Who or what are ultras?
Like the name suggests, an ‘ultra’ is a fan who puts that bit more into supporting his club. A supporter who is passionate about his group, fanatical about his club, and who wants to show his pride in both his club and his group.
An ultra does not just spend ninety minutes at his local stadium every two weeks. An ultra does not just spend every Saturday in a different corner of Scotland watching his team. An ultra does all of these things, but he spends his spare time devoted to his club and his group as well: coming up with ideas for banners or displays, making flags, preparing displays, arriving at the stadium early to set out banners and staying behind afterwards to collect them in again.
An ultra owes it to himself and to his group to contribute to the life of the group in every way he can. He gives of his time and effort, he contributes financially and he does so because of his love for his club and his desire to see his group support that club as much as possible.
An ultra sings for ninety minutes. An ultra supports his team for ninety minutes. An ultra does not boo his team, any player or the management during a match. Being an ultra demands unconditional support for the football club. An ultra takes part in organised displays, helps out his group whichever way he can and respects the decisions and directions of the committee.
What is an ultras group?
An ultras group is a group of supporters who resist the modern trends in football today. We don’t want to sit on our hands in silence for ninety minutes the way the various football associations seem to want us to do. We believe that supporters can make a difference. Without supporters, there would be no club. Without us, no St Mirren.
We want to take an active role in spurring our club on to even greater efforts. Any way in which we can increase the support given to our beloved club, any way in which we can add colour and life to the stands can only help our team. We are often spoken of as the clichéd “12th man”, but all too often this support is reserved for big games. An ultras group aims to ensure that level of atmosphere in every game to the greatest extent possible.
An ultras group displays its group banner at every match, home or away. In addition, as many other flags and banners as possible should be present at every match, and tifos - organised displays - are put on as often as possible. An ultras group is entirely self-financing, selling its own merchandise to help raise funds, and remains independent from the football club, retaining its own voice.
