To not understand all the obsession with footbaall

Rubbish. Man Utd have supporters around the world but it doesn't mean that local people don't support them also. I'm from Manchester - you had to pick blue or red at school.

Have you ever thought that maybe you aren't compatible?

You don't have to like the same things but not to being to even remotely undetstand what your other half sees in something they enjoy shows a lack of empathy or basic interest in the other person. If you can't use your imagination why not ask him?

Plus it's the number one sport in the country. It's not a weird niche interest.

People get different things, it's what makes us unique and individual. I don't get the obsession with plastic surgery & shows like Love Island but it's what some people love.

Different strokes for different folks as they say.

I’m sure lots of football supporters can’t understand other peoples obsessions with Wimbledon or the Olympics or Big Brother or Strictly Come Dancing! People have different interests!

A much bigger game on Wednesday night (IMO), don’t watch it then! 😆

@CraftyNavySeal agree being there is much better, the same can be said about many sports from my experience.

Today a team won where I'd guess 90% plus of their supporters either live in the area, or have done, or a parent or parents come from the area. Makes a change from last year's winners where it is probably nearer 0.9%.

@JabberwokCouldn’t put it better!

I do ask myself why I keep putting myself through so much stress though!

I bloody love football, but I get that others don’t. Similarly I don’t understand people’s love of rugby, cricket or golf..buy I’m sure there’s plenty on here who are avid fans. Each to their own, I guess.

I'm a fair weather supporter, but Palace were my home team when I was growing up and I'm thrilled to bits for them.

I don’t like it but I sort of get what it gives people, especially men.. I do think many need that sort of interest, give them that togetherness and camaraderie, focus, tribal feeling. When you see them all chanting together in crowds it’s pretty cool. At the same time they can get a bit much with the rivalry and drunkenness

You don't have to get it. I find ballet and musicals boring and music festivals are my idea of hell but a lot of people love them and spend a lot of money on them. It's just unfortunate that you don't understand the enthusiasm for football while living in a country where it is very very popular.

It's about belonging, the communal spirit. The skill, the passion, the highs and all to often, the lows.
it's about your community, your town, your city, or it was until money, the mighty mammon destroyed the top tiers of the game.
It's about the mate who's surname name you don't know but have stood near for 20 years, watching his children grow and leave home and now he's bringing the grand kids.
It's about the shared release of a goal. Of shared despair at one conceded.
It's about crying as a 45 year old man as your team drop out of the league without shame or embarrassment.
It's about your left back scoring with his right boot to promote you for the second season in a row, closing part of the city with your calibration. It's about winning 7-0 to pip another team to go up. It's about Wembley victory and defeat.
It's about raising money for the lad who played 500 times for your team and can't afford a special bed for his illness.
It's about Bradley Lowery, Hillsborough, Bradford, Heysel.
It's collective feeling, love and hate.

Is football a matter of life and death, no its more important than that.

I’m not a football fan or follower but have had great fun today watching my local team win the FA cup. I was in our friendly local for part of it, loved the sense of community.

I always watch the World Cup final.

It’s exciting when it’s an occasion ,

And I can see that those who know what they are talking about enjoy the skill , tactics and strategy of the players and teams. So must be very interesting.

So what if you aren’t into it? Are you really ‘live and let live’ if you whine about not getting it on cup final day? Just keep quiet and live and let live 🫤

I don't like football and agree about it being dull, love tennis and have got back into snooker after being off it for a few decades (I was really into it back in Jimmy White's heyday).

But what I like best is cricket: not the limited over game, but the full 5-day stuff. Sadly, I can't justify paying for a sports subscription, so don't see much cricket these days. I really miss it.

It means a lot to a local community. My team won their first trophy in a lot of people’s living memories in March. My 4 year old now thinks his team will win a trophy every year 🤣 some people get it and some don’t, let people enjoy it and crack on

It’s much better in real life.

Still not a fan but you can see the strategy play out (on TV you’re always zoomed in) and experience the crowd. It’s much more of an “event”.

Bingo.

I feel extraordinarily sorry for anyone who doesn’t enjoying watching football or doesn’t have a team that they support. I refuse to believe that there is a feeling in life like your team winning something. And I say that as a supporter of a team who haven’t won anything of note in my lifetime.

Societal conformity 🐑

Not really a fan these days but I did watch the cup final. So pleased for Palace as they played so well. Eze’s reaction on his goal was great and it’s been a while since the winners actually looked happy to win rather than something to be ticked off the to do list.

You don't have to get it

I'm a huge, huge football fan. I watch every game my team plays, every England game and as many other games as possible. With four football mad males in the house(omw of whom plays in a team), plus a young daughter who is also showing signs of being footie mad, it's a massive thing in our house and irs lovely because we all bond over it.

Not everyone likes it. I don't get the love for rubgy or cricket, but that's fine because it would be boring if everyone liked the same. But I hate it when people look down their noses or are snobby about it.

Kicking a football across a patch of grass - nope don’t get it! Luckily husband hates football!

I love football, grew up with a football loving dad and it's always been a big thing in our house. I especially love the FA Cup 🥰 if it's not your thing, it's not! I don't get people's obsession with Formula 1 or cricket but each to their own!

waves at @tobee

I started a thread as DH and DS were at Wembley as Palace games and I was so nervous.

Not only was it a lovely thread but many people explained why it meant so much more than football.

I also disagree about them not being good role models. Many in the Palace team are fantastic role models, do tons for both charity and their community. Zaha, who used to play for Palace funded the entire women's team for a while season(yes definitely worth arguments about funding disparity between men and women).

It will mean a huge amount to the area, it's so so maligned and it's about time we have something positive to celebrate and be associated with.