To not understand people who get their value and identity from their sports team

[CitizenClem]

I have an extended family member whose live appears to be dominated by their sports (football) team. To the extent that their identity is completely wrapped up in the fact that they support this team.

I essentially wonder what it is they are getting out of it.

I’m not talking about simply being a football fan, but something that is almost akin to being a devoutly religious follower.

I don’t get it but I’m interested. Aibu?

If i am u, what do people gain from this?

@Zampa

I do have some sympathy for those who support teams from a distance. For example, if, as a child, your enjoy the sport but don't have a family club or a team association, you may look around for one to support. Generally, kids aren't masochistic so will pick a successful club. In the 80s, that might have been Ipswich, now it's Manchester City.

Again, just because you don't attend every match or have a season ticket, doesn't make you any less of a fan. Premier League club tickets are ££££ and a TV subscriptions make more sense.

Seriously, your first pick for a team that glory-hunting supporters in the 1980s might choose was Ipswich?

BadLad some people would have done, as they were quite successful and several players were in 'Escape to Victory' with Sylvester Stallone.

Though Margaret Thatcher went to see them once (1978 FA Cup final), they won, and when asked to name the best player, named someone who wasn't playing. The game was so poor that it summed it up perfectly!

@oncloudnine

I'm with you. I get the feeling of community/friendship etc but I don't get people who are so fanatical about it...like the ones that will physically fight over it or sob if their team loses and be in a bad mood for days afterwards, including taking it out on their families. At the end of the day football is just entertainment, not a matter of life and death.

Not a matter of life and death? I'm with Bill Shankly on that one.

The PP whose wedding date that clashes with a big match - whatever were you thinking? I was told in no uncertain terms that he wanted to marry me, but the wedding could only be in June or July of an odd-numbered year. (Outside the regular season with no world cup or euros.)

OP if the person you know doesn't actually attend then they are a PLASTIC fan and the real supporters will despise them.

@CitizenClem

I have an extended family member whose live appears to be dominated by their sports (football) team. To the extent that their identity is completely wrapped up in the fact that they support this team.

I essentially wonder what it is they are getting out of it.

I’m not talking about simply being a football fan, but something that is almost akin to being a devoutly religious follower.

I don’t get it but I’m interested. Aibu?

If i am u, what do people gain from this?

It's understandable with kids. Most adults grow out of it.

I was told in no uncertain terms that he wanted to marry me, but the wedding could only be in June or July of an odd-numbered year. (Outside the regular season with no world cup or euros.)

I know someone (friend of a friend at work) who booked a wedding in June of an odd numbered year for this very reason. It was the first Saturday in June last year. It turned out it was the date of the Champions League final, but as the game kicked off later on it didn't cause that much of a fuss. Then Tottenham somehow reached the final and the groom's family were all Tottenham fans! Many of them missed the wedding so they could go to the match.

@nosswith

BadLad some people would have done, as they were quite successful and several players were in 'Escape to Victory' with Sylvester Stallone.

Though Margaret Thatcher went to see them once (1978 FA Cup final), they won, and when asked to name the best player, named someone who wasn't playing. The game was so poor that it summed it up perfectly!

They won one Uefa Cup in the 80s. The same year Liverpool won the European Cup. They were also second in the league a couple of times. That's unlikely to have attracted too many glory-hunters, especially compared to Man City these days, when English clubs were completely dominating the European Cup.