Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Football colours

63 replies

ThePlatypusAlwaysTriumphs · 01/10/2017 21:44

Dd2 is 12 and has suddenly announced that she supports one of the old firm teams. My mums family are all supporters, but I have deliberately stayed away from all things football, because I hate the sectarianism that surrounds it in the West of Scotland. She wants a football top in the team colours. I have categorically said no. I feel that this "supporting the team" has come from friends who do so. I have tried to explain to her why I feel this way about it, but I'm told I am prejudiced/ sexist /whatever. She says she wants to belong, in some way, but I don't want her to belong to this! If I'm honest, I think its "chavvy" ( and I know that is very frowned upon in this site, so apologies) but I can't understand why she wants to be part of this. I'm usually pretty easy going with my dc. They can have their own opinions on things, pursue interests they want, but I just don't like this. AIBU?

OP posts:
cardibach · 01/10/2017 21:50

I think you probably ABU. It’s a team her family and friends support. She wants the shirt, not to go ou5 and be a hooligan.

Original poster
ThePlatypusAlwaysTriumphs · 01/10/2017 21:57

I know she doesn't want to be a hooligan, but here there is so much violence and crap associated with old firm teams that is just rather she wasn't so obvious with her affiliations.

OP posts:
ParkheadParadise · 01/10/2017 21:59

I wouldn't have a problem with her wanting a shirt.

Does the shirt have a connection to my name?GrinGrinGrin.

lifetimelimit · 01/10/2017 22:01

theplatypus

Ah I feel your pain. I am from Glasgow. I am married to a Rangers fan and I come from a staunchly Irish Catholic Celtic supporting family. I am doing my absolute best to keep my DC away from any kind of exposure to the Old Firm. I think it's perhaps hard for others to understand on here as it's not a normal type of football rivalry, it's uglier and goes a lot deeper.

You are right to say no. And as a Glaswegian I think a firm no is the best thing to do.

Bairnsmum05 · 01/10/2017 22:01

😂 depends what team she’s choosing to support .....

lifetimelimit · 01/10/2017 22:02

Glasgow is pretty much the only place where "what school did you go to?" Doesn't really mean what school did you go to?😂😂

PoppyPopcorn · 01/10/2017 22:04

I know where you're coing from. We're in Glasgow too. We're not really a football family although DH is English and supports the team from his home town. I am happy for the only one of my kids who has a passing interest in football to have a Liverpool shirt, or a Real Madrid shirt, or a Bayern Munuch shirt, but I wouldn't allow them a Rangers or Celtic shirt.

It sends a message I'm really not comfortable with.

ForalltheSaints · 01/10/2017 22:06

I can understand where the OP incoming from and YANBU. Even as someone who used to go to the same church as a onetime Celtic manager.

Bairnsmum05 · 01/10/2017 22:06

I agree, I was being light hearted above. 99% of the time it’s amazing watching an old firm game and supporting one of the teams, but there is a hell of a lot of bigotry, nastiness, bitterness and violence which I can’t stand. You don’t even need to scratch below the surface to see it. I tried to encourage my son to support another team but he’s chosen his team and it’s fine by me. His friends mostly support the other team and so far it’s been banter and a bit of slagging but all in jest thankfully. He’s never been to an old firm game, I’m not planning on taking him to one and if he did it would only be at the home ground.

Bairnsmum05 · 01/10/2017 22:09

Referring to your original comment-I resisted a strip but he’s had a few now and generally only wears for playing football not hanging about. I don’t like seeing grown adults wearing them when not either playing or watching football, not sure why though 🤔

Shenanagins · 01/10/2017 22:09

I would have reservations as well, unless it was match day and going to the game, although on an old firm day best kept hidden until in the stadium.

Rachie1973 · 01/10/2017 22:12

We wear our team logo all the time, not the strip so much, but polo shirts and hoodies etc.

The best way to fight the 'old way' is to introduce the new way.

lifetimelimit · 01/10/2017 22:12

rachie

Do you live in Glasgow?

Original poster
ThePlatypusAlwaysTriumphs · 01/10/2017 22:14

Thanks for the replies!

I am very much a rugby person. Ds plays for the local team, and he has no interest in football. I am catholic, married to protestant DH , neither of us are interested in football. I hate the sectarianism. I have tried to keep the kids away from it, but now it's reared its ugly head. Dd feels I am being very unfair. I offered her pyjamas in her team colours, but that's no good. She does play football, and I get that she wants to support a "local" team, but I don't think she really understands the implications.

OP posts:
ParkheadParadise · 01/10/2017 22:15

lifetimelimit

Glasgow is pretty much the only place where "what school did you go to?" Doesn't really mean what school did you go to?😂😂
😂😂😂😂😂

PoppyPopcorn · 01/10/2017 22:15

Partick Thistle then. That's the team most parents around here encourage. And although the football isn't great, kids go free.

Original poster
ThePlatypusAlwaysTriumphs · 01/10/2017 22:21

We have a local team - Hamilton Accies! Wish she would support them rather than one of the old firm teams. But she is so influenced by friends Sept school....

OP posts:
Original poster
ThePlatypusAlwaysTriumphs · 01/10/2017 22:22

Should say friends at school!

OP posts:
Blueemeraldagain · 01/10/2017 22:23

I was born and raised in London to a Glaswegian mother and I know what you mean. She has lived in London since she left university (she's now 60) and has often commented on the freedom she has to support her team without all the added baggage/shit you get in her home city.
My DP is coincidentally a supporter of the same team (he is Australian but his father moved there from Scotland at an early age) and he doesn't "get" the history. He thinks it's a fuss about nothing. (He's going to Glasgow soon and I am a bit worried),

That said, it will only change when "middle of the road" families like yours allow their children to be supporters in a normal way. I would buy my DD a top of some sort and hope that the fad passes with time.

lifetimelimit · 01/10/2017 22:23

platypus

Hamilton? You're just down the road Smile

Shite weather we're having tonight Angry

Grilledaubergines · 01/10/2017 22:23

Not a football person, what does 'old firm' mean? Is it something particular to Scotland?

essssex · 01/10/2017 22:24

Old firm derby is Celtic and Rangers.

Original poster
ThePlatypusAlwaysTriumphs · 01/10/2017 22:24

lifetimelimit it is, aye!! Grin

OP posts:
lifetimelimit · 01/10/2017 22:25

grilled

Yeah it's the name for the Glasgow derby.

Celtic vs Rangers
Rangers vs celtic

It's a big deal to a lot of folk up here. They played last weekend.

Grilledaubergines · 01/10/2017 22:28

Thank you! When I read 'old firm' my first thought was gangsters!😂