What makes a fan, a fan?

**padjoe** · 04/10/2007, 10:34 AM

just doing a feature for the end of the year and i didn't know where to post this so i thought i'd stick it in here. was in fraziers in dublin last night watching celtic v mllan and i asked someone how many there were real celtic fans. the response was half. so it got me wondering, what is the definition of a fan?? i consider myself a cork city fan since seeing them on rte in 1992, they were playing bohs, i was eight. I've gone to a few games but none in the past three years because of college and work but i've bought the jerseys and post on here. not too much cause i always get ridiculed one way or another. so would i be considered a real fan or a barstooler? like wise i consider myself a Man U fan as well but i've only been to old trafford twice neither when a match was on... am i less of a fan cause i'm not the terraces regularly? what about those who support epl or spl teams? i was asked by an american last night why Irish people support scottish teams and not there own....i couldn't give him an honest answer. he thought it was ridiculous as he enquired about "the play-off" game on the tv. My question to all of you here is what makes you more of a supporter than anyone else? What defines a real supporter from a barstool fan?

**Lim till i die** · 04/10/2007, 11:30 AM

The ability to keep you cool on warm Summer days is a must IMO

**John83** · 04/10/2007, 11:47 AM

People will give you various definitions, but there's a smooth continuum from the guy who claims to be a Man Utd fan but can't name more than three of their players all the way to Mad Tom.

I think most eL fans have a definition of a 'real fan' as someone who attends live games at least as much as themselves.

**Ash** · 04/10/2007, 12:54 PM

This was done before ages ago but, for me:

I'm an Athlone Town fan in that:
- I'm a season ticket holder and go to all home games.
- I go to as many away games as I can get to.
- I buy pretty much every bit of merchandise they bring out.
- In the past I've helped with fund raisers, other promotion activities
and supporters clubs.
- I support all the clubs fundraisers that I'm financially able to.

I follow West Ham and Celtic in that:
- I look out for their results whenever I think of it.
- I buy the occasional jersey or merchandise.
- I've been to a few games over the years.
- Occasionally watch them when they are on tv, but I dont like watching
games on tv in general so I dont make a point of chatching them when they
are on. I find it very hard to watch games on tv cos I prefer the live game.

I'd never be bothered getting into the "Im a better fan than you ..." lark.

**backstothewall** · 04/10/2007, 7:02 PM

Very dificult, if not impossible to define.

Is the Japanese guy who watches every United match on TV, but has never been to Old Trafford in his life a worse fan than the guy in the Stretford End? Is the single parent in Salford who has never been because of the price and can't afford Sky a worse fan than the Norwegian or Irish businessman who has a season ticket and makes 15 games a season?

And is the guy who follows his local club a better fan than the Essex Man U fan? What if his local club is Man U. Is the guy behind the goal who sings all the songs better than the guy by the half way line in the suit seats who happens to like the taste of prawn sandwiches??

**kdjaC** · 04/10/2007, 8:25 PM

Football fans go to football matches.

people who like football watch it on tv.

kdjac

**pineapple stu** · 04/10/2007, 9:44 PM

Agree.

No problems people TV- or internet-supporting a team (do it myself with a few clubs), but I do have a problem when people who solely follow football that way get uppity when it's suggested they're not as big a fan as someone who's down in Belfield Park every other week.

**jebus** · 04/10/2007, 9:55 PM

Originally Posted by kdjaC

Football fans go to football matches.

people who like football watch it on tv.

sure, that and a pair of testacles

now how many people can say that their posts transcend not just threads, but actual forums?*

And there's a prize for the first person who guesses just what the hell it is I'm talking about

**Macy** · 05/10/2007, 10:52 AM

Originally Posted by backtowalsall

Very dificult, if not impossible to define.

Is the Japanese guy who watches every United match on TV, but has never been to Old Trafford in his life a worse fan than the guy in the Stretford End? Is the single parent in Salford who has never been because of the price and can't afford Sky a worse fan than the Norwegian or Irish businessman who has a season ticket and makes 15 games a season?

And is the guy who follows his local club a better fan than the Essex Man U fan? What if his local club is Man U. Is the guy behind the goal who sings all the songs better than the guy by the half way line in the suit seats who happens to like the taste of prawn sandwiches??

Yes, no (because it's those untc's that have priced him out), yes, no (it's still his local club, part of supporting is the identity which includes where they're from it's Manchester United or Glasgow Celtic); yes (supporting involves singing imo).

