Does it matter if you don't both like football?

[Tiffincake]

My last partner didn't, however I know many men do. I don't support a team or go to any matches, but I will watch the World Cup, Euro etc.
However wondering if it's a dealbreaker that I'm not massively into football? It depends on the person I guess.. I know you don't have to have everything in common, but football is a way of life for many men. Has it ever been an issue for you?

Yes I guess! It isn't the first time I've heard of it doing this to people. Although admittedly mostly blokes.

I've been to 30 plus games in 2023 with generally over 25k a game. So basically been with a million football fans and seen a couple of Barnsley fans kicking a road sign in on the way to the station as my experience of football hooligism this year.

No.

I've managed to get to my 50's with never having a relationship with a man that liked football.

That's an Ex problem not a football problem 🤷🏼‍♀️

Nope that poster is correct. Some people do take the football to ridiculous levels.
I know people who

Dislike their family wearing certain colours for football reasons
Only date people who support their team
Have to go to every home match even when it it means they don't see their kids
Try and engineer social gatherings to a place that shows football. Trips to parks, kids parties, days out, all the most important consideration is will we be back for the football? How can I watch the football in this scenario?
Don't watch any other sport and footballtrumps what anyone else wants for watch
Go into terrible moods about football results
Basically ever waking moment seems to be something to do with it. Betting, watching the game, podcasts, YouTube highlights , facetiming friends and family about it, football chants on Spotify during the normal running of a day.

My partner and in laws have done all the above.

It never bothered me before we had DD as I'm laid back and was happy to do my own hobbies and see my own friends. It's not a great way for child to grow up though and can be very selfish and annoying

I'm sorry you married such a selfish individual and into a selfish family. However the issue here isn't football. It's selfish individuals and people who take it this extreme are very rare.
I married a football fan who, when single, travelled the world watching football. I'm now surrounded by football fans and I can only think of one person who even comes close to your description and that's why he's single.
Every else puts family first and has a range of other interests.

You might have missed out on dating some lovely men 🤷🏼‍♀️

Some years ago I was working as an airport baggage handler. One morning a holdall bearing Manchester United logos came down the conveyor for its flight. One of my colleagues refused point blank to even touch it, all because of the Manchester United thing. And he made sure everyone knew it too. I just thought he was an idiotic prick.

More recently, I was walking past a pub near my home but on the opposite side of the road. Another man walked past the pub but he was unfortunate enough to be wearing a Manchester United shirt. Some gobshite came out of the pub and bellowed at our hapless Man U fan to "get that fucking shirt off, you ***". Another idiotic prick.

Stuff like that does sport no favours.

Reading all this it seems the problem is obsession not necessarily that its football.

There's so many good things that fans do too though which largely go unnoticed for those who don't follow football.

Such as a few weeks ago, the Luton captain suffered a cardiac arrest on the pitch. He survived and was stretchered off the pitch to Luton and Bournemouth fans chanting his name.

Luton played Newcastle as their first game after it happened and the Newcastle fans were more than happy to join in to clap during the minute of the game which is also his shirt number and I also believe some Newcastle fans had a banner wishing the Luton player well.

Some people are dicks, absolutely but the majority of people just enjoy football and if something happens such as my example? Football goes out of the window and team colours become irrelevant.

Some people are dicks, absolutely but the majority of people just enjoy football and if something happens such as my example? Football goes out of the window and team colours become irrelevant.

Exactly. This is my experience too.
I live somewhere where there are two rival teams. There's lots of good natured teasing and there is the occasional knobhead but the vast, vast majority of people just get on.
My DH was out with a group last night who are mixed fans. There were no issues at all.

The club my DH supports are amazing with kids. DS has had some brilliant experiences which have all been free.

Honestly if you blame football for this, you're massively blinkered!

@Goodlard I am aware that it could have been any given hobby or 'thing' that she'd turned into a different person over, and the next person may like football and be nothing like that, but I must admit I would avoid dating a football fan now. It was very upsetting how much she changed and how unimportant our relationship became, as soon as she got back into playing it. I get upset even hearing anything about it now, I was very happy with her before football came along.

I've had 2 exs who both followed / took an interest in a team and both were fine as it wasn't all consuming. However, I would never date a man who was seriously into football and lived his life by the fixtures or defined himself in terms of his team affiliation.

I have zero interest in it myself and DH happily isn't interested either. I would discourage DC from dating anyone that into it as well or letting it rule their own lives to that extent.

Realised I completely misread the thread title and thought I was debating whether it matters that you both don't like football.

Thank you.