The Poznań

The Poznań Celebration involves the fans turning their backs to the pitch, joining arms and jumping up and down in unison. It originated in 1961.[1] In Poland, and among many fans across Europe, it is not called "the Poznań" but is known as a "Grecque", and it is performed by fans of many teams.[2]

Despite initially failing to impress Manchester City fans when it was done during the teams' meeting in the UEFA Europa League group stage on 21 October 2010, it was subsequently adopted by City supporters during a game early the following month.[3] The activity was coined 'The Poznań' by Manchester City fans, in homage to the club that inspired them to celebrate in this way. Apart from odd occasions, it died out as a regular celebration within a couple of seasons.

The Poznań was briefly adopted by other English football supporters, notably those of Leicester City after their clash with Manchester City in the third round of the FA Cup in January 2011,[4] and is referred to by English football fans as "doing the Poznań".[5]

It has also been used to mock Manchester City fans, such as when newly promoted side Cardiff City beat them 3-2 in August 2013.[6] More examples include when Arsenal supporters did the Poznań celebration after Mikel Arteta scored the winning goal for Arsenal in April 2012 and when Arsenal beat Manchester City in the Premier League.[7] Manchester City supporters did it during a Manchester derby game in the 2010–11 FA Cup semi-final[8][9] as well as Bayern Munich fans during a Champions League group match against them in October 2013.[10] Arsenal supporters also did the Poznań during the 3-0 win in the 2014 FA Community Shield against Man City,[11] and again in January 2015, when Arsenal beat them 0-2,[12] as did Crystal Palace fans at the 2016 FA Cup Final against Manchester United.[13]

Initially the supporters group of Australian club Western Sydney Wanderers, The Red and Black Bloc, performed it in the 80th minute of matches to represent the first football match played in Western Sydney in 1880. Subsequently, this has grown into an all stadium celebration.[14] In return their local rival, Sydney FC and their hard-core supporters "The Cove" have performed it in retribution when they are in a winning position as the 90th minute nears during their local derby.

The supporters of The San Jose Earthquakes are also known to engage in it.[15]

Fans of the Scottish club Celtic have a similar celebration known as "The Huddle", whilst also facing away from the pitch; the words sung by the fans are "Let's All Do The Huddle". The "Huddle" performed by Celtic fans is closely linked to the on-field huddle conducted by the Celtic team prior to kick-off which was introduced by Tony Mowbray during his playing career at the club in the mid 1990s.[16] Over the years Celtic fans have carried out various versions of the huddle,[17] although the first example of it being performed by large numbers of the club's supporters at a game was during a 3-0 win over Rangers at Celtic Park in February 2011.[18]

Supporters of Deportivo Alavés, a La Liga team, have been known to celebrate most of their team's goals with a variation of "The Poznań" since at least 2014, in which they stand with their backs to the pitch, linking shoulders side-by-side and jumping on the spot while they sing the tune to the Pippi Longstocking TV series.[19][20][21]

FC Copenhagen Ultras have the past several years celebrated wins using a variant of the Poznan where the fans turn their backs to the pitch and jump from side to side while the players on the pitch do the same.[22]

• The Bouncy
• Mexican wave
• "Jump Around", a 1992 song by American hip hop group House of Pain used as the backdrop for similar fan actions