A team like Man United has 70000 home fans
Only 3000 can go to most away games
When Man United play away do many fans go and support a smaller nearby team like Oldham for a football day out?
It was much more common to be less tribal about your football club before the 1960’s. I use Scotland as an example.
My late father supported both Motherwell and Hamilton Academical in the 40’s and 50’s because they played in different divisions and would set up there home fixtures to be on alternate Saturday’s. He and his grandfather loved the game so much they wanted to go every week and away fixtures were not always possible on their budget.
I’m a Hibernian supporter and it was also common for football fans to go and watch both Edinburgh clubs on alternate weeks at that time. You would support either Hearts or Hibs but often would follow the other club so you could watch football every week without travelling far.
The only time this would never happen was in Glasgow because of the deep sectarian divide between Rangers and Celtic.
From what my dad told me this was also common with English towns and cities with more than one club at the time.
Once hooliganism really kicked off from mid 60’s is when it all changed.
It depends on how shit the team they support is really.
I support a really shit League 2 team so haven’t really got anywhere to go after that.
I’ll often go and watch my local team who are in Tier 8 if I can’t watch my actual team.
But to answer your question, yes a lot of supporters of Premier League teams go to watch and ‘softly’ support their local lower league team. I have a few mates who’ll come watch Colchester more often than they’ve ever been to watch their actual team (usually Spurs, West Ham, Arsenal)
I don’t really care how ‘my team’ does anymore. I know what’s going on, but it doesn’t make or break my day.
Football is relentless, it never ends, and I’m convinced it’s changing for the worse, on and off the pitch. Corruption, dishonesty on the pitch, racism in the stands. I don’t feel much passion for the game anymore.
Newcastle United (PL) and Alnwick Town (level 11)
If you grow up in a small town/village you’ll normally support a big (league) team plus the local non-league side. How often you actually go to games varies by a lot of things - not least the cost. Also a lot of people work Saturdays and Sundays now which restricts things.
NO!
The difference is between being a supporter and a fan. A fan can follow different clubs but a supporter only follows ONE.
I’ve noticed that there are A LOT of people thinking they’re supporters when they’re actually fans.
The people who still want to call themselves supporters, even though they follow multiple clubs, are fucking delusional.
I find it humorous how people will feel they need to ask permission to like more than one club.
maybe you can ask the people from r/soccercirclejerk
it’s weird to support two league clubs
It’s common for people to support both a league and non-league team. I support West Brom and also like Gateshead in the national league.
Supporting 2 league teams is weird though.
I’m a Liverpool fan from Ireland. But I also follow Celtic - very common for Irish football fans to support Celtic as a 2nd team, kinda born with it. I’ve bought and worn Celtic jerseys down through the years. However, if Liverpool were to play Celtic I’d support Liverpool.
I think there are a lot of Irish football fans who say they have Celtic as a second or third team (if they support their local League of Ireland club) but don’t actually follow them.
As you say, we’re kinda born with it, but I’ve found while the majority will say Celtic, very few could talk for very long, if at all, about the current team/form etc.
no, its like falling in love. you cant be in love with your wife/gf as well as someone else.
and in my opinion, a real fan also doesnt choose who they support.
If i could love a club like i do Oxford, i would be a Man City fan and enjoy winning the league all the time but then again, id get rid of my wife for Mila Kunas as well
Nope. One team live or die.
I have teams who I have a soft spot for and like to see do well but I wouldn’t in a million years call myself a fan of them.
For example, I support Southend United. Because of positive actions from other teams in recent years, I like to see York City, Chesterfield, Doncaster Rovers and Oldham Athletic do well.
I will also sing in support of any team I’ve gone to see with a friend. For example, if I’ve even bought a ticket to see Crawley play, for that game I’m a Crawley fan and will support them. But as soon as I leave the stadium, I don’t support them anymore.
When going to football was cheaper this was much more common and a lot of people did it
Depends what you mean?
Manchester United are basically the 3rd love in my life along with friends and family. If I lost them it would be devastating.
At the same time, I go to the matches of some of my local teams regularly. But if they ceased to be it wouldn’t mean as much.
funnily the level of need and care for their individual supporters works in an inverse way. The bigger the club the less they care about each individual fan. Your local 6th tier team will miss you much more if you don’t come and support them than a big team like Man U, who have people lining up around the block for tickets most weeks.
At my local club in the 8th or 9th tier, I’m one of the boys, with mates who know my name, and people ask me where I was if I miss a few games in a row. At an Arsenal game, I’m just another face in the massive crowd and I wouldn’t be missed if I’m there or not.
Not having a cry, that’s just the way it is