In professional football the role of the supporter has not always received its due respect. Indeed, on many ocasions, and in too many locations, the loyal fan has been taken far too much for granted. Players will confirm the importance of fans when things are going well and yet often denigrate the lack of support when things have gone badly. Professional footballers can at times be somewhat fickle in that many areas of their profession encourage them to apportion blame in other directions.

How often for example, have we heard players condemn their fans for being too quiet when things have not turned out well on a big occasion?

Supporters

In recent years the role of the supporter has become more appreciated as clubs at long last accept that the customer really should be shown a better level of consideration. In England and Scotland, supporters groups have fought for years to be allowed contribute over and above the 90 minutes of match time and in many instances this extra support has proven itself extremely valuable during difficult times.

Indeed, here in Ireland it is really the supporters who have kept Shamrock Rovers alive through a couple of torrid decades with impressive displays of devotion to their club and I remember with enormous gratitude during both my tenures at Cork City, the pivotal role the small army of volunteers who worked in Turner's Cross, and before that at Bishopstown, played in ensuring games were able to take place.

The above thoughts entered my head while attending the game between West Ham and Chelsea last Saturday at Upton Park. At the moment I am commuting between Dublin and London and taking in games on both sides of the Irish Sea, and in the process I am enjoying comparing the attitudes of supporters. A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about the Chelsea and Liverpool fans and while I, having been a reasonably regular visitor to Upton Park during my time in Kent, have always had a liking for the East End clubs style of play and its supporters, I found that this time it was a little different.

The team itself, while not playing particularly well on the day, showed it is in good shape and with a couple of intelligent signing's should do well next season, but it was the well reported Hammers supporters behaviour that dominated the afternoon. Chelsea players John Terry and Frank Lampard have had family matters hitting the headlines recently in a none too complimentary fashion and the stick they both received from a section of the home fans was obviously disturbing to the two men. Footballers are well used to getting abuse from opposition fans and most can accept it as part of the game, but when a players family is thrown into the equation then many would consider this is a step too far. Supporters must accept the responsibility that comes with supporting their club. Different Football Associations across the globe have hit clubs hard for the unacceptable behaviour of their fans and the modern scourge of racism is a perfect example of this.

Vulnerable

Professional football is vulnerable to the chants and actions of supporters on the terraces. However, professional football is also a wonderful vehicle for demonstrating publicly to millions of people in countries across the world that racism, and other wilful verbal rantings, should not, and indeed will not, be tolerated. Every individual involved in top class sport irrespective of the code must accept the responsibility relevant to their talent. All performers, and the very best performers especially, must purport to leave behind them a legacy of inspiration that motivates those coming in their wake to adhere to the highest principles of performance and behaviour.

Directors

Administrators and directors are equally obliged to leave behind them a code of conduct that reflects the best possible aspects of their talents and their association or committee.

To do otherwise places the importance of the individual above the sport he or she is supposed to be serving. Whether the sport is professional or amateur is of no consequence because all sport is equally important in that it provides, or at least it is very willing to provide, the lessons of life that sport can provide so consummately, and to the young most of all. In the same context, the role of supporters too must come under the microscope. Passion is an integral aspect of every good supporter but it is must be controlled.

The love of ones team and the strong desire to see that team become the best in the land should not facilitate verbal expressions of intolerance, which can only increase polarisation and all too often turn into open hostility.

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