The history of GATE 13

[Panathenian_fan]

HISTORY OF GATE 13

Panathinaikos was the first team in Greece that had organized supporters. In late 1960's the first fan club (SOTH 13 - Gate 13 Fan Club) was established by a group of youngsters for two reasons. First reason was to find tickets for the small stadium easier and the second was to prevent fans of other teams to come among them. That fan club was best organized and developed during the early 1970's, the same season that Panathinaikos qualified to the final of European Championship against Ajax. The enthusiasm and great effort that Gate 13 was always showing to the team, meant to be something like an era for other fans.

By the end of the 1970's some members of Gate 13 founded new fan clubs, with N.O.P.O. and Green Devils to be the leading of the upcoming ones. The 1978-1979 season was a season that violent riots took place all over Greece. Next season the "clean-up" starts from Gate 13, where the first hooligan actions turned up. The police sent undercover forces into the gate and the whole "clean-up" operation took nearly two years.

In the mid 1980's Giorgos Vardinogiannis (the president of the team) decided to shut down every fan club and founded PA.LE.FI.P., which was the only fan club that period. In 1988 some members of PA.LE.FI.P., having SOTH 13 as a vision, established a new fan club, the Green Cockney Club, which was located in 87 Socratous St. on the sixth floor. The next year two new clubs are established; Mad Boys and Fan Club Zografou. In 1993 these two fan clubs and some other with the same visions and ideas created Athens Fans.

From that year until present, three are the main events: in 1995 the separation of Mad Boys from Athens Fans, the establishment of Underground and later on the establishment of Greens. Another season, 1997-1998, is marked with the worst and violent riots, the year that Giorgos Vardinogiannis once again decides to shut down every fan club and leaves only PA.LE.FI.P., which was on his side all these years. The only fan clubs that are now open are about 35 and are all independent with the name of their city or area as a fan club name.

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