Supporting two teams.

[Cortezuma]

Nope, but even if football supporters want their team to play ball, they stick with the team in periods of bad football. I'm sorry, I just can't get my head around the fact that people support Ireland, the EPL, and 'look out for the Irish lads in England', but ignore their local teams. You can do both, surely?

As for not liking what you see, again, you're confusing the fact that EPL teams are 'better' (true) with the fact that they 'play better football' which they often do not. Believe it or not, you can often see a nice football match at your local five-a-side or junior pitch if you want to. You either like football or you don't. You don't just cherry-pick the top brands.

What people really mean when they say foreign teams are 'better' is that they are glamorous, play in big stadia and you can converse to the tax-driver about them. I like the buzz of the top teams on TV as much as anybody - what football fan wouldn't? - but you can't beat match night in your own city.

i agree on the sticking with a team, I have already said I would. I saw plenty of horrible Everton teams believe me. I don't have an LOI team as there was no team near me when I was growing up and it got very little coverage on TV or in the media. I am not going to start following a team now just because people believe it is the 'right' thing to do.

You are right that I would follow the Irish lads abroad, but I'm not supporting their clubs. I keep an eye on players and matches in the LOI too, but I have never been a supporter of any team here so why would I start now?

And please don't get me wrong, I am in no way holding up the EPL as a shining example of great football, and you may be right to suggest that some LOI games are better to watch than a game such as Wigan Vs Bolton that someone suggested (and no, I wouldnt watch that or the random local team) but overall there is far more quality games in that league.

I don't cherry pick any brands, I watch lots of football in many different leagues. La Liga is the one I most watch because almost every team in that league will try and play football the proper way even against the bigger teams. I find that other than the teams I support, the trend for proper passing attacking football passes from club to club so I will try catch those teams matches as much as possible.

[Cortezuma]

Boovidge - I support Ireland because I have since I was a kid. The football has been god awful for the majority of this time, but as I have said I won't change from a team I have always supported just because of the technical quality. Maybe you missed when I commented on this already.

Dodge - I think you are way out to say that a fans financial situation should have no bearing on whether they remain a supporter. To take an extreme example, would you no longer be a supporter if you became homeless and could only follow your team through newspaper reports.....

[boovidge]

I support Ireland because I have since I was a kid.

And why's that?

[Cortezuma]

And why's that?

em I am Irish and grew up around family friends who went to a lot of matches so I got into it too.

[boovidge]

em I am Irish

Yeah exactly, so why not give your own league a chance?

[bennocelt]

Did a little test in a pub during one of Ireland's internationals (home game against Cyprus) where I wore my French national shirt to the pub. When asked by a few at my table why I was wearing it I replied that I support France on the international stage, when they asked why I would do such a thing I said it's because their style of football is much more attractive than the Irish national side. After much slagging they asked who I supported at club level, I said Limerick, after much more slagging I asked who they supported, the answers varied between Liverpool and United, and I asked why they supported them when they are from Dublin, they said it was because the LoI is ****, to which I replied, 'but what's the difference between me supporting France cause I think they are better than Ireland and you supporting United/Liverpool cause they are better than Bohs/Rovers/whoever?'. I got a few mumbles about it being completly different, but it shut them up fairly lively.

In conclusion I find baiting Premiership supporters in bars to be one of the better aspects of being a League of Ireland football supporter :)

* I have a French jersey because a) I quite like them, and b) it was €20 in Lifestyle


Brilliant:)
i also have a soft spot for France

i actually nearly got lynched in a pub once for cheering when Argentina scored against Ireland, but then that was a big bet!!!;)

By the way I would love to have the balls to go around dublin some night when celtic are playing with a rangers jersey on
has anybody tried that???

[brianw82]

By the way I would love to have the balls to go around dublin some night when celtic are playing with a rangers jersey on
has anybody tried that???

People generally prefer waking up in their own beds rather than the hospital.

