Editing West Bromwich Albion F.C. (section)

==Supporters==
{{Rquote|right|
''The Lord's my Shepherd, I'll not want.''<br />
''He makes me down to lie''<br />
''In pastures green; he leadeth me''<br />
''The quiet waters by.''<br />
|Lyrics to first verse of "The Lord's my Shepherd" from Psalm 23 <ref>{{cite web | title=Psalm 23: The Lord's my shepherd, I'll not want | url=http://www.ccel.org/ccel/anonymous/scotpsalter.p24.html | publisher=Christian Classics Ethereal Library | access-date=5 August 2007 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061116224839/http://www.ccel.org/ccel/anonymous/scotpsalter.p24.html | archive-date=16 November 2006 | url-status=dead | df=dmy-all }}</ref>}}

===Fan culture===
[[File:WBA promotion 2003-04.jpg|thumb|right|250px|West Brom fans and players celebrate together with the "Boing Boing" chant.]]
The official West Bromwich Albion Supporters Club was founded on 4 October 1951.<ref>{{cite news|first=Joseph|last=Chapman|title=West Brom players to attend supporters' awards event|url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/west-brom-players-attend-supporters-9298740|newspaper=Birmingham Mail|date=20 May 2015|access-date=31 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170831200631/http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/west-brom-players-attend-supporters-9298740|archive-date=31 August 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> In the years since then, over 30 branches have been established throughout the United Kingdom, and internationally in Jersey, Ireland, Spain, Malta, Croatia, USA, UAE, India, Thailand and Australia. There are also supporters groups for those with disabilities,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Supporters' Club Branches|url=https://www.wba.co.uk/club/fans/supporters-club/|publisher=West Bromwich Albion F.C.|access-date=31 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170831194645/https://www.wba.co.uk/club/fans/supporters-club/|archive-date=31 August 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> for mental health support, [[Punjabis|Punjabi]] supporters,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Fans ready to launch Apna Albion|url=https://www.wba.co.uk/news/2017/april/fans-ready-to-launch-apna-albion/|publisher=West Bromwich Albion F.C.|date=26 April 2017|access-date=4 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170904162603/https://www.wba.co.uk/news/2017/april/fans-ready-to-launch-apna-albion/|archive-date=4 September 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> supporters in the emergency services and armed forces,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Introducing Serving Albion|url=https://www.wba.co.uk/news/2018/november/introducing-serving-albion|date=7 November 2018|via=www.wba.co.uk}}</ref> and [[LGBT]] people.<ref>{{cite web
| title = Pride In Football: Members
| url = http://prideinfootball.co.uk/index.php/members/
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170316085007/http://prideinfootball.co.uk/index.php/members/
| url-status = dead
| archive-date = 16 March 2017
| publisher = Pride In Football
| access-date = 3 January 2018
}}</ref>

Albion's "club anthem" is ''The Lord's my Shepherd'', a setting of [[Psalm 23]]. The song originated following a rare Sunday game in the 1970s and has been sung at matches ever since.<ref>{{cite web
| title = Hawthorns set for a tenor treat
| url = http://www.wba.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/0,,10366~480525,00.html
| publisher = West Bromwich Albion F.C.
| date = 30 January 2004<!--article date incorrectly shown as Wed 17 November 2004 due to migration/archiving. Correct date was obtained via site search at the time.-->
| access-date = 23 November 2007
| url-status=dead
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120509195528/https://www.wba.co.uk/page/News/0,,10366~480525,00.html
| archive-date=9 May 2012
}}</ref> Supporters of the team celebrate goals by bouncing up and down and chanting "Boing Boing". This dates back to the 1992–93 season, when the team was promoted from the new [[Football League Second Division|Second Division]], with the origin of the chant still unclear.<ref>{{cite web
| title = Lyttle things mean a lot
| url = http://www.wba.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/0,,10366~63609,00.html
| date = 12 May 2001<!--article date incorrectly listed as Wed 17 November 2004. Correct date obtained via site search.-->
| publisher = West Bromwich Albion F.C.
| url-status = dead
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090112213022/http://www.wba.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/0%2C%2C10366~63609%2C00.html
| archive-date = 12 January 2009
| df = dmy-all
}}</ref> ''[[The Liquidator (instrumental)|The Liquidator]]'' instrumental by the [[Harry J. Allstars]] has also been popularly played in the stadium and sung to since the late 1960s.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/west-brom-to-bring-back-6885818|title=Baggies may bring back fans' anthem The Liquidator for crucial relegation scrap|date=27 March 2014 |publisher=Birmingham Mail|access-date=21 September 2019|archive-date=21 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190921163523/https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/west-brom-to-bring-back-6885818|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[reggae]] song ''"West Bromwich Albion"'' by Ray King is another club anthem popularly played before matches.<ref>{{cite web|title=BOWLERS DELIVERY: If football be the food of love|url=https://www.wba.co.uk/news/2016/july/bowlers-delivery-if-football-be-the-food-of-love/|publisher=West Bromwich Albion F.C.|date=27 July 2016|access-date=14 May 2020|archive-date=30 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201130115709/https://www.wba.co.uk/news/2016/july/bowlers-delivery-if-football-be-the-food-of-love|url-status=live}}</ref> In recent years fans of the team have celebrated the end of each season by adopting a [[Costume party|fancy dress]] theme for the final away match, including dressing as [[Vikings]] in 2004 in honour of Player of the Season [[Thomas Gaardsøe]].<ref>{{cite news
| title = Gaardsoe hails fans
| url = http://www.wba.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/0,,10366~523574,00.html
| publisher = West Bromwich Albion F.C.
| date = 11 May 2004
| access-date = 12 November 2007
| url-status = dead
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090113042217/http://www.wba.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/0%2C%2C10366~523574%2C00.html
| archive-date = 13 January 2009
| df = dmy-all
}}</ref>
[[File:The Hawthorns - geograph.org.uk - 3851096.jpg|thumb|250px|WBA supporters at a [[Football League First Division|First Division]] match in May 1980 at The Hawthorns.]]
In 2002–03 Albion's fans were voted the best in the Premier League by their peers,<ref>{{cite web|title=Prove you're No.1 again |url=http://www.wba.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/0,,10366~551945,00.html |publisher=West Bromwich Albion F.C. |date=13 August 2004 |access-date=11 November 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090113023240/http://www.wba.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/0%2C%2C10366~551945%2C00.html |archive-date=13 January 2009 }}</ref> while in the BBC's 2002 "national intelligence test" ''Test the Nation'', they were found to be "more likely to be smarter than any other football supporters, registering an average score of 138".<ref>{{cite news
| title = IQ test is ratings hit
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/1984648.stm
| work = BBC Sport
| date = 13 May 2002
| access-date = 11 November 2007
| archive-date = 4 December 2003
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20031204142918/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/1984648.stm
| url-status = live
}}</ref>

