Who do you support and WHY?

[Eire06]

People would only take offence if they took me seriously. And no-one does that, so it was no problem. (probably should have pointed out that I was in Germany at the time, so its not like i was walking around Cork/Ireland in a Spain jersey)

Would you have do it if you were at home??

[Closed Account 2]

Tranmere Rovers, I'm a glory hunter plain and simple.

National team, Ireland of course. Keep an eye out for the results of Russia, Serbia and Italy as I have frequently been to those countries and enjoyed my time there or I have friends of who are citizens of those countries.

[Jim Smith]

Ayr United: My first footballing love and I've never managed to get over them. I tasted the heady bru of success (once) and the crushing pain of failure (more than once) with them for nearly 15 years when I was growing up so they are a part of me I suppose.

Bournemouth: Spent a year in Southampton (made Ayr games a bit difficult) and tried to get into the Dell but I wasn't allowed (some nonsense about being a member of a supporters club which they wouldn't let me join because the season had started - student / "jock" hating bigots) so I went on the train to Bournemouth to watch the Cherries instead - they were delighted to have anyone new turn up.

Cork City: Fed up of a life in the wilderness I finally became a glory hunter

[Real ale Madrid]

I love questions like this:

Ever since I could walk I loved all sports but especially soccer. I bugged my father for years to take me to Turners Cross and finally I got to a game at the age of nine - it was the first round of the cup in 1990 against Waterford and I stood up on the wall at the St Annes. End leaning against the fence and Paul Bannon scored a header into the shed for the winner – remember that as vividly as any goal I’ve ever seen at the Cross.

However before I was a City fan I was a Liverpool fan they were always on the telly in the late eighties and while I am a City fan first I still take a great interest in Liverpool and try to get to Anfield at least once a year.

However there is nothing quite like supporting your National Team esp in the big qualifiers and at the finals.

As for other sports well I just support all things Cork, Munster and Ireland

[gustavo]

support sligo rovers primarily
been supporting them since 1994 so in that sense i suppose i could be called a glory hunter
didnt know they existed before then,
supported manchester united for as long as i could remember mainly cos my mother used to be friendly with paddy crerard when he used to visit gweedore frequently gone off them recently
also in italy look out for sampdorias results and used to keep an eye on clyde and dundee when eddie annand played for them

[Dillo]

I'm a Longfordian true and true. My family have resided in the same south Longford townland for hundreds of years. My family tree tells of a remarkable story down through the generations. The Longford crest even translates my surname and their fortress. I won't say I am proud of all my relations and ancestors but we are steeped in history and tradition.

Across the water, I follow Everton- "The People's Club" and the original big club. Traditionally, Everton is the greatest Irish club of them all. Unlike many English clubs, Irish players have always been welcomed and accepted with open arms at Goodison. There is a real sense of Irishness at this club. It is debatable as to whether an Irish person can consider themselves an Evertonian, a Liverpudlian or whatever the case when they haven't grown up in the area. Having said that, I always consider myself a Longfordian and an Evertonian.

[Pat O' Banton]

Celtic, well there's no point going over the old ground about why people support them
Arsenal, grew up in norf Landaaan in late 70's early 80's and around the time of the '79 cup final if you were Irish and in London this was the team to support. First got to see them in October 1980 and still kind of remember Stapleton scoring the only goal in a 1-0 win over Leicester. My dad maintains that the only thing I wanted to know was where the hooligans were.
Finn Harps in Ireland 'cause dad's from Donegal and Cliftonville, first visit to Solitude this season and certainly won't be the last - £2.10 a bottle of Bullermers/Magners in the club house and your allowed to bring the beer on to the terrace!
St. Pauli in Germany, their fans make a noted stand against rascism (and not a Nike wrist band in sight) They are also very left wing and up there with the nicests fans I have ever met. I also look out for Bourrisia Dortmund's score, having said that I think that Germany is the greatest place in the world to watch football, the beer is lovely and freely availible outside the grounds, the atmosphere around the stadiums is something else. So in general I look out for German club sides when they play in Europe, even the hated Bayern.

And of course Stoke City, as its who Mrs O' B supports, so I get dragged along a few times a season, and its probably the only team that I see play and remain sober enough to comperhend whats going on!

[Ash]

I have to make the distinction between Support and Follow
for this one...

I Support Athlone Town, and by that I mean:
- I go to all home games
- as many away as I bus or can scab a lift to
- buy almost every bit of merchendise available
- help with the supporters club and fund raising etc
- wrote for the matchday programme
- Im also a member of the club

Reasons why:
- Its my local team
- My father and grandfather played for Town, brother played youths and old
B division and I done a few trials/trainings many moons ago with the Kennedy
Cup U14s team when I played underage for a local ADSL club

I Follow Celtic, West Ham and Sydney Olympic in that
- look out for the results every weekend and watch the odd game on telly
- I go to the (very) odd game for a weekend away in Glasgow/London
- buy a jersey now and again

Reasons why:
Celtic - The Irish connection with the club got me started and it just went from there

West Ham - Everyone in school supported Man U or Liverpool so I was sick of
that and eventually picked West Ham. Liam Brady, David Kelly, Chris Hughton et al was the connection and they played good football.

