a round or egg-shaped ball, you won’t find fans quite like the Welsh elsewhere.

Before I start, I’d like to first set out my bias. I’m Welsh, of course. I was born and raised in the South Wales Valleys.

I was taught, from the age of three, through the Welsh language.

I learned the national anthem by the age of six, went to my first national rugby game before I was 10 and often witnessed my father, grandfather, uncles and cousins gather around our TV to support “the bois”.

I am – and have been for the past 24 years – a proud and passionate Welsh fan, whether that relates to rugby, football, Tom Jones or Derek the weatherman.

And over the years, I’ve learnt a few key things about us Welsh fans:

1. We’re loyal and passionate Let’s face it, we’re a patriotic bunch.

You can’t quite beat the spine-tingling moment Welsh rugby fans show their support from the stands by blasting out a drunken version of our national anthem.

It’s almost like there’s a single harmony travelling through the hearts of each and every one.

The words themselves are dripping with passion, starting with Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau and ending in the chorus Gwlad, gwlad, pleidiol wyf i’m gwlad (Home, home, true am I to home).

And then there’s our fierce sporting rivalry with England.

I think this was best summed up by England international James Haskell during the 2009 Six Nations.

In The Guardian, he wrote: “I love driving through Cardiff on match days. I’ve never seen so many fingers and V-signs waved at us.

“This time I even spotted an old lady, who must have been about 70, shaking her walking stick at us and putting her middle finger up. I think it’s fair to say the Welsh are passionate about their rugby.” FYI we beat England 23-15 that year.

2. We kick off when we think been wronged The fallout from Wales’ dramatic defeat to France on the weekend is a perfect example of this.

In what turned out to be a 100-minute match, France snatched a 20-18 victory from the jaws of defeat. George North also claims he was bitten during the match.

Fans are obviously waiting to hear if any action will be taken against Les Blues for this but you only have to scroll through social media to get a sense of the uproar.

Some of the comments I’ve read include: “What planet is Wayne Barnes on?”, “Wales DID NOT LOSE that game” and “Thought they liked eating frogs’ legs not Welsh arms”.

It’s just a Welsh thing. We can criticise or make fun of our own but, as soon as someone else does – well, hell hath no fury like a Welsh fan scorned.

3. We don’t do things by halves When we show our support, we do it with everything we’ve got. All as one big group. There’s nothing half-hearted about it.

Remember when Bale and the boys came home from the Euros? Did we simply just throw a party? No, we held a gargantuan homecoming event, which saw thousands of people come together to watch the boys parade around Cardiff on an open top bus, before throwing a huge party at the Cardiff City Stadium, with a performance from the Manic Street Preachers.

Oh and we also wound Piers Morgan up in the process.

The motormouth pundit sparked a furious reaction from Wales fans after criticising the “over the top” homecoming parade. Winner!

Likewise with Roald Dahl’s whoppsy-wiffling flushbunking gloriumptious centenary last year.

Described as the “biggest Cardiff arts event”, the City of the Unexpected also brought thousands of people together with fireworks, spectacular lighting displays and an enormous floating peach.

4. We’re friendly On that note, Welsh fans are a friendly old bunch (unless you happen to be Piers Morgan, of course).

Our army of fans in France was honoured by European football chiefs last year after the “Red Wall” was hailed as making an outstanding contribution to Euro 2016.

Uefa top brass commended Welsh fans with an award for the passion and behaviour that spread through France and won admirers across the world.

Yes, for a whole month, we sang, we danced, we cried, we dressed our babies, grans and dogs in red jerseys and we turned random passers-by into Wales supporters.

And the world absolutely loved us for it.

Whether it’s in relation to sport, music or standing up against rude Good Morning Britain presenters, there’s no denying that us Welsh fans are absolutely, undeniably, incontrovertibly passionate. Especially when it comes to supporting our own.

And, do you know what, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Here’s to 24 more years shouting “REF, MUN!” at the telly.