Ultras Spartak

Ultras Spartak are the organised supporters of the professional football club FC Spartak Trnava.^[1] And are considered one of the best fan groups in Slovakia.^[2][3]

Ultras Spartak
Ultras Spartak tifo in 2018.
Founded	1988
Type	Ultras group
Clubs	Spartak Trnava
Location	Trnava, Slovakia
Stadium	Anton Malatinský Stadium
Stand	Sector 3/ Ultras Sector
Colours
Website	https://www.facebook.com/UltrasSpartakTrnava/ (in Slovak)

History

The history of the White Angels was initially documented mainly orally. Most of the information has been preserved in the books 50 years of Trnava football and 60 years of Trnava football. The predecessor of today's Spartak - TŠS Trnava, had a large fan base during its first year. Its city rival ŠK Trnava was no worse off. After a year, the two clubs merged in order to strengthen the position of Trnava football. The following year, a new club from the working class environment appeared on the scene - ŠK Rapid Trnava. This club was extremely popular among the Trnava public. Derby matches between ŠK Trnava and Rapid Trnava were well attended from the beginning.^[4][5][6]

First attempts to record and mediate their own history have occurred among the fans of Trnava in the recent years.^[7]

Various manifestations of unorganized supporting began to appear at the beginning of formation of the fan-base history in Trnava. These manifestations consisted mainly in spontaneous outcries which have in many cases resulted in positive response in the form of involvement of other supporters, or they have, more rarely, faded out without any response. "Trnava, go" ("Trnava do teho")^[8] is one of the oldest outcries of the unorganized supporting period, and it has been used to this day.

The first group similar to the present-day Ultras groups was created at the beginning of 1990s. It was called Alkyfans and it was, at the beginning of its existence, seated on sector 3.

Ultras Spartak Graffiti translates to “One City, One Club”.

Fan club of Spartak Trnava ranks among the official fan associations, and it has also gone through several changes. It was created on 10th April 1966 as Spartaklub, a club of friends of TJ Spartak Kovosmalt Trnava. After a forced termination, the club restored its activity on 18 February 1988 as "Club of Supporters of the Spartak TAZ Trnava". In the 1990s, it changed its name to "Fan Club of Spartak Trnava", taking on board about 150 members. Currently it acts under the name White Angels, (“Bíli Andeli”).^[9][10]

Friendships and Rivalries

Baník Ostrava Ultras choreo

Friendships

Between 1988 and 2006, Ultras Spartak had a mutual friendship with Baník Ostrava fans. Good relations and friendship still persist to this day.^[11][12]

Rivalries

Ultras Spartak hold a fierce rivalry with Ultras Slovan, the main fan group of ŠK Slovan Bratislava. Both Ultras have been banned multiple times in Traditional derbys.^[13][14] In a match against Slovan in 2021, there was a full blown fight on the pitch between both ultras, with the game being cancelled and postponed.^[15][16] As a result of this incident, Spartak would have to play the next three home matches without the Ultras, with entry only allowed for children under 15 years of age.^[17]

Ultras Spartak choreo in Traditional derby against Slovan Bratislava.

Ideology

Ultras Spartak are against the use of knives during games.^[18][19]

Ultra Groups/Divisions

Currently there are several smaller and larger Ultras groups in Trnava, called also "groups" or "divisions", created on the basis of friendly relationships or places of living. The groups present themselves with their own flags, and presently the best known groups are Under clock Deads (the name is original, hereinafter referred to as UCD), Wild West (“Divoký západ”), Gang of Piešťany (“Banda piešťanská” ) originally called Fanatics of Piešťany (“Piešťanský fanatici”), Line (“Linka”), Zátvor, and others. Some members of the smaller groups are at the same time members of large Ultras groups, such as NSP and SST. All the Ultras groups are unofficial.^[9]

Choreography

Ultras Spartak are well known for their choreography,^[20] it takes all night to prepare an all stand choreo, sometimes even three days. It is produced by volunteers in their free time.^[21]

Ultras Spartak Choreography against Fenerbahçe in the 2023-24 Conference League.

The most frequently used types of the choreo are:^[22]

• Cardboard choreo (“kartónovačka”) - visual creation composed of several sheets of paper of various sizes and colours. This choreo requires a large number of people.

“Prepalovačka”.

• Burning-through choreo (“prepalovačka”) - transparent film of various shapes andsizes with paintings or writings, usually accompanied by light effects. The burning-through choreo can be realized in two ways, either raised above the fans' heads or hung on railingsor a fence.

• Argentina (“Argentína”) - consists of throwing small pieces of paper and confetti in the air.

• Sector choreo (“sektorovka”) - large piece of paper or another material with variouspaintings or writings raised above attendants' heads directly on the terraces.

Gallery

• 
  Ultras choreo against Slovan Bratislava in cup final.
• 
  Choreo against Lech Poznań.
• 
  Choreo in the last European match in 2023.
• 
  All stand choreo against Valencia
• 
  Choreo in 2018 against Anderlecht.
• 
  Choreo against Legia Warsaw.