League and Non League

[Pogue]

Specifically to fans supporting/attending English football matche sbecause of our football system but to anyone:

What do comrades think of the practice in England of supporting a team in the higher leagues, i.e. West Ham, but then also attending the matches of/supporting a team in the non-league divisions, such as the Ryman League? Is this bad, in your opinion, fine, normal? Do you do such a thing?
To our comrades not in England, how is this views in your countries?

[F9]

Specifically to fans supporting/attending English football matche sbecause of our football system but to anyone:

What do comrades think of the practice in England of supporting a team in the higher leagues, i.e. West Ham, but then also attending the matches of/supporting a team in the non-league divisions, such as the Ryman League? Is this bad, in your opinion, fine, normal? Do you do such a thing?
To our comrades not in England, how is this views in your countries?

I support one team, and one team only!!As everyone else down here!People having "second" teams are not fans but sport friends, as i say them!If both of your teams play, which are you going to support?Or will you just enjoy the match?Then you arent a fan!:p My team is more than just a team which ok plays one match every week, its basically part(big) of my life, and im being very serious with it!

Fuserg9:star:

[Pogue]

The idea is that one is non league and the other league, making it a difference. But I see what you mean.

[Wanted Man]

I guess the distinction isn't about whether it's league or non-league, but with what kind of "credentials" one supports a team. I.e. if you're from Wimbledon and you've supported FC Wimbledon (and later AFC Wimbledon, not MK Dons :p) all your life, why support Arsenal, Chelsea, Spurs or Fulham as well? Because they happen to be nearby and they play in the Premier League? A lot of people would say: "No, that's crap, just support your local team."

I can sympathise, but it's not that simple for everyone. If you've moved around in your life a lot, you're not really attached to one team. To take my own example, I was born in some village in Frisia, but we moved away from there when I was 1. Should I still support the big professional club of Frisia, Heerenveen? *pukes* I then lived in Groningen until about 4, so support FC Groningen? I then lived in a city near Utrecht until 7, so support FC Utrecht? Then two different villages near Groningen until 12, so FCG again? I now study in Zwolle, so support FC Zwolle? Naw. I pay attention to them a bit more, but that's about it.

And then I'm not even mentioning the local amateur teams of the smaller towns where I've lived. Why support and play for a team of a village if you're just going to move out again in a few years? It was always a longer drive, but I ended up playing in the youth team of the same club that my father always played for. I don't play anymore, but I still support the first squad. There are other "roots" tying people to clubs than just happening to live somewhere. My dad started supporting Ajax in the time of Cruyff et al (maybe he was the glory hunter!), so how could I ever support Feyenoord or PSV? He supported Ajax, but we never lived in Amsterdam, so I didn't even "grow into" a particular club, except for that one amateur team.

The problem, fuser, is that because of the individualisation of society, these kind of ties are a lot weaker, especially in richer, bigger countries. Although, "problem"? I'm sure all the plastic Man United supporters (http://www.independent.ie/sport/other-sports/man-united-men-share-in-the-miracle-of-martyrdom-1386539.html) won't find it a problem! :p It may not be a pretty phenomenon that kids from the countryside end up supporting Ajax or Feyenoord while they've probably only ever been to Amsterdam or Rotterdam a few times, but it does happen. In an individualised society where there aren't a lot of communal boundaries anymore, it's too easy to just say: "You don't choose your club, the club chooses you".

So yeah, it's a difficult issue. Basically, I'd say: don't let some dickhole tell you that you need to support Manure because they have Ronaldo, but also don't bother with people who tell you that you need to support Bognor Regis Town, otherwise you're a plastic supporter.

[thejambo1]

in scotland its pretty much the same, some people will go and watch lower league football but support a big team. i used to go and watch ross county but that was with my mates i was never a supporter, i went for the laughs and the drink after the game. a mate of mine is actually a season ticket holder at inverness caley but supports rangers!! its a weird practice.

[RedAnarchist]

I support both Liverpool and my home city Preston North End (the upcoming FA Cup game between the two will be very interesting - I want PNE to win because they are the smaller side). I've supported both since I was a little boy. I do have an interest in smaller clubs such as AFC Liverpool and the one from my home village, which I won't name here.

[Killfacer]

I support my local team Bristol City and Arsenal. In fairness i was born in London and raised in Bristol. Bristol are not non league though so i guess it doesn't count.

I don't have a problem with it and it annoys be when people call others who support 2 teams "not real fans". Its pathetic.

[F9]

I support my local team Bristol City and Arsenal. In fairness i was born in London and raised in Bristol. Bristol are not non league though so i guess it doesn't count.

I don't have a problem with it and it annoys be when people call others who support 2 teams "not real fans". Its pathetic.

I love you too!:lol::rolleyes:
What does in mean the word fan?How can you be a fan of two teams?Its like you are saying that you are both capitalist and communist!:rolleyes:Like two teams, or enjoy two teams its totally different, but being a fan, no it isnt possible!

