Application forms

[Superhoops]

my first away game was in san marino and despite the fact i have been on the bb waiting list for a couple of years i can't get tickets for czech and slovak games. this is due to my age and not being aware of the waiting list until a couple fo years ago. not paying tout prices for games i don't get tickets for hardly makes me not a genuine fan.
and i hardly think the analysis of genuine fandom holds. does that mean it's not possible to be a genuine fan of two different clubs/counties just because they play different sports, regardless of what you claim? sure, it may be possible to prioritise one over the other (i went to down v cavan a few weeks ago rather than watching man united v west ham on tv) but that does not mean you are not a genuine fan of the one you choose *temporarily and as a result of conflict* to place in second place. of course you may claim because i watch most games on tv and only go to a few games a year i am a day tripper etc etc but on student finances it's just not possible (and anyway, the one united game i did make it to this year was bolton on st. patrick's day which is hardly a daytrippers game), it doesn't make sense that genuine fans would be able to place their "genuine" support second to financial commitments/family stuff etc but not to another sport. i don't think the rationalisation holds. the fact the decision is 'often' made as a result of preference does not mean it always is, and that is a fairly important distinction. i am probably not going to be able to go the czech and slovak games, but they would definitely have been my first choice. your generalisations risk tarring everyone with the same brush, including those who definitely don't deserve to tarred.

Your points, well enough made as they are, simply highlight the problem when people generalise and have different understandings of some of the most hackneyed phrases used when discussing football (or any sport for that matter) fans.

What exactly is:
- a 'genuine' fan
- a 'regular' fan
- a 'loyal' fan
- a 'diehard'
- a 'day tripper'
- a 'barstooler'

Different things to different people, I bet.

[Superhoops]

You kinda proved his point here...

Perfectly proved it! Thanks Dodge

[DmanDmythDledge]

Superhoops just a misunderstanding, apologies.

[Superhoops]

Superhoops just a misunderstanding, apologies.

Thanks, no problems, appreciate your comments as they helped to clarify the points I has trying to make.

This is always an interesting discussion and as you can see from this and previous threads, terminology can mean different things to different people.

[SuperDave]

Thanks, no problems, appreciate your comments as they helped to clarify the points I has trying to make.

This is always an interesting discussion and as you can see from this and previous threads, terminology can mean different things to different people.

agreed. i probably qualify as a daytripping barstooler man united fan, but i have no problem with that. i'm a loyal but not die hard ireland fan (i.e. finances come first for away games, but even though i only recently went on my first away trip i definitely want to go on at least two or three in the next campaign, seeing as i can't afford czech slovak games. i'll be eurolines overnight bus or sail rail to cardiff because that is the height of what i can afford (about €35 bus to cardiff if you book well enough in advance) cos i'm a broke student) etc etc

[NeilMcD]

If you read it again, I don't think you will find that is what is implied? Nothing wrong or strange about following several sports. The point I was trying to make was there is a distinction between someone who follows one particular sport/team, regardless of when this clashes with another event which could be in a different sport, and those who chose a particular event that may clash with a team they support.

For example, if UCD were playing an EL game at the same time that Dublin were playing in the Leinster SFC and someone had the choice of attending one or the other, I would regard someone who chose the UCD game to be more of 'genuine' UCD fan than someone who chose the Dublin game. They may well be a 'genuine' sports fan or an 'event junkie', but I would not consider them to be 'genuine' UCD fan in the same vein as someone who chose to watch UCD.


Again, I think you misread or misunderstood the point I was making. I never suggested any such a thing. What I was suggesting was that where someone had restrictions, financial, family, work or whatever and as a result had to decide between attending one particlular game rather another particular game, their choice of which game they attend is generally based on what they prioritise at the time. Often that choice is made on personal preference and personal priority rather than for any other reasons of practicality (i.e. financial, family, or work)

Think back to the numbers that travelled to Germany and Cyprus last year! Why did more people chose Germany than Cyprus, if they could only make one trip?
- Financial: hardly!
- Time off work: both games were on a Saturday!
- Family: could be, must have been an awful lot of family commitments that weekend in October!
- Germany: likely to be better craic, more attractive game, all 'genuine' fans will be going, if there is one game to go this was it!

Answers on a postcard

What started this discussion was that fans who go regularly to Ireland games usually end up being allocated tickets by the FAI when tickets are scarce and that is the way it should be. Others, who for whatever reason only go to certain games, should accept that the 'regulars' have priority for tickets. However, there are plenty who don't accept that to be the case and when they can't get tickets, they claim to be 'genuine' fans.

If that still sounds like coming from a high horse, then 'Amen'.

Cypurs is very hard to do for the same price that Stuttgart was. Cypurs can only really be done as a package holiday for a week or for expensive enough flights over and back for 3 days. Stuttgart was much more reasonable and easier to afford. Added to that, that we were there the year before and you get the idea. I chose Germany over Cyprus but I also chose San Marino over Cyprus as I was in Cyprus the year before and I could not afford a week off work.

[Superhoops]

Cypurs is very hard to do for the same price that Stuttgart was. Cypurs can only really be done as a package holiday for a week or for expensive enough flights over and back for 3 days. Stuttgart was much more reasonable and easier to afford. Added to that, that we were there the year before and you get the idea. I chose Germany over Cyprus but I also chose San Marino over Cyprus as I was in Cyprus the year before and I could not afford a week off work.

Flew out from LHR, Friday evening, arrived Laranca 0400 Saturday. Flew out from Larnaca 0430 Sunday morning, arrived LHR 0930. Cost £209 stg. Booked way in advance. Can be done!

[Superhoops]

agreed. i probably qualify as a daytripping barstooler man united fan, but i have no problem with that. i'm a loyal but not die hard ireland fan (i.e. finances come first for away games, but even though i only recently went on my first away trip i definitely want to go on at least two or three in the next campaign, seeing as i can't afford czech slovak games. i'll be eurolines overnight bus or sail rail to cardiff because that is the height of what i can afford (about €35 bus to cardiff if you book well enough in advance) cos i'm a broke student) etc etc

When your student days are over and you are a high flyer, you will be able to afford to travel with Ray Treacy! You will then have graduated to become a 'prawn sandwich corporate junket tripper' Should also qualify you to get to some Man.U games.

Good luck in your studies and your quest to get to more Ireland games.

[zenokelly]

Just stumbled upon the deal for the matches through Celtic Horizon Tours - theyre charging €80 per ticket per match - in addition to making poor gob shiites fork out €1,120, o ya and €59 for airport taxes!

http://www.celtichorizontours.com/ce...?iEventID=1507

[Paulie]

I notice that they state "Subject to slot confirmation" which refers to their planes getting a slot to take off and land at the respective airports. After what happened with the Champion's League final, with trips being cancelled at the last second due to chartered flights not being able to get a slot at Athens Airport, they must be including that in the terms of the sale to cover themselves.

Packages really aren't worth a sh*te.

[Sligo Hornet]

[QUOTE=Paulie;702040]I notice that they state "Subject to slot confirmation" which refers to their planes getting a slot to take off and land at the respective airports. After what happened with the Champion's League final, with trips being cancelled at the last second due to chartered flights not being able to get a slot at Athens Airport, they must be including that in the terms of the sale to cover themselves.

Packages really aren't worth a sh*te.[/QUOTE]


Feckin expensive, as well as risky "Sh*te" to boot!!