According to polls GAIS are the second most supported club in Gothenburg, with 12% of the people in the city who follow a football team claiming to have GAIS as their favorite side. Their supporters have traditionally been perceived as coming from the working class-districts of Gothenburg and having left wing sympathies, even though research on the subject couldn't conclude that this were more true than for other clubs. Their supporters are also perceived as being loyal, despite whatever hardships the club may face. The oldest and primary GAIS supporter group is called Makrillarna (meaning "the Mackerels") and was founded in 1961.