THERE WAS A GROUP OF FRIENDS...

The need for organised support for AEK, either for economical reasons or for the protection of all the fans with the desire to follow and cheer for AEK wherever it played, resulted in the first organised AEK supporters club, in 1975. The name of the Club was «Gate 21», which was nothing but the home stadium's gate where the loudest and most fanatical of the fans gathered. With slow and careful steps, but mostly with the courage and love of these youths, our dreams started to become reality in a basement in the Agios Nikolaos area in Athens.

Some people ignored us, even more people thought this Club had to do with opposition to the state (it was quite fashionable back then, after all). There were others, however, who came close and gave all their love to this Club, and made it an integral part of their lives, building it stronger and stronger through their actions.

It was the middle of 1982, when the young people that had started a few years back realised that the Club was going off-path, and was adhering to the original ideals and objectives less and less. The doubts soon turned into certainty that the Supporters Club was taking advantage of the supporters instead of creating the solid body of support for AEK that they wanted. The young fan who was one of the founders, ended up desperately trying to find the reasons behind this. It was impossible for this group of people not to fight as one, to be dominated by personal objectives; but it was true, and it could not go on anymore. Together with the most romantic, most passionate and strongest of the group, they decided to do something about the dreams-those dreams that were left simply as dreams-instead of leading that Supporters Club each and every day. The original reasons behind the establishment of «Gate 21» had been forgotten by so many of their incubators, and there was no other option than creating an ORIGINAL «Gate 21».

And it was then, that in the name of the faith, the passion and the endless fight for AEK, «Original 21» was born... the first step towards the organisation that would make dreams come true (instead of making a few supporters wealthy). And despite the ignorance of most, who insisted that there was no reason for all this, ORIGINAL 21 became a way of life for those who believed in it. Those who, with the AEK scarf either in hand or covering their nose, followed the team religiously everywhere it went, no matter how many, no matter the price (both in money but most importantly in blood). Those, who always managed to cheer while next to this great love of theirs that familiar: «AEK, remember, Original 21 has come and is here with you!» With the rent running for another basement, this time in Zonara street in the Panathinea area, our dreams were no longer dreams. This place became SACRED, and the best way to FEEL the magic of being next to AEK. Something like the voices from the upper left corner of the famous «Skepasti» stands in the Nea Filadelfia stadium, that would not stop the cheers and the songs for AEK, and would sometimes also sing «ORIGINAL - ORIGINAL - ORIGINAL 21».

You had to turn your head to see the people around this enormous black banner with the Skull, which became famous from the moment it was first erected in the middle of our «home». It was the same people that made the organisation a reality in 1982, that first showed this Skull that symbolises the death of the opponent but also the independence of this new favourite gate, 9-11, the world famous «Skepasti»!!! The favourite gate, a creation of our favourite president of the AEK football team, Loukas Barlos, who risked losing his own house for the team he led to so much glory in the late 1970s.

The growth and power emerging from this small room in Zonara street was disturbing so many, that we were told we would never be able to last. We would never be able to last especially in that area, 200 metres away from the Panathinaikos stadium!! Little did they know that this was something that built more strength within ourselves, and made us so much more powerful and united against all odds, odds that we wished we always had against us!

Very soon, another wish of ours was becoming true! We had found it! In Leoforos Alexandras, the avenue where the Panathinaikos stadium is, and only a short walk away from it. Our will and determination were such that not only did we rent it for some time, but we decided to BUY IT. This, our «domatiaki», will ALWAYS be ours, symbolizing our passion, never-ending fight for our hopes, our dreams, our ideals, the ideals that led to the breakthrough in 1982, all the qualities that throughout the years had created this strong FAMILY of Supporters.

Along with our growth and increasing independence, came the times that we became the target for many of those who were either jealous of our dreams or opposed our goals. We have since been the easy target for anyone who dislikes strong ideals, endless passion and unparalleled devotion. They, however, have not made a single dent. We follow our dreams the same way we did in 1982, and all our daily battles have one and only aim: to uphold these same ideals that are behind the existence of AEK itself.

IN GOOD TIMES - IN BAD TIMES - IN FALLING RAIN, SNOW, OR STONES - WE WILL BE THERE

ORIGINAL GATE 21 - 1975
ORIGINAL 21 - 1982