[SunderlandBohs]

As someone pointed out in an early post, want the difference in supporting another country? I was watching England's U21 play a fews weeks ago. I was cheering for England purely because Grant Leadbitter was in the squad. Someone Chelsea fan threaten to "kick my ****ing head in if I shouted for those British cnuts again". I pointed out to him that a Sunderland player was in the team and if I cheer him every other week when he plays for his club why not cheer him when he plays for his country, like I do for any country that has a Bohs or S.A.F.C player in their team, plus I've family from England. He stated that when he plays for England its a different kettle of fish. He wasn't to happy when I ask where abouts do Chelsea play in Dublin.

I support Sunderland since I was a boy cause my Dad & Grandad followed them and we've got family and friends over there and visited there alot growing. I support Bohs because when I was younger my Dad would bring me to see Bohs because he grew up around Cabra and it's was the the only way to see real live football week in week out.

[Hibernian]

Boovidge - I support Ireland because I have since I was a kid. The football has been god awful for the majority of this time, but as I have said I won't change from a team I have always supported just because of the technical quality. Maybe you missed when I commented on this already.

Dodge - I think you are way out to say that a fans financial situation should have no bearing on whether they remain a supporter. To take an extreme example, would you no longer be a supporter if you became homeless and could only follow your team through newspaper reports.....

100% agree with that

people in here saying that you have to go to all the games wtf.

My home team is some 250 miles away i get to go when I get back but does not make me less of a fan for not going to all there games.

The other crap from some posts on here is unreal. I love the teams I support and often go as many games as can but I have other things in life to do too.

The people on here saying that you have to go to football games to be real supporter are well basically well away with the tooth fairy what about the people how physically cant go or cant afford to pay for food on the table for there family does that make them less of a supporter.

People get with the times ffs

[Hibernian]

No it doesn't. I've never, ever heard anybody "slag off" the EPL while watching a game in Ireland (apart from a bit of good natured banter). In fact, you'll here most people discussing it before the game, at half time etc

As I've said, if somebody uses the excuse of being slagged for being a Liverpool or Man utd fan as a reason not to go to a game in ireland, they're either liars or fools.

If people don't want to go to games, fine but don't make up ridiculous excuses. It isn't the fault of LOI fans that people aren't coming to the games, and anyone who tries to imply it is doesn't even deserve this much of an answer...

and who says I or others dont go to games???

[belfastred]

100% agree with that

people in here saying that you have to go to all the games wtf.

My home team is some 250 miles away i get to go when I get back but does not make me less of a fan for not going to all there games.

The other crap from some posts on here is unreal. I love the teams I support and often go as many games as can but I have other things in life to do too.

The people on here saying that you have to go to football games to be real supporter are well basically well away with the tooth fairy what about the people how physically cant go or cant afford to pay for food on the table for there family does that make them less of a supporter.

People get with the times ffs

I think the point is that by supporting your local team you can take away the vast majoirty of reasons for not going.

[OneRedArmy]

The people on here saying that you have to go to football games to be real supporter are well basically well away with the tooth fairy Well you can call me tinkerbell as thats exactly what I, and many others on here believe.

[Hibernian]

Well you can call me tinkerbell as thats exactly what I, and many others on here believe.

Ok then I will

[boovidge]

The people on here saying that you have to go to football games to be real supporter are well basically well away with the tooth fairy

Yeah I agree. All you have to do is buy a replica shirt and watch every other game on Sky Sports.

[Hibernian]

Yeah I agree. All you have to do is buy a replica shirt and watch every other game on Sky Sports.

You seemed to have missed the rest of that post...

I know now what I said earlier is more true then ever.

[OneRedArmy]

A lot of fans who regularly go to games look down on those who don't go regularly or watch from the sofa. Its not an EL phenomena, its the same in the Premiership and in the SPL.

How can you feel the highs and lows if you're aren't surrounded by hundreds or thousands of like-minded individuals?

Otherwise its all just like a big game of FIFA on the PS3.

[Dodge]

You seemed to have missed the rest of that post...


