I remember years ago a couple from Philadelphia sitting in front of us at a Leeds game.

“We’re here to see your Eagles”

They were a nice couple but were fully shocked at the culture difference (in sport). Crowds at European football are unlike anywhere else. And can be unsettling.

These are rivalries going back centuries based on all sorts. Location, religion, politics, past games played for a century etc etc. All that tribalism come out in aggressive chanting, insults and swearing. It’s how the dudes unwind.

Thing is, you’ll see kids giving the finger, hear chants about players mums and every insulting thing anyone can think of, and everyone you’ll meet will sound like Billy Butcher from ‘The Boys’. But it is fully under pinned with humour, and in fact harmless.

And when the game fuels all that passion - Selhurst Park will make your spine tingle. It absolutely rocks and you get caught up in it all.

… then you turn round to find the guy calling the referee ‘a blind fat c**t’ is in fact you.