The "Brand" is growing ;)

[TTTCITYBHOY]

In the small town that is Erskine (Renfrewshire),population app 13,000.
There was always at least 2 City fans,myself and CelticBhoyCityBlue (Martin),who is the main man for the Billy McNeill Renfrewshire City Club.
Over the last few months,i've noticed loads of City shirts appearing here,there and everywhere tbh.
Even got to the stage where strangers jump into my cab,see the City badges,and it's.. "oh you're the City fan then"
PROUD AS FUK TBH

 

[jma]

Honest answers to this scenario, please.

If your mate, from Manchester, told you that he supported Surrey in cricket, started boasting to you every time Surrey won something or beat Lancs and he had no connection to Surrey or apparent reason for doing so, would you not think this particularly strange and laughable behaviour?

The same goes for if he started supporting Spain in international football or the USA in the Ryder Cup or Leicester in Rugby Union.

People on here like to say "club football is different" to such examples. But it is only different in that the last 20 years has seen more and more gloryhunters and they wage a constant quest to justify their gloryhunting with all sorts of 'reasons'. Football is also different in that the clubs are, by far, the most aggressive in trying to exploit and encourage such shallow behaviour.

But, the principles are the same, no matter how it is excused/explained or encouraged.

You don't realize the football climate in countries which has no decent football but still 90% of the population has played football at some point during their lifespan. I have probably seen 100 times more Citygames then I have seen any swedish football games. As I pointed out before we are spoonfed into brittish football and as Keith Moon pointed out it's a project which the brittish FA started as early as 1969. Many many many swedish football supporters has never even seen an entire football game from any team in our highest league just because they are brought up with the idea that swedish football sucks. You simply can't compare it to a nation like UK, Italy, Germany, Spain or whatnot. My father even used to work as a youth coach, and he doesn't even watch swedish football.

Well, to me, that isn't a fan of football. That is a fan of glamour.

If people truly are fans of football then why on Earth would they spurn the change to watch/support football in or near their home town/place they are living?

You are saying that people are genuinely painting themselves as fanatical football fans but want absolutely nothing to do with football in their own country?

A simple and logical extension of that attitude is that Division One (or 2 as it was then) football is shit. Therefore, as we all know it is shit, when City found themselves in that division we should all have gone and watched Premier League football instead. Apart from the geographical differences (which, we are told by those who want people to latch on to successful teams, is not relevant anyway) that is the same scenario.

I will say this. If every person on Earth had the attitude that is being defended here then football as we know it would cease to exist. Nobody would support anyone outside of the Premiership, possibly outside of the top half of the Premiership, and competitive football on any decent scale would not be possible. Much as you seem to say is happening in Sweden (although I happen to know that there actually are plenty of genuine football fans in Sweden who watch, support and prop up Swedish teams and don't shun their football in favour of far away glamour, so I don't buy your justification). Teams like Norwich, Swansea and Southampton would cease to exist, due to lack of fans, as all their current fans would decide that the football they play is not worthy of their attention and go and support United/Arsenal/etc.

PS: presumably, if Swedish football is so poor and so unworthy of the attention of Swedish people, presumably the Swedish national team, having achieved nothing of note for decades, is shunned by the population and they give their support to Spain/Brazil/Argentina? No? Thought not.

 

[xbuddyx]

My point was that we are brought up with brittish football. And yes while there are alot of ppl who will visit their local team, myself included, there are alot of people who won't but are still fanatical about foreign football cause that's all alot of ppl know. Alot of us has two teams, our true team which we possibly can watch live at a stadium 1-2 times a year and our local team which we dont really burn for in any real way but we go to our ten games or whatnot each season. It's not like it's a coincidence that Barca vs United was sold out in less than 1 hour when they had a pre-season game here in a stadium which they rebuilt just for that game so it would take somewhere around 47 000 ppl. Our national team cant even sell out that.