And you seem to have missed every post pointing out where you're wrong too.

As I've said, your loss. Enjoy the telly...

[boovidge]

You seemed to have missed the rest of that post...

I know now what I said earlier is more true then ever.

All you're doing is suggesting possible mitigating circumstances such as being an ex pat or economic problems.

The vast majority of football fans in Ireland have enough money to go and see a LOI match once every two weeks and have been born and bred in Ireland.

How can they be a proper fan of a foriegn club they never go and see live and have no connection to through location/family etc?

[Hibernian]

And you seem to have missed every post pointing out where you're wrong too.

As I've said, your loss. Enjoy the telly...

lol

where did I mention that I dont go to games and only watch football on the telly can you tell me.?????????

Please advise as I never seem to recall me saying anything like that??????

All I said is that you dont have to go to all games or any if you cant afford it basically that simple.

Dont be trying to put up stuff I said which I never have.

flipping heck least try and run along the same line anyway

[SunderlandBohs]

lol

All I said is that you dont have to go to all games or any if you cant afford it basically that simple.


I understand the point your making. I've recently became a father, moved house and changed job so I can't make it as many games as I use to but try to make it to the home games. I think its unfair to say to someone your not a real fan cause you only go to home matches or made to x amount of games last season. I know plenty of people who go to see Bohs play and just sit in the bar for the whole the game. Certain things will always pop up. But what really gets me is that people will pay e200 plus for a trip to Old Trafford but can't be bother to pay e20 into Dalymount Park on a Friday night.

[oriel]

I dont agree with a lot of comments here. I`m a Dundalk supporter first and foremost but i also support Celtic (but hate the politics), if Dundalk played Celtic there would be no question who I would want to win, even as schoolboy i wanted Dundalk to win in '79 Euro cup game.

So I dont think this is a big deal, besides with the UK/Irish seasons not running on the same dates, its a nice hobby to focus on your other team from Nov onwards.

Also I`d say a very high percentage of all LOI fans attend most Ireland home games or at least attend some each year ?

Now the irish fan who does not support an LOI team but does an english one and hates the england team, now here`s a problem child..................

[Bohemian1890]

Irish People who follow Celtic are pathetic IMO everyone of them well id say 90% follow or sorry look them on TV because of plastic irish links
They will also more than likely claim to hate the British :rolleyes:

[irishultra]

I like to see Celtic do well in Europe but only because of Boruc and McGeady. If McGeady left I wouldn't watch any Celtic game.

I support Bohemians, but only get to about 15-18 matches a year.

This is what is wrong with Irish football fans.

*After Drogheda game walking back from Dalymount into town*

Me: Good performance by Drogheda, it be class if they could qualify

Mate: Yeah imagine 'real' teams playing in Ireland.....

Poor....seriously advertisement needs to be aggressive....anti-british as much as possible...reality is that in general football fans are working class and this approach will work for the masses.

I don't know how you can attract the middle and upper class though.

[TonyD]

but I have never been a supporter of any team here so why would I start now?


Because, quite simply, it's the best experience you can have as a football supporter, to support your own local team. Ask any Pats supporter who was in Inchicore last Thursday night. The feeling of joy and pride we felt at the final whistle after turning around from a goal down to win with less than five minutes to go, against a team who were supposedly better, well, it's hard to put into words what that felt like. Honestly, you might not think you're missing out, but everyone here who goes to see their own team regularly knows what I'm talking about. PS I don't believe any football supporter anywhere in the world supports a team because of the quality of the football they play, so I've always thought that argument was nonsense. You support a team because they're YOUR team. I've seen Pats play poor football, thankfully at the moment they play good football (proper passing and everything:p) but you support them no matter what. As I said earlier in this thread, if you want to improve the standard of the league here, if you want to improve facilities, the best way is for more people to attend matches. You have to put something in to get something back out. And trust me, what you get out is well worth it.

