W*nky wanderers? Its perfectly natural...

[GeraldCid]

Does anybody know what season the w*nky wanderers chant started up? Its always baffled me. I mean you never hear Stoke fans chanting "sh*tty sh*tty stoke" or "f*ucky f*ucky Fulham" for example. Ive spoken to a few friends and family that are Everton, Wigan and Man U fans, and they dont get it at all. I think that's why I quite like it though, its unique and nobody really gets it, sort of like an in-joke.

[TKIZ!]

I remember it being sung at Burnden back in the day by both sets of fans, not really sure when we took it as our own. I like it as it's jokey and amusing

[James B]

irony

[HMX]

I like it - nothing like a little playful self-deprecation. It sets us apart too.

Guess it works better for us with the syllable count and 'w' alliteration.

[ebby]

i assumed it was an away fans chant, we sing it to reduce the effect (if any) it has of away fans singing it...also it's a good song if the away fans have been signing it all game and then we beat them

[Tombwfc]

As one of the only chants we've got that are in the slightest bit unique to us, I'm happy with it.

[Lord Kangana]

We marched through a couple of thousand Stoke, and it started up.

We gave it back with hand gestures belting it out at full volume. You could see the angry look in their eyes, it pissed them off.

Its our song now.

[BWFC_Insane]

We sing it because we're Wanky and because we're Wanderers.

I thought that much was obvious?

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Was thinking about this at Wembley, as confused looks crossed the faces of those family members I was taking to their first BWFC game.

It's irony, as James says; it's playful self-deprecation, as HMX says; and as TKIZ says, it stretches back well into the Burnden days. The tune is from Chicory Tip's 1972 No.1, the Giorgio Moroder-penned Moog masterpiece Son of my Father (click to enjoy some fine period dress), and I would assume its use at Bolton dates back to the times when the words were changed to mark "Franky Worthington" – although any earlier citations would be gratefully received.

I'd furthermore assume that opposition fans replied with "W*nky Wanderers". Certainly when I started attending in the mid-80s we heard it gleefully sung at us every week, but I don't recall Bolton fans singing it - the standard response was sarcastic applause. I've only noticed it sung by Bolton fans over the last five years or so. As noted, it "reclaims" a song formerly used as abuse - not dissimilar to, if much less important than, some black people have reclaimed that word beginning with n and some gays revel in using the q-word. And as in those instances, it's only really appropriate to use it if you're part of the relevant minority.

[Gary the Enfield]

Was thinking about this at Wembley, as confused looks crossed the faces of those family members I was taking to their first BWFC game.

It's irony, as James says; it's playful self-deprecation, as HMX says; and as TKIZ says, it stretches back well into the Burnden days. The tune is from Chicory Tip's 1972 No.1, the Giorgio Moroder-penned Moog masterpiece Son of my Father (click to enjoy some fine period dress), and I would assume its use at Bolton dates back to the times when the words were changed to mark "Franky Worthington" – although any earlier citations would be gratefully received.

I'd furthermore assume that opposition fans replied with "W*nky Wanderers". Certainly when I started attending in the mid-80s we heard it gleefully sung at us every week, but I don't recall Bolton fans singing it - the standard response was sarcastic applause. I've only noticed it sung by Bolton fans over the last five years or so. As noted, it "reclaims" a song formerly used as abuse - not dissimilar to, if much less important than, some black people have reclaimed that word beginning with n and some gays revel in using the q-word. And as in those instances, it's only really appropriate to use it if you're part of the relevant minority.

Was just about to post similair.

It's our 'N' word, our 'Q' word or, for the Spurs fans our 'Y' word.

We joined in with a chorus on the tube on the way to Wembley. The Stokies genuinely didn't know how to react.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

As noted, it "reclaims" a song formerly used as abuse - not dissimilar to, if much less important than, some black people have reclaimed that word beginning with n and some gays revel in using the q-word. And as in those instances, it's only really appropriate to use it if you're part of the relevant minority.

Was just about to post similar. It's our 'N' word, our 'Q' word or, for the Spurs fans our 'Y' word.

Know what you mean but shakier ground there, unless they're (obviously?) Jewish.

[Gary the Enfield]

As noted, it "reclaims" a song formerly used as abuse - not dissimilar to, if much less important than, some black people have reclaimed that word beginning with n and some gays revel in using the q-word. And as in those instances, it's only really appropriate to use it if you're part of the relevant minority.

Was just about to post similar. It's our 'N' word, our 'Q' word or, for the Spurs fans our 'Y' word.

Know what you mean but shakier ground there, unless they're (obviously?) Jewish.

Yiddish, surely? Not entirely the same.

Edit: just checked. They are.

[ohjimmyjimmy]

As noted, it "reclaims" a song formerly used as abuse - not dissimilar to, if much less important than, some black people have reclaimed that word beginning with n and some gays revel in using the q-word. And as in those instances, it's only really appropriate to use it if you're part of the relevant minority.

Was just about to post similar. It's our 'N' word, our 'Q' word or, for the Spurs fans our 'Y' word.

Know what you mean but shakier ground there, unless they're (obviously?) Jewish.

Yiddish, surely? Not entirely the same.

Edit: just checked. They are.

[Gary the Enfield]

As noted, it "reclaims" a song formerly used as abuse - not dissimilar to, if much less important than, some black people have reclaimed that word beginning with n and some gays revel in using the q-word. And as in those instances, it's only really appropriate to use it if you're part of the relevant minority.

Was just about to post similar. It's our 'N' word, our 'Q' word or, for the Spurs fans our 'Y' word.

Know what you mean but shakier ground there, unless they're (obviously?) Jewish.

Yiddish, surely? Not entirely the same.

Edit: just checked. They are.

[ohjimmyjimmy]

[HMX]

Man, I forget we had this emote: - Would definitely come in handy for a few of my posts

[wonka]

I was walking up Wembley Way when thousands of Stoke fans launched into a rendition of "Wanky Wanderers". Straight away, the Whites fans joined in and the Stoke fans stopped pretty bemused.

It totally baffles and disarms the opposition fans, so pretty much the best retort you could hope for.

[TKIZ!]

We'll sing enough of it on Sunday

C'mon now everyone 'Oh W**** W******'

[hisroyalgingerness]

I had the opposite run-in with some Stokies. They were singing "we'll play how we want", so I chipped in with a cheeky "score from a thrown in" and they all 20 jumped back right at us. feck, I wish I felt up to the same camaraderie after the game

[Armchair Wanderer]

Was thinking about this at Wembley, as confused looks crossed the faces of those family members I was taking to their first BWFC game.

It's irony, as James says; it's playful self-deprecation, as HMX says; and as TKIZ says, it stretches back well into the Burnden days. The tune is from Chicory Tip's 1972 No.1, the Giorgio Moroder-penned Moog masterpiece Son of my Father (click to enjoy some fine period dress), and I would assume its use at Bolton dates back to the times when the words were changed to mark "Franky Worthington" – although any earlier citations would be gratefully received.

I'd furthermore assume that opposition fans replied with "W*nky Wanderers". Certainly when I started attending in the mid-80s we heard it gleefully sung at us every week, but I don't recall Bolton fans singing it - the standard response was sarcastic applause. I've only noticed it sung by Bolton fans over the last five years or so. As noted, it "reclaims" a song formerly used as abuse - not dissimilar to, if much less important than, some black people have reclaimed that word beginning with n and some gays revel in using the q-word. And as in those instances, it's only really appropriate to use it if you're part of the relevant minority.

Football fans are so cruel!

Now we've got it why not have "Son of my Father" as the club anthem? At least we'd be able to sing along to it next year!