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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not understand the allegiance that some people have to sports clubs?

201 replies

MuseumofInnocence · 08/03/2019 16:03

I have some friends and family who are fans of certain sporting clubs (I'm referring to football mainly). I can sort of understand it for those who have some connection to the club (maybe they grew up near the club or their parents did), but I have friends who became fans of clubs hundreds of miles away when they were children, have been a handful of times to a game, but act as if they're the biggest fans ever.

Am I unreasonable, or is this weird?

OP posts:
WhoWasIt · 09/03/2019 11:47

Probably the only good thing about Arsenal @AngelicoMysterioso 😜

(Please accept I'm joking )

WhoWasIt · 09/03/2019 11:48

About being a fan of Arsenal I mean @Angelo

FredFlinstoneMadeOfBones · 09/03/2019 11:54

I don't support any football team but I can understand why some people like it. Even if they randomly chose a club for no reason. It's just something to do - something to get involved and excited about to pass the time.

Ohyesiam · 09/03/2019 11:59

I suppose it’s tribalism and competitiveness.
Dull as ditchwater to me, but seeing as pro footballers get paid enough every week to buy a house like the one I own, it must be a big part of the human psyche.

Oblomov19 · 09/03/2019 12:06

I love football generally. I CAN understand the tribalism. What about : Fans of any other sport at all: ice hockey, rugby, tennis. Anything I get.

I'm puzzled that you DON'T get it!!

Aebj · 09/03/2019 12:12

My dads a Fulham supporter. He grew up in the area and went to lots of games. Passed the passion onto myself and my brother. However my brother also became a Liverpool supporter ( he grew up in the ‘80’s ). He wanted to support a winning team😂😂 ( something Fulham can’t do!!) my brother hasn’t been to a Liverpool but he’s still an avid supporter to this day.
I have realised that this is an outing post so might have to change my name as once my dad dies , there will no longer be true Fulham supporters!!!

EmeraldShamrock · 09/03/2019 12:13

Yanbu. Though Liverpool f.c is DPs passion, he shares their highs and lows with dedication, If he has his way he would love to marry on the grounds. will nevrr happen

Likethewind321 · 09/03/2019 13:05

I don't get it either. It makes my hair stand on end.

I understand the enjoyment of a hobby, I understand the desire to watch the game with friends, and to pick a side to support makes it more interesting and enjoyable. What I DON'T get it the sort of passionate support the OP is talking about, as if it really matters. When it somehow becomes part of your identity.

It's a ball being kicked about by disgustingly overpaid men. Yes there is skill involved, but so also in tennis, cricket or hockey. Any sport. Why should football be so different? Even rugby feels different, support is just based around your country, which makes more sense to me, not around teams like it is in football.

It's tribalism, and to me feels quite primitive, uncivilised and scary. It seems like the same psychology as is present in gangs. I realise that will offend many football fans, but that's just the way I see it and how I feel about it.

WhoWasIt · 09/03/2019 13:13

I'm not offended @Likethewind321. Smile
I doubt any other fan would be either.

x2boys · 09/03/2019 14:53

No the airport is in Cheshire I think it's very ,very close to my aunties house about a mile or two but it's known as Manchester airport

x2boys · 09/03/2019 14:57

Well i used to be Ringway (not actually sure if it still.is?) But most people know as Manchester airport.

Hollycatberry · 09/03/2019 15:15

No the airport is in Cheshire

Off subject but Manchester airport is very much in Manchester. It’s within the boundary of Manchester City Council and the council has an ownership stake in the holding group that runs the airport.

Old Trafford (Man Utds ground) is in the borough of Trafford which part of Greater Manchester.

Back to topic, OP sounds a bit smug about not “being into tribalism”. Maybe you’re too lofty and think it’s a bit common?? Like only uneducated yobs who need to act like a tribe follow a team?

Don’t forgot football used to be a male working class sport, something to get away from the drudgery of working 6 days a week that could be enjoyed cheaply. The sport has massively changed to commercialisation, but to “not get” that some people will enjoy following and supporting a team that their family have supported supported is a bit naive. I enjoy following a football team and rugby. I enjoy watching live sports and the highs of winning. As a PP said for some towns/cities those teams bring a lot of pride and economic benefits when they do well, hardly anything to do with tribalism Hmm

dancerdog · 09/03/2019 15:29

My team allegiance is the 'handed down' type, and having married a fan of the same team, our children also support that team. In fact, the night I met husband to be was spent mainly talking about our club. (Yes, 'our' club.)

Football is a bit like a soap on TV - mental story lines, unlikely events, magnificent victories, punch-in-the-gut defeats, great/dud signings, penalties that never were, cheatin' referees, occasional treachery, did I mention magnificent victories?....there's always something going on and you are sitting with 60,000 people enjoying every single emotion it brings. Club history and all the events surrounding it plus your own stories of 'do you remember when xx happened...' are woven into the common psyche of the fans. (Sorry, that bit sounds a bit pretentious!)

So, although it is a bit hellish dragging yourself out for an expected European trouncing in wintry weather, the good times are great and we do it because we enjoy it.

Everyone else, just chill?

Winebottle · 09/03/2019 16:04

It's more than just tribalism. Being emotionally involved in a game makes it much more exciting. Every time I watch a football match I will pick a team that I want to win and root for them. It isn't more interesting when you can celebrate goals and feel the highs and lows.

I can definitely see how you can choose to support a random team. The more you watch, the more you feel the emotions, the more hooked you get.

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 09/03/2019 16:39

Weirdest of all is people who doggedly support two different teams. I knew of a man who was a committed fan of both Aston Villa AND West Ham.

Not long after he mentioned this, he asked a lot of people a very controversial question which meant that he had to leave his job, so I suppose that at least he has enough spare time to follow both teams now.

dancerdog · 09/03/2019 16:49

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll

Not that hard to support West Ham and Aston Villa at the same time - they wear the same strip (just about)!

BackforGood · 09/03/2019 16:52

Not necessarily WeBuilt
My DBiL for example grew up being a big fan of his local team. Held a season ticket for years. After graduating, settled in a different part of the country for work, and started going along to a local team there, as it would have been totally impractical to return 'hoe' from his new home, every time there was a match.
At the time, his teams were 3 or 4 divisions apart, so no issue being able to support both - one physically going to the games, and one more remotely.

bigandbumpy · 09/03/2019 17:00

@Likethewind321 - A gang LOL....not all football fans are hooligans!

Arsenal supporter here from a family of Arsenal fans. We are fortunate to have 2 season tickets in the family. I wouldn't say it's tribal but it is an allegiance, and you do feel a connection with other supporters when you can discuss the highs and lows. You also do refer to them as 'we' when talking to other fans.

I don't think having that passion is a bad thing at all!

CalamityJune · 09/03/2019 17:06

They might have been inspired by a player or an impressive season and become attracted to the club that way. Not all areas have a local premiership team so if you like top level football, you're not bound by where you live.

RomanyQueen1 · 09/03/2019 17:06

Very few United supporters live anywhere near Manchester and even fewer season ticket holders. Grin
It's usually glory hunting men who have to be associated with the winners. I think it's another small penis syndrome.

10IAR · 09/03/2019 18:37

@AngeloMysterioso we're Scottish so it's not the same as the EPL which appears to be more money less soul. But my team is Celtic, league champions the last 7 years running, on course for 8, with a clean sweep of trophies for the last 2 seasons.

We appear to be a feeder team for the EPL but actually I'm really enjoying the focus on bringing the young talent through the academy, both for the men's and women's teams.

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 09/03/2019 22:18

@BackforGood

Sorry, no, you are right.

I think the big, big difference is that your DBiL remembers that he supports both teams and wouldn't confuse the two Grin

Supergrassyknoll · 09/03/2019 22:24

I find your issue with this odd, you clearly have very little or no appreciation of human spirit and allegiance in joy of supporting a sporting club with like minded people

Vulpine · 09/03/2019 22:28

I hate tribalism. It's the root cause of all the problems in the world.

BackforGood · 09/03/2019 22:59

Well - they do wear different colours, unlike Villa and West Ham Grin

(sorry, replying to WeBuilt)