 

[jma]

My point was that we are brought up with brittish football. And yes while there are alot of ppl who will visit their local team, myself included, there are alot of people who won't but are still fanatical about foreign football cause that's all alot of ppl know. Alot of us has two teams, our true team which we possibly can watch live at a stadium 1-2 times a year and our local team which we dont really burn for in any real way but we go to our ten games or whatnot each season. It's not like it's a coincidence that Barca vs United was sold out in less than 1 hour when they had a pre-season game here in a stadium which they rebuilt just for that game so it would take somewhere around 47 000 ppl. Our national team cant even sell out that.

Well, this is really what I cannot get my head around.

You would go and watch a team play 10 times a year. A team that was set up to and does represent a place that you have some connection to. You would watch that team struggle to win, draw and lose and not really give a shit. Yet, a team that is from a random, unrelated, far away place -somewhere that you may, if lucky, get to once a year or so - you would say that you are ridiculously passionate about that team?

Despite every rational indicator pointing towards you surely having much more feeling for the team you actually watch. The team that you can see, feel and touch. The team that was part of your locality growing up. The team that you can physically touch/see. The team that was deliberately set up to represent that area and community. Despite all that, you are much more passionate about the other team?

If that is the case then surely you have to admit, the only thing that would cause you to be more passionate and 'a supporter' of the English team is that it is more glamorous and there is more 'glory' involved (whether that is winning trophies or just being a 'bigger' team)? In fact, you admit as much anyway.

So, yeah, I freely admit, I cannot get my head around that. I can imagine a kid doing such a thing but I would have thought that when that kid becomes a rational adult they would ask themselves serious questions about their motivations and reasons for doing so and feel just a little bit silly about the whole thing.

(Although I know that I am the weird one in this respect as so many people do just that)

(Can I just add that the above sounds a little like a personal attack. It's not meant to be, it's just addressing what is raised. I have no issue with you doing whatever you want to do. It has nothing to do with me. You just happen to have responded, that's all)

 

[xbuddyx]

Yeah I can understand why you are having problems wrapping your head around it. It is hard for me to explain it aswell. Though surely no one in their right mind becomes a citysupporter for the glory pre sheikh Mansour but still it happened. As I pointed out it's a different climate, we are spoonfed with football which we dream of to visit. Can't really put it in any other way.

 

[Why Always Ste]

I can somewhat relate to foreign fans (in particular the Swedish lads) more than say Liam as I used to watch City regularly on Tv, or listen to them on the Radio.... Even though Maine Road/Eastlands is only 15miles away.

See, my parents never bought me tickets, I would avoid paying on the Tram, walk to the stadium, at the end touts would scan me in for Free (or very cheap) and at Maine Road it was cheap enough and I'd have to save up money to watch a few games per season.

Even more recently as an Adult it was similar, being skint I'd just pay to get scanned in on someone elses SC and get in for £5/£10 having to wait 'till near kick off (or just after)

This meant no points for me, so my LP's are very low, and I missed many games per season.
I've been stood outside the stadium waiting to get in, not finding/having availability and walking back into town hearing goals being scored from the stadium.

So I've had a "distant" relationship to a club I couldn't have access to, just like the Swedish poster. Ending up watching the games on Sky.

I'm in a position right now where I can afford SC's and Away games, but I have no kids etc...

I'm in no way a bigger Blue than the guy who's been watching city play for years through a box, just 'cos I've seen them play live or I have XXXX loyalty points, or because My grandfather was at maine road in '46

There is however one thing that pisses me off... and that is Financial Accessibility of the club - and how many people who are big fans of the club, are regularly priced out from watching live, people who live very close to the stadium.
This is happening all over the country with other clubs.

