Holmesdale Fanatics
| Holmesdale Fanatics | |
|---|---|
 Holmesdale Fanatics in 2010 | |
| Nickname | Fanatics |
| Abbreviation | HF05 |
| Established | 2005 |
| Type | Ultras group Supporters' group |
| Team | Crystal Palace |
| Location | Selhurst, London, England |
| Stadium | Selhurst Park |
| Stand | Holmesdale Road Stand |
| Coordinates | 51°23′54″N 0°5′8″W / 51.39833°N 0.08556°W |
| Colours | Blue Red |
| Website | Official website |
The Holmesdale Fanatics are an ultras group associated with English Premier League club Crystal Palace. The group are responsible for vocal support as well as flag and tifo displays.
England, as a footballing nation, does not traditionally have a strong ultra culture compared with much of continental Europe, although groups such as the Holmesdale Fanatics are often described as among England’s closest equivalents to a continental ultra group.[1]
History
[edit]The group was founded in December 2005 by a small group of supporters who had attended matches together since childhood in the 1980s and had stood in Block B of the Holmesdale Road Stand since 1999.[2] They formed the group having experienced what they described as the "old school days of terracing" and wished to continue those traditions.[3] Since its foundation, the group has continued to grow and is based in the Holmesdale Road Stand.
The group spent its early years opposing stadium regulations introduced following the Taylor report, which they described as restrictive.[4] In the late 2000s, Palace entered administration, during which time the Holmesdale Fanatics became increasingly prominent by organising protests that attracted national and international attention. The club was subsequently saved from administration in 2010.[5]
In 2019, the group moved into Block E,[6] although the move was preceded by a supporter strike following delays and concerns over communication from the club regarding the relocation.[7]
Crystal Palace supporters, particularly those in the Holmesdale Road End, have become known for organised displays and coordinated support, with the Holmesdale Fanatics playing a prominent role.[8] During Palace’s FA Cup-winning campaign in the 2024–25 season, the Holmesdale Fanatics gained wider attention for their large-scale tifos and vocal backing. The group organised fundraising efforts that raised more than £45,000, contributing to supporter displays at Wembley Stadium during the semi-final and final.[9]
The Guardian wrote in December 2025 that the Holmesdale Fanatics have been involved in a long-running feud with a loosely organised pro-Tommy Robinson group of Crystal Palace supporters. Footage uploaded to X showed the two rival groups clashing in Strasbourg, with bottles and chairs being thrown, and a violent incident reportedly took place inside the stadium in which a lone member of the Holmesdale Fanatics was targeted.[10]
External links
[edit]References
[edit]- ↑ Stone, Simon (3 December 2019). "Inside the Holmesdale Fanatics, English football's closest thing to ultras". The Independent. Retrieved 14 December 2025.
- ↑ "Holmesdale Fanatics, Crystal Palace's ultras". The Guardian. 6 December 2013. Retrieved 14 December 2025.
- ↑ "Holmesdale Fanatics and the fight for fan culture". The Guardian. 6 December 2013. Retrieved 14 December 2025.
- ↑ "Crystal Palace fans and the return of terrace culture". The Guardian. 12 September 2014. Retrieved 14 December 2025.
- ↑ "How Crystal Palace survived administration". BBC Sport. 11 June 2010. Retrieved 14 December 2025.
- ↑ "Crystal Palace atmosphere to grow as Holmesdale Fanatics move stand". BBC Sport. 8 March 2019. Retrieved 14 December 2025.
- ↑ "Holmesdale Fanatics protest over Selhurst Park stand move". The Independent. 1 October 2019. Retrieved 14 December 2025.
- ↑ "How Crystal Palace created the loudest atmosphere in the Premier League". The Guardian. 2 October 2025. Retrieved 14 December 2025.
- ↑ "Crystal Palace fans raise over £45,000 for Wembley tifo". The Independent. May 2025. Retrieved 14 December 2025.
- ↑ Aarons, Ed (2025-12-06). "Crystal Palace fans are literally fighting each other. How has it come to this?". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2026-06-22.