**superfrank** · 05/10/2007, 10:56 AM

People who immerse themselves in football. People who love to watch football, no matter who's playing, no matter what "standard". They are real footballl fans in my book.

Club fans, imo, are people who will ALWAYS support their team, no matter what's going on on or off the pitch.

**bennocelt** · 07/10/2007, 10:13 AM

i dont consider people who travele to the UK in droves and support British teams true fans of the game, when they completely ignore thier own local teams.................for me thats irrrational

i remember there was a tv show on ITV years ago...........showing football fanatics, etc..................and they had this moron from ireland who travelled every week to see some conference team or DIV 3 who he had no connection with at all..........yeah sure he is committed, and he sings and buys the merchandise..................but isnt that just a sign of madness

**pineapple stu** · 07/10/2007, 10:53 AM

Wasn't that Exeter, I think?

**NY Hoop** · 09/10/2007, 11:07 AM

Originally Posted by bennocelt

i dont consider people who travele to the UK in droves and support British teams true fans of the game, when they completely ignore thier own local teams.................for me thats irrrational

i remember there was a tv show on ITV years ago...........showing football fanatics, etc..................and they had this moron from ireland who travelled every week to see some conference team or DIV 3 who he had no connection with at all..........yeah sure he is committed, and he sings and buys the merchandise..................but isnt that just a sign of madness

Completely agree. That was a clown from Waterford who has remortgaged his house twice to "support" exeter. The mind boggles. Why doesnt he go to the RSC ffs?

Real fans support clubs in their own city or county not in another country.

KOH

**Dodge** · 09/10/2007, 11:15 AM

Originally Posted by NY Hoop

Completely agree. That was a clown from Waterford who has remortgaged his house twice to "support" exeter. The mind boggles.

And claimed he did it "as it was as far away from the Premiership" as he could think...

If you don't go to games at every available oppurtunity, you're not a fan IMO. It should really be every game but work and bereavements are allowed. Free drinks in work is not an acceptable excuse. Nor is price of flights or ferry.

**superfrank** · 09/10/2007, 1:21 PM

Originally Posted by Dodge

If you don't go to games at every available oppurtunity, you're not a fan IMO. It should really be every game but work and bereavements are allowed............Nor is price of flights or ferry.

By that logic Dodge, I'm not a real fan.

I',m sorry but I can't agree with it. Yes, you should get to as many games as physically possible but I also want to have a life outside football.

For instance, I go to every single Bray home game but I rarely travel because I like to go out on the weekends and spend my money on that. Does this make me less of a fan?

**Hibs4Ever** · 09/10/2007, 1:23 PM

Originally Posted by superfrank

By that logic Dodge, I'm not a real fan.

I',m sorry but I can't agree with it. Yes, you should get to as many games as physically possible but I also want to have a life outside football.

For instance, I go to every single Bray home game but I rarely travel because I like to go out on the weekends and spend my money on that. Does this make me less of a fan?

Less than someone who travels to away matches. Yes

**osarusan** · 09/10/2007, 1:24 PM

Originally Posted by Dodge

If you don't go to games at every available oppurtunity, you're not a fan IMO. It should really be every game but work and bereavements are allowed. Free drinks in work is not an acceptable excuse. Nor is price of flights or ferry.

And I have a friend who bought food for his starving children rather than buy a ticket............the lousy b@stard.

**superfrank** · 09/10/2007, 1:28 PM

Originally Posted by Hibs4Ever

Less than someone who travels to away matches. Yes

I disagree. I love football but, jesus, you need a life outside of it as well.

Is traipsing up and down the country every second weekend instead of going out with your friends a better thing?

**Dodge** · 09/10/2007, 1:31 PM

Hibs answered for me.

If you can think of things you want to do apart from watch your team, then you're not that big a fan IMO

We all have partners, other frineds, other interests but its only one maybe two nights week I spent going to Pats games.

Originally Posted by superfrank

Is traipsing up and down the country every second weekend instead of going out with your friends a better thing?

Going to away games is my favourite part of following Pats

**Hibs4Ever** · 09/10/2007, 1:33 PM

Originally Posted by superfrank

I disagree. I love football but, jesus, you need a life outside of it as well.

Is traipsing up and down the country every second weekend instead of going out with your friends a better thing?

Are your friends only available every match night that Bray are away from home?