[the-blue-harp]

The people on here saying that you have to go to football games to be real supporter are well basically well away with the tooth fairy


how are you suppourting your team when you go down the pub to watch their games, the only thing your suppourting there is the pub and your beer belly.
how do you think the league in england got so good? by local people going to their local ground to watch their local team, paying in at the gate and making their local team a sustainable business. if more people in ireland did this then we'd have our own league to be proud of. its how the world game of football got to where it is today. what is wrong with the irish football fan, i just cant personally understand how a person can get so passionate about a club that they really have no links with? i saw pictures in the local paper after man utd won the league of people in bars in man utd jerseys holding up their arms like they were playing for man utd, i just cannot for the life of me identify with that. if these people (some of them do in fairness) put as much effort into our own national league which is on their doorstep imagine where we would be, we wouldnt be worrying about co-efficients so much anyway.

[Hibernian]

how are you suppourting your team when you go down the pub to watch their games, the only thing your suppourting there is the pub and your beer belly.
how do you think the league in england got so good? by local people going to their local ground to watch their local team, paying in at the gate and making their local team a sustainable business. if more people in ireland did this then we'd have our own league to be proud of. its how the world game of football got to where it is today. what is wrong with the irish football fan, i just cant personally understand how a person can get so passionate about a club that they really have no links with? i saw pictures in the local paper after man utd won the league of people in bars in man utd jerseys holding up their arms like they were playing for man utd, i just cannot for the life of me identify with that. if these people (some of them do in fairness) put as much effort into our own national league which is on their doorstep imagine where we would be, we wouldnt be worrying about co-efficients so much anyway.

first of all i said i live 250 miles from my club.

anyway i agree to extent about what you say no supporters means no club and no money i agree.

but and here is what im pointing out is that you dont have to be at every game to be true supporter for family, work or whatever reasons you may not be able to attend games and that what i was pointing out as well as saying that cause you dont go to every game does not mean your not in knowledge of football.

im keeping to this point.....

[the-blue-harp]

but and here is what im pointing out is that you dont have to be at every game to be true supporter for family, work or whatever reasons you may not be able to attend games and that what i was pointing out as well as saying that cause you dont go to every game does not mean your not in knowledge of football.

i hear what your saying about your personal situation, but when i say "you" in that post i was generalising irish football fans not you personally.
of course there will be times you cant make it, but there seems to be tens of thousands of these people in ireland that call themselves football fans and take no interest in their local team.

[belfastred]

how are you suppourting your team when you go down the pub to watch their games, the only thing your suppourting there is the pub and your beer belly.
how do you think the league in england got so good? by local people going to their local ground to watch their local team, paying in at the gate and making their local team a sustainable business. if more people in ireland did this then we'd have our own league to be proud of. its how the world game of football got to where it is today. what is wrong with the irish football fan, i just cant personally understand how a person can get so passionate about a club that they really have no links with? i saw pictures in the local paper after man utd won the league of people in bars in man utd jerseys holding up their arms like they were playing for man utd, i just cannot for the life of me identify with that. if these people (some of them do in fairness) put as much effort into our own national league which is on their doorstep imagine where we would be, we wouldnt be worrying about co-efficients so much anyway.

Excellent post - I couldn't have put it better. ;)

[jebus]

I dont agree with a lot of comments here. I`m a Dundalk supporter first and foremost but i also support Celtic (but hate the politics), if Dundalk played Celtic there would be no question who I would want to win, even as schoolboy i wanted Dundalk to win in '79 Euro cup game.

So I dont think this is a big deal, besides with the UK/Irish seasons not running on the same dates, its a nice hobby to focus on your other team from Nov onwards.

Also I`d say a very high percentage of all LOI fans attend most Ireland home games or at least attend some each year ?

Now the irish fan who does not support an LOI team but does an english one and hates the england team, now here`s a problem child..................