Famous fans include goalkeepers [[Aaron Ramsdale]] and [[Ben Foster (footballer)|Ben Foster]], comedian [[Frank Skinner]], TV presenter [[Adrian Chiles]], [[One Direction]] singer [[Liam Payne]], comedian [[Lenny Henry]], actress [[Julie Walters]], [[The Rolling Stones]] guitarist [[Ronnie Wood]], tennis players [[Ann Jones (tennis)|Ann Jones]] and [[Goran Ivanišević]], television presenter [[Cat Deeley]], DJ [[Dave Haslam]], boxers [[Richie Woodhall]] and [[Tommy Langford]],<ref name="Langford">{{cite web|first=Mike|last=Lockley|url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/other-sport/tommy-langford-defend-british-middleweight-14495982|title=Tommy Langford to defend British middleweight title against Jason Welborn|date=5 April 2018|work=BirminghamLive|access-date=20 June 2018|archive-date=21 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180621015640/https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/other-sport/tommy-langford-defend-british-middleweight-14495982|url-status=live}}</ref> and guitarist [[Eric Clapton]].<ref name="Celebrity fans">{{cite web|url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/revealed-west-bromwich-albions-most-7817282|title=REVEALED: West Bromwich Albion's most famous supporters|author=Steve Wollaston|date=23 June 2015|work=Birmingham Mail|access-date=14 April 2015|archive-date=14 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150414155618/http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/revealed-west-bromwich-albions-most-7817282|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Publications===
The club has published an official matchday [[Football programme|programme]] for supporters since 1905.<ref>{{Cite news
 | last=Millichip
 | first=Sir Bert
 | title=Past glories and future hopes
 | newspaper=Story of the Baggies – Birmingham Evening Mail souvenir
 | date = 16 January 1995
 | pages = 3
 }}</ref> The publication was entitled ''Albion News'' for many years, but was renamed ''Albion'' from the 2002–03 season until the close season of 2013, when it was renamed back to ''Albion News''.<ref>{{cite web
| title = The Programmes : Over the Years: 2000–01 to 2005–06
| url = http://www.westbrom.com/0/programmes/overtheyears.html
| publisher=westbrom.com
| access-date =11 November 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071015122824/http://westbrom.com/0/programmes/overtheyears.html |archive-date = 15 October 2007}}</ref> It won Premier League Programme of the Year in 2002–03 and Third Division Programme of the Year in 1991–92.<ref>{{cite web
| title = Programme of the Year Awards
| url = http://www.pmfc.co.uk/awards_page.php
| publisher = Programme Monthly & Football Collectable
| access-date = 11 November 2007
| archive-date = 30 September 2007
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070930051230/http://www.pmfc.co.uk/awards_page.php
| url-status = live
}}</ref> In 2007–08, it was awarded Championship Programme of the Year by both Programme Monthly and the Football Programme Directory.<ref>{{cite news
| title = Double up for 'ALBION'
| url = http://www.wba.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/0,,10366~1287194,00.html
| publisher = West Bromwich Albion F.C.
| date = 11 April 2008
| access-date = 12 April 2008
| url-status = dead
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080413133113/http://www.wba.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/0%2C%2C10366~1287194%2C00.html
| archive-date = 13 April 2008
| df = dmy-all
}}</ref> The programme has a circulation in excess of 8,000 copies.<ref>{{cite web|title=Programme Advertising |url=http://www.albionbusiness.co.uk/advertising-opportunities/programme_advertising.html |publisher=Albion Business |access-date=13 December 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081228151300/http://www.albionbusiness.co.uk/advertising-opportunities/programme_advertising.html |archive-date=28 December 2008 }}</ref> The first West Bromwich Albion [[fanzine]], ''Fingerpost'', was published from 1983 until 1992, and was followed by several others, most notably ''Grorty Dick'' (1989–2005) and ''Last Train to Rolfe Street'' (1992–1995). Since ''Grorty Dick'' ceased publication in 2005, the club now only has one fanzine dedicated to it; 'Baggie Shorts' which is produced by the West Bromwich Albion Supporters' Club London Branch.<ref>{{cite web | title = Baggie Shorts | url = http://www.londonbaggies.co.uk/ | publisher = West Bromwich Albion Supporters Club London Branch | access-date = 5 February 2010 | archive-date = 3 May 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090503195710/http://www.londonbaggies.co.uk/ | url-status = live }}</ref>

==="Baggies" nickname===
[[File:BaggieBird.jpg|thumb|upright|right|''Baggie Bird'' is one of two West Bromwich Albion mascots.]]
Although known in their early days as ''"the Throstles"'', the club's more popular nickname among supporters came to be ''the Baggies'', a term which the club itself looked down upon for many years but later embraced. The phrase was first heard at the Hawthorns in the 1900s, but its exact origins are uncertain.<ref name="McOwan pp38-40">McOwan pp. 38–40.</ref> One suggestion is that the name was bestowed on Albion supporters by their rivals at [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]], because of the large baggy trousers that many Albion fans wore at work to protect themselves from molten iron in the factories and foundries of the [[Black Country]].<ref>''Full Throstle'' DVD 0:08:48</ref> Club historian Tony Matthews, however, suggests that it derives from the "bagmen", who carried the club's matchday takings in big leather bags from the turnstiles to the cash office on the halfway line.<ref name="BOING Baggies nickname">{{cite web
| title = Why are we called The Baggies ?
| url = http://www.baggies.com/faq/#BAGGIES
| publisher = BOING
| access-date = 11 November 2007
| archive-date = 15 October 2007
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071015130354/http://baggies.com/faq/#BAGGIES
| url-status = live
}}</ref> Other theories relate to the baggy shorts worn by various players during the club's early years.<ref name="McOwan pp38-40"/><ref name="BOING Baggies nickname"/> The official club mascots are named ''Baggie Bird'' and ''Albi''; both are based on the throstle depicted on the club crest.<ref>{{Cite news
| title = Baggie Birds need your support
| url = http://www.wba.co.uk/page/News/0,,10366~2006780,00.html
| publisher = West Bromwich Albion F.C.
| date = 27 March 2010
| access-date = 3 May 2010
| url-status = dead
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120913060804/http://www.wba.co.uk/page/News/0%2C%2C10366~2006780%2C00.html
| archive-date = 13 September 2012
| df = dmy-all
}}</ref>