I feel Embarassed to call this club "Manchester" or if I supported say Liverpool the same would apply, knowing that many residents of the area don't attend the matches because they are priced out through out-of-towners (please note I am also an out-of-towner being born in Bury, and living in Bury)

it is inevitable that I will be giving up my SC in a few years time (unless I get a better job, win the lottery, don't have kids) as I will be priced out, with my card going to another fellow out-of-towner (or maybe a southerner living in a plush apartment in the centre on £100,000 a year)

I'll go to Arsenal Away and sat around me I'll spot many people in the away end, not cheering, not singing, no emotional attachment to whats happening on the pitch.
They have a right to buy this ticket, but this is a sign of our future support - and the more affluent members of society with higher disposable incomes will fill our grounds more and you will be sat in a block of 200 people, with maybe 20 people having an emotional attachment to the club.. the rest will be there to watch the match, and might smile and clap when A team scores...

This is why I'm embracing this new U-21 Premier League, I plan on taking advantage of The EDS and this will be my second team, tickets are cheaper (FREE on Friday night) and I can watch a glimpse of the future of "my" club for a small fee... and if they make the big league, those of us with big money can watch the finished product (ell suppose I can on a internet stream)

Wherever you are, support this club.
Whoever you are, support this club.
Hopefully one day I will be in a better financial situation to continue cheering the blues :-)

Steven
Chairman, North Bury MCFC Supporters Club

 

[sugardubby]

So, yeah, I freely admit, I cannot get my head around that. I can imagine a kid doing such a thing but I would have thought that when that kid becomes a rational adult they would ask themselves serious questions about their motivations and reasons for doing so and feel just a little bit silly about the whole thing.

Just a thought, but maybe when that child becomes a rational adult they're already hooked. Just like we were.

And, I must confess, as an (allegedly) rational adult I've questioned my motivations and reasons many many times - taking a first (and subsequently last) date to Bury at home 14th Feb springs to mind - but the illogical addiction continues, of course. It's been worth the pain of late though :-) .


Surely it's the blanket coverage of the Premier League on television that generates the out of town/country fans anyway? I do get where xbuddyx (hi, welcome mate, come and have a pint when you do get over) is coming from, with live games from the self-styled "Best League In The World" on his screens every weekend when there's no Swedish football on. Week after week, year after year - you must pick up a favourite team. Just because we Brits find the idea irrational doesn't mean it actually is, I suppose.

And I guess this same logic applies to our new-found Asian fans as well, the only difference being the perception (true or not) that they're following us because we're successful and didn't even know about York away, never mind claim to have gone. I personally feel that the glory-hunting bit is true, but hell - Sky et al didn't give a shit about us till the last couple of years so how could they watch or 'support' us, we were hardly there to be seen (and when we were it was cast as the plucky underdog up against one of their mighty, virtuous big four). We didn't have the choice in who we supported, it's in the blood. They do.

The out-of-towners gag was great for r*g-baiting for years and yes the boot's now firmly on the other foot, but we can take it I'm sure. Grin and bear it - thanks to M. Platini, we have to. I'm sure self-sufficiency, by whatever means, is somewhere on HRH's list of priorities too? Ok - I've got kids and get hit for a couple of shirts a year etc, but I'm sure our new tourist fans spend one hell of a lot more pro-rata when you work it out per game attended. Good customers to a good businessman. I only hope and pray that the plan involves expansion rather than pricing people out, obviously. In HRH we trust.


A final, maybe radical, thought - and a bit peace and love this one - we have to make these "day trippers" welcome; let them get the bug. That way if we do hit (for them) barren times such as not winning something for a while they may still stick around. Singing "36 months, and we're still here"....perish the thought.

A case in point - CB222 Sunday evening, post game highlights just finishing on the big screens. Young Asian lad, box fresh City shirt on, snapping away at on his camera. Asked if we'd take a pic of him in the stadium and was beaming from ear-to-ear when obliged. That's one less fucking r*g in the world, job done, next.

 

[S04]

My point was that we are brought up with brittish football. And yes while there are alot of ppl who will visit their local team, myself included, there are alot of people who won't but are still fanatical about foreign football cause that's all alot of ppl know. Alot of us has two teams, our true team which we possibly can watch live at a stadium 1-2 times a year and our local team which we dont really burn for in any real way but we go to our ten games or whatnot each season. It's not like it's a coincidence that Barca vs United was sold out in less than 1 hour when they had a pre-season game here in a stadium which they rebuilt just for that game so it would take somewhere around 47 000 ppl. Our national team cant even sell out that.

