Chuo University’s football club members cheer their team in a way quite different from those in other universities. A Hakumon Herald reporter joined them in the club team’s match against the University of Tsukuba on May 11 to see how different it is. It was one of the 10^th section games in the Kanto university league tournament.

中央大学サッカー部の応援の仕方が他の大学サッカー部のそれとは違うと聞き、５月　１１日に中大グランドで行われた関東リーグ第１０節対筑波大学との試合を観戦した。

The biggest difference comes from the club’s iron rule that obliges all members to take to the stadium to pep their players. “Take part as much as possible” or “Show up when the regular team plays.” These are normally required of club members in most other universities. But Chuo’s rule applies to all matches from ones played by the regular team to ones played by the substitute team. Even when the game is played at remote locations, they go there by bus from the club’s dormitory in Minamidaira not far from the school. Chuo’s another rule, though unwritten, requires the seniors (fourth graders) to lead the cheering. So, some of them turn out for the cheering even after their retirement as a player.

　違いとは何か。それは、「チームの応援は部員全員絶対参加する」という決まりがあることだ。「応援はなるべく参加する」「Ａチームの応援は行こう」というのが、他大学では一般的だが、中大サッカー部は、トップチームからサブチームまで全ての試合をみんなで応援する習慣がある。試合会場が遠いところであっても、サッカー部の寮がある南平からバスで全員が応援に行く。また、その応援も「４年生が率先してやる」という共通認識があり、部を引退してからも応援に足を運ぶ者もいる。

Despite the unique rules, the members’ cheering style is just ordinary. They pep up the players with megaphones and small drums before the kickoff. During the singing of the school song, they stop beating drums to keep the stands quieter. After that, players line up and wave to the rooters before starting to play. The stands get boisterous each time a shot is fired, a goal is made, or a goal is saved. The club members have no cheering songs of their own. They usually sing the songs of some J.League clubs by changing part of their lyrics. During the May 11 match, they sang the songs of F.C. Tokyo and Kawasaki Frontale, both of which have some Chuo graduates among their players.

　応援はキックオフの前から、メガホンや小太鼓を使って試合を盛り上げる。そして校歌斉唱では、メガホンや小太鼓を一度休めて応援団全員で歌う。歌い終わると、整列している選手一同がこの応援団に手を振って応えて試合開始。点を決めたとき、ピンチを凌いだとき、シュートを打ったときなど、常に応援は賑やかである。応援歌は、Ｊリーグ各チームの応援歌を独自に変えたものが多い。この日は、ＦＣ東京や川崎フロンターレなど、中大出身者が所属するチームの応援歌を用いていた。

  The most attractive point about Chuo’s cheering is that it is full of vigor and gaiety at every game. Why don’t you join them and dance a victory dance together?

　中大サッカー部の応援の一番の魅力は、どんな試合でも賑やかであること。仲の良いサッカー部の和に入って一緒に応援してみてはいかがだろうか。そして、勝利をつかんだときのダンスを一緒に躍ろう。

(Written by: Natsumi Nakano)

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