No one likes us, we don't care The Story of the Millwall Chant

The phrase "No one likes us, we don't care" is more than just a sports chant; it is a defiant defiant statement of identity and a symbol of a club's perceived isolation. Originating as a football chant sung by supporters of the English football club Millwall in the late 1970s, it has evolved from a local terrace chant into a global phenomenon adopted by sports teams across various disciplines.

The Origins of the Chant

The chant was born out of a climate of rising fan violence and football hooliganism in England during the late 1960s and early 1980s. Millwall, like many other clubs, saw elements of hooliganism develop within its fanbase. The chant was created as a response to sustained criticism from the press and media, who often portrayed Millwall fans as violent hooligans.

The Role of the Media and "F-Troop"

The media's portrayal of Millwall fans was influential. In 1977, a BBC Panorama programme featured Dr. Anthony Clare, who described Millwall's "terraced army" as having divisions, specifically highlighting a "F-Troop"—a group of "real nutters" who actively sought out fights. This narrative was further reinforced by Don Atyeo's 1979 book Blood & Guts, Violence in Sports and Desmond Morris's The Soccer Tribe (1981), which quoted Atyeo's describing the "hard men" of Millwall.

A Siege Mentality

The chant's power lies in its simple, yet powerful message of defiance. Many Millwall supporters, and commentators like Danny Baker and Rod Liddle, have questioned why Millwall has been singled out for hooliganism while other clubs had similar histories. This perceived unfair treatment created a "siege mentality" among ordinary, law-abiding fans, leading to the victory of the chant: "No one likes us, we don't care".

Global Adoption and Variations

The chant has since been adopted by supporters of various sports teams worldwide, reaching a worldwide audience when Millwall reached the 2004 FA Cup Final. Variations of the the chant have been used by teams such as:

• Football (Soccer): Wealdstone F.C., Burnley F.C., MK Dons, AIK, Shamrock Rovers, Columbus Crew SC, Seattle Sounders FC, Urawa Red Diamonds, and RB Leipzig.
• North American Sports: The Philadelphia Eagles, Philadelphia Union, and the Anaheim Ducks (who use it as an informal motto).
• Detroit City FC and San Diego State Aztecs men's basketball.
• Other: Rangers (who modify the lyrics to reflect their rivalry with Celtic).

Following the 2017–2018 Super Bowl LII victory parade for the Philadelphia Eagles, football center Jason Kelce sang a profane version of the chant to the crowd's delight, further cementing its spirit of defiance in American sports culture.

Lyrics of the Original Chant

The original chant is sung to the tune of "(We Are) Sailing" by Rod Stewart. The lyrics are typically as follows:

No one likes us, no one likes us
No one likes us, we don't care!

We are Millwall, super Millwall
We are Millwall from The Den!