That's just it oriel, no-one here has a problem with someone like yourself, as you say if Celtic played Dundalk there's no question where you stand. I myself follow the fortunes of Sheffield Wednesday, Inter Milan, Real Madrid, and to a lesser extent Hellas Verona, Ajax, Hertha Berlin, Hibs and Arsenal, but if any of them were to meet Limerick (fat chance I know) there isn't a hope in hell I would even want them to score one goal against us, let alone win

[oriel]

Irish People who follow Celtic are pathetic IMO everyone of them well id say 90% follow or sorry look them on TV because of plastic irish links
They will also more than likely claim to hate the British :rolleyes:

I dont think this is a fair statement, there are historic and real links bewteen celtic fc and ireland, all of a sudden it appears to be trendy to hate celtic on this forum. As i said before, i support celtic as my 2nd team but hate the politics is there anything wrong with this ?

[bennocelt]

I dont think this is a fair statement, there are historic and real links bewteen celtic fc and ireland, all of a sudden it appears to be trendy to hate celtic on this forum. As i said before, i support celtic as my 2nd team but hate the politics is there anything wrong with this ?

See I think thats rubbish, surely its got to do with the politics and history
that you would support celtic, if not then why not support another team, why not falkirk............

[Cortezuma]

Because, quite simply, it's the best experience you can have as a football supporter, to support your own local team. Ask any Pats supporter who was in Inchicore last Thursday night. The feeling of joy and pride we felt at the final whistle after turning around from a goal down to win with less than five minutes to go, against a team who were supposedly better, well, it's hard to put into words what that felt like. Honestly, you might not think you're missing out, but everyone here who goes to see their own team regularly knows what I'm talking about. PS I don't believe any football supporter anywhere in the world supports a team because of the quality of the football they play, so I've always thought that argument was nonsense. You support a team because they're YOUR team. I've seen Pats play poor football, thankfully at the moment they play good football (proper passing and everything:p) but you support them no matter what. As I said earlier in this thread, if you want to improve the standard of the league here, if you want to improve facilities, the best way is for more people to attend matches. You have to put something in to get something back out. And trust me, what you get out is well worth it.

I understand what you are saying, but Pats are your team because you grew up nearby and have been supporting them for a long time. Everton and Barca are my teams because I was attached to them at a very young age and kept it with through my life, and I can associate with the feelings you describe because I've been to plenty of their matches. I think they are MY teams because I have supported both for around 20 years.

I'm giving these reasons because they are my reasons for STARTING to support these teams. It started from an early age for whatever reasons. Now, for me to begin supporting a local team at a later age, as you are hoping for a lot of people to do, it would need a reason. My reasons for supporting a football team have obviously changed a lot since I was 7, so simply the colour of their kit or the fact my dad supported them, or whatever, would not be enough. I also couldn't start supporting a team here now just for the reason they are Irish, and are nearby. I have mentioned before that I have been to enough games down through the years here, and it is just a fact that I have not seen anything to keep me coming back.

However, I will say to you Tony D, that I envy you, having your club down the road from you and your ability to see the team you love regularlywith other fans, but you must understand that the passion and pride you feel for your team has mostly to do with the length of time you have supported them. It is not possible to walk in now to Pats and get into this straight away, it would take a long time and dedication which is not something I can do as I simply have not seen enough quality in the league to start me down this road. (and I have not been saying I support teams only because of the quality of their football, but in recent years, this has been my main reason for taking an interest in many different leagues and teams)

Finally, there are far too many bloggers here who come on just to say - You are wrong and I am right. Or to say you are not a fan, and I am. Any chance of giving some arguments to back your statements up, or even more importantly to answer back the reasons given by the people who disagree with you.

[Calcio Jack]

Conversation overheard recently whilist on hols

Dutch kid.. " I support Ajak"

German kid "..I support Bayern Munchen"

First Irish kid "..I support Shamrock Rovers"

Second Irish kid "..I support Man U"

Dutch and German kids together replied "..you make joke yes ? .."

Second Irish kid "... well me Da's a Chelsea fan..."

German and Dutch kids left completely confused

As they say out of the mouths of babes !!