Sydney Olympic - nearest team to me when I lived over there

[Sheridan]

Ayr United: My first footballing love and I've never managed to get over them. I tasted the heady bru of success (once) and the crushing pain of failure (more than once) with them for nearly 15 years when I was growing up so they are a part of me I suppose

Are you aware that they have recently signed Alex Nesovic?

[Éanna]

Would you have do it if you were at home??

I honestly don't know. I really don't.

[Longfordian]

Are you aware that they have recently signed Alex Nesovic?

Doesn't say a lot for Paul Keegan when they reject him after a trial in favour of Nesovic..Must be a few nice pubs in Ayr

[GavinZac]

Cork City
because Im from cork

and i take a passing interest in Swindon (red white & green, cork city colours), San José (they used to be called CLash and it was the best name in the MLS ) , Pretoria (ive a friend there) and Djorgardens (or however you spell it, because of Championship/Football Manager.)

[sylvo]

[QUOTE=Pat O' Banton]
Arsenal, grew up in norf Landaaan in late 70's early 80's and around the time of the '79 cup final if you were Irish and in London this was the team to support. First got to see them in October 1980 and still kind of remember Stapleton scoring the only goal in a 1-0 win over Leicester.


Yer wee pup, my first game was about 76 in Highbury, Arsenal v Birmingham City, Trevor Francis ran riot on Arsenal that day, was took to a lot of games after that down at Highbury, don't know why I never became a supporter of them though.

[sylvo]

Kildare County, even though my mother is from Kerry my mom's family moved to Kildare so it's always been my family home in Ireland. I've always took an interest in Kildare teams results in junior leagues and was delighted when County got into the EL and supported them from the very start and have got to as many games as has been possible.


Also like Celtic, one of the main reasons being when i was about 6 years of age I LOVED THE KIT. My dad told me the other connection which offends some on here later.

Also always look out for AS Roma's results.

[Jim Smith]

Are you aware that they have recently signed Alex Nesovic?

Aye, he was 'let go' on the 17th of January after two games. Apparently he 'couldn't settle' and is still living in Leeds.

[CollegeTillIDie]

When I was in primary school kids started to follow only English teams. At that time I followed Leeds as in checked their results in the paper every week and cause John Giles played for them , although I liked big Jack as a player and Paul Madeley too. I was lucky in that our primary school teacher was a Waterford supporter so we took an interest in the League of Ireland as well and I religiously went to one game a year at that stage even though I did not have a particular team, just a soft spot for Shels but it was 1972.

By the time I started in University , and had been accepted into U.C.D. they had joined the League of Ireland, so I naturally looked out for their results.
My first U.C.D. game was a friendly to mark the official opening of our dressing room block at Belfield Park in early 1981. The opposition were Vancouver Whitecaps from the NASL and they included several ex-Leeds players from the 1970's and were managed by Johnny Giles. U.C.D. and one or two guest players held the mighty Whitecaps to a 1-1 draw and I was hooked cause I was in College with some of the players namely Keith Dignam, Joe Hanrahan, Aidan Reynolds, and Ken O'Doherty. I have supported U.C.D. ever since. I have written for , edited and sold the programme on matchdays,I have sold match tickets and operated turnstiles and even been the P.A. Announcer at Belfield Park over the years. Now I sell club souvenirs
programmes , fanzines, keyrings , scarves and jerseys at every home game.


I have watched Amateur League games, Universities Cup games, Under 21 , Old B Division games, and I was also P.R.O. and secretary for the U.C.D. Women's team for a couple of seasons at the tail end of the 1990's.
Highpoints were winning the Cup in 1984, winning the First Division title, Leinster Senior Cup and Shield in 1995 the Centenary season, qualifying for the Intertoto Cup in 2000 and winning the Super Cup the same year. And of course last season gaining promotion back to the Premier Division.

[Beavis]

St. Pauli in Germany, their fans make a noted stand against rascism (and not a Nike wrist band in sight) They are also very left wing and up there with the nicests fans I have ever met.

We were talking to St.Pauli fans in Basle in September.AFAIK they were just into anything that was seen to represent the left wing.They had become devoute Celtic fans,and had even taken the pilgrimage to Belfast to see what it was all about! Legends

[pete]

Cork City - just can't have pride in any coub but local one.

Father brought me to a few big Cup games at the Lodge but not sure why started going regularily. About 15-16 when started going regularily, maybe seeing City taking Derry to Cup replay in late 80's mad me go... Couldn't go days every week til could drive myself as relying on lifts before that.

Would be closet Spurs fan but their results would never affect me much. Think saw them on tv in League Cup v Liverpool in 1983 & picked white as opposed to red jerseys.

I think can tell know much a supporter by way defeats affect you. When affects you for say a few days the you kno0w your hooked.

[SÓC]

We were talking to St.Pauli fans in Basle in September.AFAIK they were just into anything that was seen to represent the left wing.They had become devoute Celtic fans,and had even taken the pilgrimage to Belfast to see what it was all about! Legends

Met a few St. Pauli fans in Nijmagen, they seemed nice chaps, they werent too found of the Dutch mind you, or the German National team

http://corkcityfc.ie/gallery/display...bum=40&pos=124

[Aldini98]

Liverpool - Closest Premiership ground to my house, that and the fact I've supported them since 1979.

Barcelona - Luis "The King" Enrique played for them, love the club and what it stands for, and the city is just amazing.

FC Vojvodina - Mate gave me their jersey