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Original poster

football - why do people care so much?

16 replies

harpsichordcarrier · 21/09/2005 10:18

This morning on Today programme the sports reporter said "If you are on the south coast this morning you might not want to talk about football??"

like someone had died or something.

I can sort of understand it caring about a national team (patriotism/national pride) and I can also understand enjoying football as a sport; to watch someone playing who is genuinely skillful, or enjoy the suspense of win/lose.

but I really don't get why you would have a strong emotional reaction to the result of a game played by people you don't know, getting paid quite a lot of money to do it.

I grew up with football as part of life and used to watch our local team on the terraces when I was a teenager but.... still don't get it.

This is a genuine question by the way; I am not being facetious, for a change. dh is bored rigid by sport, so can't ask him.

OP posts:

donnie · 21/09/2005 10:18

agreed..the whole thing makes me bored rigid!

fqueenzebra · 21/09/2005 10:19

Couldn't agree with you more.

Toothache · 21/09/2005 10:21

Harpy - Its just not nice to have people gloating that their team won and yours lost! Not a really deep emotion for me.... just a bit of bruised pride. That and the fact that I'm not the one gloating!

Now.... when it comes to Scotland.... I do feel lots of emotion! They play their hearts out and feel gutted at every defeat. Its like watching one of my kids losing a game and feeling sad for them.

hunkermunker · 21/09/2005 10:23

Toothache, as a Scotland supporter, would you rather see anybody beat England? I don't get that - I remember seeing Germany beat England and Scottish fans jumping up and down cheering.

foxinsocks · 21/09/2005 10:26

I used to love going to football (don't go as much now that I have kids). It's exciting watching a game, chanting with all the fans - I used to get rid of any pent up aggression/emotion by shouting my head off for 90 minutes (it's quite therapeutic, honestly!).

A lot of people have been brought up by parents who are truly passionate about the game (because their parents supported the team). For example, my dad was a supporter of the team I support and used to take me when I was small so it's always been something I was brought up with.

Also don't forget, it's the one sport played in every school and even from a very young age, you can see the little boys pretending to be the star in their favourite team and acting out goals they saw at the weekend.

Toothache · 21/09/2005 10:26

HM - I was in my local pub that day with my English DH who is football DAFT (nearly cried when Everton get beat)!.... His English friends ran the pub.... they sold German Sausages with little German flags in them the whole day.... and YES I WAS CHEERING!

Its ingrained.... can't explain it.

Original poster

harpsichordcarrier · 21/09/2005 10:28

oh don't even start about the Scotland football team... my father was Scottish and I well remember the 1974 world cup, and the 1978 world cup, etc etc.. ad infinitum

i can sort of understand the national pride thing.
but why is your pride hurt for a local team? why care if someone else is gloating?

OP posts:

foxinsocks · 21/09/2005 10:31

because it's a kind of pride in your own team - football is all about ups and downs. Generally, if you've supported your team for years, you've seen them lose games they should have won and vice versa, seen them promoted and relegated. It's like they are part of your life especially when you've been brought up with it all!

hunkermunker · 21/09/2005 11:04

Toothache...I hope Scotland lose every match they play 10-0.

Toothache · 21/09/2005 11:18

Hey Hunker! Thats exactly why I will continue to get great pleasure out of watching England get shafted in the World Cup. And before anyone jumps in with the "at least we're there" comment. Doesn't matter.... we're used to it!

My DH's face is a peach when England play like amateurs.

hunkermunker · 21/09/2005 11:23

I never felt that way before I saw how amused Scottish fans were by English defeats.

crazydazy · 21/09/2005 11:27

When DP goes into depression because Tottenham have lost a game I just chant "its only a game, its only a game".

Cannot understand football hooliganism at all....its just an excuse for a fight!!!! Its not about football!!!!

NotActuallyAMum · 22/09/2005 14:48

Sorry folks but I love football!

DP says he couldn't believe his luck when he met me (aahhhh!) cos he's never known a woman to like it so much

We watch almost every match that's on - 5 last Sunday alone

Whenever anyone asks us about anything on the telly, if his daughter is around she'll say "if it's nothing to do with football don't ask Dad and cos they won't know!"

JoolsToo · 22/09/2005 14:50

they always shift Corrie when some bloody football game is on - that's sexist if you ask me!

and of course you're not!

mawbroon · 22/09/2005 16:11

Can't stand football.

Re the Scottish/English thing - if Scotland loses a game then we admit that we are rubbish. If England lose then it is never their fault and the excuses always start flowing.

The pundits on the tv also have every England game won before it's even been played. Did you know that when England won the world cup in '66 or however long ago it was (and we STILL keep hearing about it) the membership of the Scottish Nationalist Party increased dramatically because everyone here was sooooo sick of hearing about it........

QueenOfQuotes · 22/09/2005 16:12

Agree entirely.......now Rugby (Union) is a completely different matter

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