[Dodge]

Everton and Barca are my teams because I was attached to them at a very young age and kept it with through my life... I'm giving these reasons because they are my reasons for STARTING to support these teams. It started from an early age for whatever reasons.
Those "whatever reasons" are exactly why you'll NEVER understand how deep the bond between a football club and its fans can be.



(and I have not been saying I support teams only because of the quality of their football, but in recent years, this has been my main reason for taking an interest in many different leagues and teams)
Again, there's a massive difference betwwen taking an interest in another team or league, and claiming to be a supporter. Myself, I've been to the Nou Camp almost a dozen times in the last 4/5 years. My missus even bought me membership for a Birthday present a couple of years ago. If I tried to tell someone from barcelona I was a Barcelona fan, I'd be (rightly) laughed out of town.


Finally, there are far too many bloggers here who come on just to say - You are wrong and I am right. Or to say you are not a fan, and I am. Any chance of giving some arguments to back your statements up, or even more importantly to answer back the reasons given by the people who disagree with you.
I've done it consistently on this site for years. I'm tired of the same old arguements. You think you're a football fan, it doens't bother me one bit. I get to expereince emotions you'll never get, and that can't even be described to you. Its your loss. You don't think you're missing out on anything, and I'm sure you'll do fine without those feelings.

You don't know what you're missing...

[boovidge]

Poor....seriously advertisement needs to be aggressive....anti-british as much as possible...reality is that in general football fans are working class and this approach will work for the masses.


See I don't agree with this at all. Firstly because the the Irish are anti- British enough as it is (when they want to be (not when eastenders is on or man u are playing)) and secondly because Irish people should have enough pride in their nation and their communities to support their football teams without having to hate a neighbouring nation over things that happened generations ago.

[Cortezuma]

Dodge - well what are your reasons for starting to support your club? I'd like to know because I don't think you are reading my points properly.

Also you seem to be talking to me as if I never go to see the teams I support and watch them only on TV. I used to go a lot, spending a lot of money. I go less regularly now. How can you say I have not experienced the same emotions as you when for over 20years in the case of Everton I have been supporting them. Are you saying watching them beat Liverpool 3-0 after years of going over to see them scrap and draw, or even worse lose, at Goodison was not a pure football supporters feeling? I get no problem from the local fans who get to see them every week, and have plenty of friends over there. You are again being dismissive, elitist and far too general when you are making comments. Why on earth would anyone be attracted to watch a LOI football match if they had to sit beside snobs like you?

And whoever made the comment about using Anti-British advertising for the LOI is an uneducated moron in my opinion. Grow up.

[boovidge]

Cort i don't understand your point at all. It's never too late to start supporting a club. I was a typical Man Utd sky sports watcher a few years back until i started to realise that I had no connection to Manchester at all and that it was stupid "supporting" them. I then went to see my local club in England and instantly felt a part of it because I was part of the community and could feel first hand the passion the other fans had.

Last week I went to my first Irish game to see st pats and it was one of the greatest footballing experiences of my life. I'm going back to Richmond tomorrow.

So you're argument that "I cant start supporting a team now" doesnt cut it for me.

[Dodge]

How can you say I have not experienced the same emotions as you when for over 20years in the case of Everton I have been supporting them. Are you saying watching them beat Liverpool 3-0 after years of going over to see them scrap and draw, or even worse lose, at Goodison was not a pure football supporters feeling?
Do you honestly believe you get the same feelings of pride and elation as a local Everton fan when they win? You're absolutely deluded if you think that. I presume you've read "Barca" by Jimmy Burns? Most people with an interest in Barca have. After reading that, how could you ever think that Barcelona would ever mean as much to you as it does to the people in Catalunya?


Why on earth would anyone be attracted to watch a LOI football match if they had to sit beside snobs like you?
Why on earth would I talk about this at LOI games? I'm answering your claims and queries on an internet message board. Do you really think that LOI fans sit/stand around talking about people who aren't there? Get a grip. We're too busy supporting our teams and talking rubbish about everything else. Just like Manchester lads supporting Man U, Barcelona lads supporting Barca, Stockport lads supporting Stockport, etc etc etc


As to why I started supporting Pats; because my dad brought me.