Fuserg9:star:

[Killfacer]

I love you too!:lol::rolleyes:
What does in mean the word fan?How can you be a fan of two teams?Its like you are saying that you are both capitalist and communist!:rolleyes:Like two teams, or enjoy two teams its totally different, but being a fan, no it isnt possible!

Fuserg9:star:

How can you say "what means the word fan" then aportion it some kind of meaning?

[Pogue]

Well e.g. even with say, if I wore a Barcelona top and cheered them on in La Liga and went to Barcelona v Madrid and supported Barca, wore the shirt, chanted the songs, celebrated the goals, but back in England I was a season ticket holder at Arsenal. Then one day Arsenal played Barcelona in the Champs League, and I support Arsenal cos they're my first team. I'm sure theres plenty of peeps with both English league shirts and Spanish league shirts, even though Spanish teams will frequently be opponents of English teams. I support Chelsea, but I go to non-league matches and at these matches support the non-league team/wear their shirt cos I like them/they are local, i.e. I am a supporter. If the non-league team played against Chelsea, somehow, although it'd never happen, I'd support Chelsea.

[Martin]

I'm a Halifax Town fan but I've been to watch Middlesbrough and Newcastle a few times. See no problem in it obviously everyone is going to have a favourite team who they stand by through thick and thin.

I also have teams whose results I look out for through talking about football with my mates, but I do not consider myself a fan of any of those teams. Then as stated above there is teams who I like from other countries, although I would not cinsider myself a fan but more of a "follower" of these teams.

[OneNamedNameLess]

I don't see a problem with this. I know a lot of people who attend the games of smaller clubs and support larger teams.

I'm a Juventus fan though and I am loyal only to them, former cheating bastards.

Forza Juve!

[thecoffeecake1]

I support one team, and one team only!!As everyone else down here!People having "second" teams are not fans but sport friends, as i say them!If both of your teams play, which are you going to support?Or will you just enjoy the match?Then you arent a fan!:p My team is more than just a team which ok plays one match every week, its basically part(big) of my life, and im being very serious with it!

Fuserg9:star:

a lot of cypriots i know here in the u.s support omonia

[Black Dagger]

So fuser and the like, what are 'the rules' when it comes to being a fan of a foreign league? I live in australia but watch the EPL for example. I support clubs whose players i like or whose style i appreciate. In A-League i do support my hometown team though, unfortunately they're the glamour club of the league but >_< Sydney FC.

[F9]

So fuser and the like, what are 'the rules' when it comes to being a fan of a foreign league? I live in australia but watch the EPL for example. I support clubs whose players i like or whose style i appreciate. In A-League i do support my hometown team though, unfortunately they're the glamour club of the league but >_< Sydney FC.

I like teams from other countries but i am not a (real) "fan" of them.OMONOIA always come first "in my heart".I really like some foreign teams and supporting them as much i can from that far away, St.Pauli for example, a great team, i really like, but in a match OMONOIAvsPauli there wouldnt be any "thoughts" on who i am supporting.Fan for me anw means be there and singing for your team, supporting eat and "love" the club, the emblem the "shirt", not the players who paid millions, ok they are just "honoured" wearing my clubs shirt, i wont make them "gods".People who honour it though and play passionate for the club will get my full support, and fans will show their appreciation.This passion i only feel it with OMONOIA, not other team, but yeah if you ask me i would say i support St.Pauli, i support AEK Athens, i support Man.Utd but thats it.I am not a fan of them.For example in the summer uefa qualification game the draw got OMONOIA vs AEK :p I was happy with my teams qualification and i even said things about AEK while singing that i would never said in other cases:lol:Having them against my team, makes me forget that i am supporting anything else beside OMONOIA!The only team which in whatever situation i wouldnt made anything "against" not even sing a chant against them is St.Pauli, that team represents far more than anyone else in the sport, and it represents exactly what i "fight" for.If i ever would said i have a "second" team that would be St.Pauli because their mentality is really close to me both political and in sport and fan ideas.However i have grown be OMONOIA fan, and the love i feel for OMONOIA cant be found with anything else.

Fuserg9:star:

[Pogue]

Thats great Fusetg9, you sound like a proper good fan. I'd like to be the same but it sounds like your club has an unique atmosphere, something you wouldnt get over here, especially not with Chelsea, although there are some magic moments.

Nearly everyone I know at non-league matches also supports a higher league club. What do people think of this then? Its an odd paradox, but its sort of aceptable in our football culture.

Any English fans who are in similar situations?

[F9]

a lot of cypriots i know here in the u.s support omonia

if you know a cypriot then there is a huge possibility to be supporter of OMONOIA, if s/he is interest in football.We have one of the biggest percentage of fans when its is compared with the countrys population!;)

[Killfacer]

if you know a cypriot then there is a huge possibility to be supporter of OMONOIA, if s/he is interest in football.We have one of the biggest percentage of fans when its is compared with the countrys population!;)

Of course everyone knows that real idiots cypriots support apoeRl. :lol::lol::lol::lol: Please dont hurt be fuser.:crying:


fixed by Fuserg9:laugh: