Malappuram has never needed a lesson in loving football. From packed 7s tournaments to dusty maidans that breathe the game, football has always lived here. What was missing, until recently, was an organised Ultras culture, one that sings for ninety minutes and believes that support is an act of devotion, not entertainment. Ultras Malappuram emerged from that gap. What began as seven strangers on a WhatsApp group has today become the loudest heartbeat of Malappuram FC. In this conversation, Midlaj, one of their representatives, speaks about building an Ultras movement in a town that had to unlearn how to watch football.
Malappuram has always been a football-loving district. What was missing when you started Ultras Malappuram?
Malappuram always loved football, but the culture here was more centred around 7s football. The kind of football culture we had was not really an Ultras culture. When we started, we struggled a lot with chants, organising tifos, and creating mosaics. Some people just wanted to sit and watch the game quietly. But our idea was different. We wanted to stand, chant, and support the team non-stop. That clash in mindset made the initial phase quite difficult.
How did Ultras Malappuram actually begin?
We started as a WhatsApp group of just seven people. All strangers. The only thing connecting us was our love for the club. We expanded very carefully. We added only those who matched our philosophy of Ultras culture and were genuinely willing to be part of the movement. We also conducted meetups, and that really strengthened the bond between us.
Majeri Stadium is not exactly in the heart of the town. Did that affect fan mobilisation?
Yes, Majeri Stadium being on the outskirts of the town was definitely a challenge initially. Getting people to travel that far was not easy. But over time, we realised it was actually a blessing in disguise. Only people who genuinely love football come here. That also gives us freedom. We can go to the stadium the night before the match and plan our activities without interference.
Most matchdays have four sleepless nights behind them for the core members. We usually stay till 4 AM the previous night, planning chants, tifos, and mosaics.
The team’s on-field performance was average last season. Did that affect your growth?
Initially, yes. But slowly, people started understanding the effort we were putting in. Even though the team had an average season in terms of performance, more people began joining us, especially for tifo choreography and mosaic displays. Once people saw the passion, they wanted to be part of it.
Your social media presence is one of the strongest among fan groups. How important was that?
A huge part of our growth is because of our social media team. They’ve done a fantastic job. Our Instagram followers have crossed the followers of all other supporter groups. That visibility helped people understand who we are and what we stand for.
You often speak about your relationship with the club management. How has that been?
We maintain a very good bond with the management. Honestly, we probably have the best owners. They support us in all our activities. Other fan groups are actually jealous that we have such supportive owners.
In the first season, though, we struggled a lot with funding. All core members ended up in debt. In the second season, the club helped us. We sold Malappuram FC merchandise and received a share of the profit. That helped us clear our debts and organise fan activities in a much better way.
You’ve formalised your operations as well. Why was that important?
Since we handle funds, we registered ourselves as a society. Transparency is very important for us. After every matchday, we audit our money exchanges internally. After the season, we will conduct a formal audit through a chartered accountant. We want everything to be clean and accountable.
Transport arrangements have been a big talking point among Malappuram FC fans.
We can proudly say that we organised transport for all 10 matches last season, and we’re continuing that this season as well. We keep expenses to the bare minimum. Just bus fare, a water bottle, and the match ticket.
The owners were ready to arrange transport for away matches, but we refused. We don’t want to cultivate a freebie culture. People should come out of passion, not because travel is free.
What happens when the season ends? Do Ultras Malappuram go silent?
Not at all. Last offseason, we conducted football quiz tournaments. We had separate rounds for Kerala football and Indian football because we want people to know our own football history.
The offseason from January to August is already planned. We have around 35 activities lined up. We’re also planning to start a blood donation registry. We don’t want to limit ourselves to just a few camps. With this manpower, we can do much more.
You’ve also taken steps beyond football.
Yes. We provided a matchday experience to differently abled kids in association with Kinship Foundation. We plan to do more of that next season. We’re also planning to collaborate with a football academy so that we can support and provide training for kids.
Ultras Malappuram is not just about chants, tifos, or matchday noise. It is about intent. About choosing passion over freebies, transparency over shortcuts, and community over convenience. From auditing their own funds to planning blood donation registries, from carrying differently abled children into the matchday experience to dreaming of academies for the next generation, this is a fan movement thinking far beyond ninety minutes. Malappuram FC may still be writing its footballing story, but in the stands at Majeri, a culture has already taken root. And it is here to stay.