[oriel]

See I think thats rubbish, surely its got to do with the politics and history
that you would support celtic, if not then why not support another team, why not falkirk............


Dont have loads of mates who are from and/or live in falkirk, Glasgow is a brilliant city to visit, been going over 10 + years

still no interest in the politics nor never wore a celtic jersey - maybe i`m in the minority

[belfastred]

Dodge - well what are your reasons for starting to support your club? I'd like to know because I don't think you are reading my points properly.

Also you seem to be talking to me as if I never go to see the teams I support and watch them only on TV. I used to go a lot, spending a lot of money. I go less regularly now. How can you say I have not experienced the same emotions as you when for over 20years in the case of Everton I have been supporting them. Are you saying watching them beat Liverpool 3-0 after years of going over to see them scrap and draw, or even worse lose, at Goodison was not a pure football supporters feeling? I get no problem from the local fans who get to see them every week, and have plenty of friends over there. You are again being dismissive, elitist and far too general when you are making comments. Why on earth would anyone be attracted to watch a LOI football match if they had to sit beside snobs like you?

And whoever made the comment about using Anti-British advertising for the LOI is an uneducated moron in my opinion. Grow up.

Where are you from Cortezuma if you don't mind me asking?

[OneRedArmy]

Why on earth would anyone be attracted to watch a LOI football match if they had to sit beside snobs like you?Reason number 4736 for not supporting domestic football.

Its the reason people cling to on here when every other crutch has been kicked out from under them.

And its a worthless reason.

Instead of talking about hypothetical people you might meet at games, why don't you listen to what people like Boovidge have just said about going to games?

But as many people have said it many threads like this to many similar posters like you, how can you know what it feels like to really be a supporter until you have immersed yourself in the club and are regularly going to games?

Until you've experienced it, you're only guessing and hypothesising.

[pineapple stu]

Where are you from Cortezuma if you don't mind me asking?
His profile says Dublin; obviously it's hard to find a club close by you in Dublin...

[belfastred]

His profile says Dublin; obviously it's hard to find a club close by you in Dublin...

Well if he is from Dublin he obviously made the choice to ignore local football and support Everton.

You didn't happen to start following them in the mid eighties by any chance?

[Cortezuma]

Well, in the case of me not being able to start supporting a new club here, it's not a matter of who is right or wrong. I would find it hard to hold my interest if the standard of the football was not good enough, and If I go to LOI matches and don't enjoy the game for this reason then of course I am not going to feel an affinity with whichever club I am watching. You went to Pats and it was great, fine I am genuinely happy for you, but I have gone to Pats and other clubs and I didn't find it great. Don't you see this is a matter of opinion and what some people, not particularly you, on here are looking for is blind faith based purely on the location of the ground and my nationality.

Also I get your point Dodge, that it may not mean as much to me as a local Everton/Barca fan, but the fact is it means a LOT to me. That will do. So do you want to start dividing up the supporters at each match into the ones born around the corner going to every match and the ones in all the other groups - including new fans, occasional fans, gloryhunter supporters. Maybe we should do a points system, in which I will agree I come into the second group of fans who have supported a long time and go as much as they can. And I have read the Jimmy Burns book, but I don't see why it matters that I can't feel it as much as Catalans when I do get a lot of enjoyment from it and plenty of Catalans allow me to join in their enjoyment of the game at it's highest level.

[Cortezuma]

I'm not from Dublin, I live in Dublin currently. And okay I take back my comment about Dodge, it was purely based on his attitude in here and of course I realise that I wouldn't, and haven't, experience this at LOI matches.

I did not grow up in Dublin, did not grow up near any LOI club so therefore had no reason to be attached to any of them.

