Prem supporters

Where do they come from? They've all supported their "local" prem team since they were nippers so how come so large a percentage of the population are fortunate enough for "their" teams to be in the prem?

The reason I raise this particular gripe tonight is because a Spurs "fan" I know asked me about the Liverpool win tonight and as soon as I mentioned that I was going to the Sheff Wed game this weekend you could see his eyes glaze over. If it's not going to be on telly they're just not interested. It's bizarre. There's no hope for this country, I tell you.

 

Spurs fan..northamptonshire. next you'll be saying The popes a nazi.

 

It was interesting at the Liverppol game

I was sat in the main stand and there was only one scouse accent round me !

 

i had scouse to one side and welsh to the other.

 

It's worse than that

He's from Bradford! Nice guy and all that but Spurs??? WTF???

 

Lots of Welsh support Liverpool/Everton

I had a whole range of accents nearme - the only scouse voice was behind me who wanted to call a group of Barnsley fans who went up when we scored the first!

 

Many 'supporters' use football as a means of elitism.

No doubt your Spurs mate -when selecting a team to support - wanted to follow someone who he knew would have a fair chance of success at the time, a team based in London guaranteeing massive media coverage and by supporting them, will sub consciously believe he is better than you. Yeah, I know, deep pyschology here but I really do not think I'M that wide of the mark.

Real fans however couldn't give a toss about using football as a means of 'social climbing'. They have a passion for their local team only, as local pride is far more important than glory seeking. When relative 'glory' arrives for these fans- whether it be a good cup run, promotion up a division, etc the enjoyment they will get will be 10 x that of the glory seeking plastic Spurs fan type such as your mate.

As you probably have gathered, these people disgust me and the fact he didn't have the savvy to hold a conversation about Barnsley - other than the Liverpool game - would mean in future, I wouldn't even waste my energy talking to him about football.

 

Here's something...

don't tell anyone, but when I was young and daft, I was a Spurs fan. Why? Because when I was six, Ossie's Dream was all over the radio. Brainwashed by a song. At least nobody could label me a glory-hunter, cos they won chuff all after that, 1991 apart.

Then at 18, I left the tarn and people kept asking me why I was a Spurs fan. It was then that I realised that it was a bit daft, so focused my energies on my home team. Nivver looked back since.

 

The irony is . . .

. . . that the plastic fan, as you put it, only has any hope of credibility amongst other plastic fans. There's something special about meeting a Port Vale or Grimsby fan and talking about "Do you remember . . ." that you can never explain to them. I wouldn't trade being a Barnsley fan for the world. And I hope they make me proud on Saturday, even if I have to tell 95% of football "supporters" I know what the score was 'cos it wasn't on Match Of The Day.

 

Your secret's safe with me

Can't vouch for these other buggers though.

 

RE: The irony is . . .

'I wouldn't trade being a Barnsley fan for the world'.

I will second that mate. And when you support your local team in lean times such as when were in Div 1 recently (or the old fourth in the 70s) you appreciate and savour the relative sucess more, than your typical glory seeker could ever do.

Good to see you eventually saw the light!!

 

RE: The irony is . . .

There's no "eventually" about it, mate. I knew from an early age that being a Barnsley fan was something special. I just can't understand this other crowd.

 

Liverpool fans in Harrogate.

I sometimes work with a father and son from Harrogate who both "support" Liverpool though I doubt either have ever been to Anfield. We always have the crack about football and when both our numbers came out in the draw there was even more banter and predictions of a cricket score etc etc.

When we beat them I gave them it large, sending pics of our fans celebrating on my phone and sent dozens of texts "rubbing it in". Repayment for all the stick they gave me beforehand, plus some.

Funny thing is, I dont think they took it badly. They dont feel it like I do. It doesnt make or ruin their weekends like it does mine. I get the feeling they could support any team thats doing well, enjoy the banter in the pub but will never experience the same highs and lows and pride of us that go and support our local team.

 

There used to be a bus load that goes to every home game - think they get picked up near the odeon, might still do.

 

Do you live in Harrogate?

 

Yes - not far from the hospital, near Drakes chippy.

 

Starbeck area? I do a lot of work up there, Bettys and Taylors, Masonic Lodge ( next to cop shop) and then private customers all around the area. There far more work up there than the lcal tradesmen can cope with. What do you do?

 

Yeah, not far off Starbeck. If you get chance try Elite Meat in Starbeck for its sausages, award winning stuff! I'm just a lowly researcher based at the British Library.

 

I would imagine that the number of people that ended up supporting the Liverpools, Man U's, Tottenhams of this world as youngsters, is possibly down to the fact that they weren't forced or didn't have the opportunity to watch a real match as a kid and never witnessed the passion. They only saw games on telly.

You're hardly going to pick to support Barnsley in Division 4 at the age of 8, if you have no idea who plays for them, never see anything about them and don't have the opportunity to go and see them for real. But if you're a youngster and you pick a team based solely on what you personally experience under your own steam, it's going to be a big club with a famous player/players.

There are still plenty of exceptions, who are just **** and jump about clubs depending on success.

 

I understand where you're coming from but as an exile my "local" team (who I go to watch quite a bit) are King's Lynn FC. I'm not sure that many Barnsley fans would be that interested in a conversation about tomorrows match against Hitchin Town, not just because they have more pressing concerns (like beating the S6UM), but because the Southern Premier League holds little interest for them in the same way that the Championship holds little interest for Premier League supporters. Perhaps last season when KLFC were on the telly playing Oldham in the cup there might have been some common ground (e.g. Dreamboy's boyfriend), but not a lowly non-league match.