Well, this is really what I cannot get my head around.

You would go and watch a team play 10 times a year. A team that was set up to and does represent a place that you have some connection to. You would watch that team struggle to win, draw and lose and not really give a shit. Yet, a team that is from a random, unrelated, far away place -somewhere that you may, if lucky, get to once a year or so - you would say that you are ridiculously passionate about that team?

Despite every rational indicator pointing towards you surely having much more feeling for the team you actually watch. The team that you can see, feel and touch. The team that was part of your locality growing up. The team that you can physically touch/see. The team that was deliberately set up to represent that area and community. Despite all that, you are much more passionate about the other team?

If that is the case then surely you have to admit, the only thing that would cause you to be more passionate and 'a supporter' of the English team is that it is more glamorous and there is more 'glory' involved (whether that is winning trophies or just being a 'bigger' team)? In fact, you admit as much anyway.

So, yeah, I freely admit, I cannot get my head around that. I can imagine a kid doing such a thing but I would have thought that when that kid becomes a rational adult they would ask themselves serious questions about their motivations and reasons for doing so and feel just a little bit silly about the whole thing.

(Although I know that I am the weird one in this respect as so many people do just that)

(Can I just add that the above sounds a little like a personal attack. It's not meant to be, it's just addressing what is raised. I have no issue with you doing whatever you want to do. It has nothing to do with me. You just happen to have responded, that's all)

Teams don´t really represent areas and communities anymore surely, för 9 out of 10 footy fans football exists in their living room on the telly wherever they live.
As for supporting your country, well, just look at the threads on here during a competition..not much support at all

 

[pominoz]

@jma, what do you think of Wheelsy, who flew from Sydney to watch the last game v qpr and flew straight home again, not a real fan?

 

[gordondaviesmoustache]

My point was that we are brought up with brittish football. And yes while there are alot of ppl who will visit their local team, myself included, there are alot of people who won't but are still fanatical about foreign football cause that's all alot of ppl know. Alot of us has two teams, our true team which we possibly can watch live at a stadium 1-2 times a year and our local team which we dont really burn for in any real way but we go to our ten games or whatnot each season. It's not like it's a coincidence that Barca vs United was sold out in less than 1 hour when they had a pre-season game here in a stadium which they rebuilt just for that game so it would take somewhere around 47 000 ppl. Our national team cant even sell out that.

Well, this is really what I cannot get my head around.

You would go and watch a team play 10 times a year. A team that was set up to and does represent a place that you have some connection to. You would watch that team struggle to win, draw and lose and not really give a shit. Yet, a team that is from a random, unrelated, far away place -somewhere that you may, if lucky, get to once a year or so - you would say that you are ridiculously passionate about that team?

Despite every rational indicator pointing towards you surely having much more feeling for the team you actually watch. The team that you can see, feel and touch. The team that was part of your locality growing up. The team that you can physically touch/see. The team that was deliberately set up to represent that area and community. Despite all that, you are much more passionate about the other team?

If that is the case then surely you have to admit, the only thing that would cause you to be more passionate and 'a supporter' of the English team is that it is more glamorous and there is more 'glory' involved (whether that is winning trophies or just being a 'bigger' team)? In fact, you admit as much anyway.

So, yeah, I freely admit, I cannot get my head around that. I can imagine a kid doing such a thing but I would have thought that when that kid becomes a rational adult they would ask themselves serious questions about their motivations and reasons for doing so and feel just a little bit silly about the whole thing.

(Although I know that I am the weird one in this respect as so many people do just that)

(Can I just add that the above sounds a little like a personal attack. It's not meant to be, it's just addressing what is raised. I have no issue with you doing whatever you want to do. It has nothing to do with me. You just happen to have responded, that's all)

It seems, to me at least, that you suffer from a pathological lack of empathy.