[Dodge]

Also I get your point Dodge, that it may not mean as much to me as a local Everton/Barca fan, but the fact is it means a LOT to me. That will do.
As I said (a few times now), if you're happy with not getting the full experience, fine.


And I have read the Jimmy Burns book, but I don't see why it matters that I can't feel it as much as Catalans when I do get a lot of enjoyment from it and plenty of Catalans allow me to join in their enjoyment of the game at it's highest level.
Again, if you're happy with that fine. As I've said I too enjoy watching Barcelona play, and try head over there when possible (provided I don't miss Pats games obviously).

Never have I said people couldn't get enjoyment from watching foreign teams. What I've consistently said, and it seems you now agree with me, is that you can't get full range of emotions that being a fan of your local club can bring.

I don't care about people who don't go to games in Ireland. Sure I'd love them to come to the games, and help Irish football develop but its not going to happen. If its not the cost (despite paying more on Sky Sports per month), or the crap football (explained previously) or the distance from the ground (despite picking a team in another country to suuport), its now the fault of a few internet idiots that they won't support an Irish team.

Good luck to them.

[Dodge]

I did not grow up in Dublin, did not grow up near any LOI club so therefore had no reason to be attached to any of them.

Without being flippant, did you grow up beside Everton's ground?

[belfastred]

Without being flippant, did you grow up beside Everton's ground?


I suspect (until told otherwise) that Everton were a successful team in the mid to late eighties and he chose them for that reason.

I could be wrong

[Cortezuma]

Without being flippant, did you grow up beside Everton's ground?


Without being flippant, did you grow up beside Everton's ground?


...but you are being flippant, and also conveniently forgetting my other posts. I was 7 yrs old and I am not going to claim that any decision made at that age for supporting a team was a sound decision, it couldve been the colour of the shirt. The fact is it stuck with me because that is what most people do, they continue to support who they supported when they were young.

You are throwing this 'full experience' thing around as if too say we are all better than the rest, and of course it is irritating to people who otherwise spend most of their waking life immersed in football. You just happen to be lucky that you grew up beside the club and were brought by your dad. You get this magical 'full experience' because of where you live and have lived for a length of time. There are plenty of Pats/Cork/Galway supporters who live abroad and can't see their teams or maybe never did get to see them regularly but you cannot say they are not supporters.

By your reasoning would you accept a supporter who starts supporting your team late at 20 or so and goes to games for say 6 years, but cannot go to all the games? Are they getting the full experience?

I admire your passion for your clubs guys, and your wish to see this league succeed, but lay off on the generalisation of people who support a team that you deem not to be suitable. Yes there are the worst example of people who have never seen their team play and only watch football on TV, but stop shouting down everyone who disagrees with you and sticking them in the same bracket. (and I don't mean you Dodge)

[belfastred]

...but you are being flippant, and also conveniently forgetting my other posts. I was 7 yrs old and I am not going to claim that any decision made at that age for supporting a team was a sound decision, it couldve been the colour of the shirt. The fact is it stuck with me because that is what most people do, they continue to support who they supported when they were young.

You are throwing this 'full experience' thing around as if too say we are all better than the rest, and of course it is irritating to people who otherwise spend most of their waking life immersed in football. You just happen to be lucky that you grew up beside the club and were brought by your dad. You get this magical 'full experience' because of where you live and have lived for a length of time. There are plenty of Pats/Cork/Galway supporters who live abroad and can't see their teams or maybe never did get to see them regularly but you cannot say they are not supporters.

By your reasoning would you accept a supporter who starts supporting your team late at 20 or so and goes to games for say 6 years, but cannot go to all the games? Are they getting the full experience?

I admire your passion for your clubs guys, and your wish to see this league succeed, but lay off on the generalisation of people who support a team that you deem not to be suitable. Yes there are the worst example of people who have never seen their team play and only watch football on TV, but stop shouting down everyone who disagrees with you and sticking them in the same bracket. (and I don't mean you Dodge)

If the standard (difficult to measure IMO) of football was better would you attend LOI games?