I was born in Newcastle, was brought up in Newcastle, though i now live in Northumberland, but my team has always been 'The Toon'... my grandfathers, uncles, cousins, my dad and brother are or were supporters.

I think it goes without saying, West Ham were down to 10 men on Saturday and Newcastle still couldn't score against them

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by Whistler
(quotes)

Southend have a team. They're called Southend United

Surely that would be a 'local' team

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I know Southend have a team, ive seen them afew times.

But just as i dont live in Chelsea, i dont live in Southend either.

If it helps i used to go and support the basildon boys every sunday morning because my brother played for them.

Cant get more local than that.

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by Dangermouse
Other sports - i support the Miami Dolphins (American Football) and the Chicago Cubs (Baseball), so anyone who knows about these teams know i'm not a glory hunter lol

(Edited by Dangermouse 22/08/2005 08:25)

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I support the Florida Marlins (baseball) and then Boston Red Sox. I was partially raised in those too places so I keep a bit of tradition. I also support the Dolphins.

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by KaTiEStar

Basildon doesnt have a team and theres no Essex United (that i know of!)

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Actually we do - they play over at Cranes Farm Road (opposite the York International factory). They do, however, totally suck. They play in the Essex Senior League - how's that for glory?

On the other hand, if you want league football, there's always Southend United - recently promoted to "League One" (oh please - it's the old third division :rolleyes and sitting solidly 11th in the table at present.

I don't want to get too involved in the "glory hunter" type arguments, but I would say that any non-Manc here who has been a United supporter for more than 10 years or so could hardly be described that way as it took Man U what, 25 years to win a league since the "glory" late 60's - being relegated in 74 and being an mediocre side for many years afterwards.

On Alex Ferguson - to describe someone as a disgusting old man just because they chew gum during matches seems harsh to say the least. I understand that away from football he is reported to be a charming funny man and a wonderful host. He just takes his job seriously. Next year he will have been the Man U manager for 20 years. You will never see another top-flight manager in post for that amount of time again. Yes, he pitches fits - but don't they all. From Jose Mourinho's loony turns last year to Arsene Wenger's selective blindness throughout his career, all managers are guilty of bias. Well, duh! That's expected. While no-one expects a supporter of one tean to like the manager of another, it's not rational to pour bile all over a total stranger just because they run a rival team. Without any competition, where would the fun come from?

(Edited by Kate 22/08/2005 11:16)

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by Keenangel
I was born in Newcastle, was brought up in Newcastle, though i now live in Northumberland, but my team has always been 'The Toon'... my grandfathers, uncles, cousins, my dad and brother are or were supporters.

I think it goes without saying, West Ham were down to 10 men on Saturday and Newcastle still couldn't score against them

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That and generally speaking, anyone who supports The Toon can hardly be called a glory hunter... /

I was a little dissappointed in that result to say the least.

[quote]by Kate
(quotes)


I don't want to get too involved in the "glory hunter" type arguments, but I would say that any non-Manc here who has been a United supporter for more than 10 years or so could hardly be described that way as it took Man U what, 25 years to win a league since the "glory" late 60's - being relegated in 74 and being an mediocre side for many years afterwards.

[quote]

A mediocre side that won the FA cup at least twice in the 80's and spent most of the time in the top ten of the top league. I can't see any reason for a non Manc to support them other than for "glory" (family connections etc apart)


(Edited by Kneon Light 22/08/2005 12:14)

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by Kneon Light
I can't see any reason for a non Manc to support them other than for "glory" (family connections etc apart)


(Edited by Kneon Light 22/08/2005 12:14)

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I have a theory regarding supporting non-local teams.

Football traditionalists will always say that you should support your local side. Why? A couple of reasons:
1)Back in the day, your local side would have had local lads in it - hell, you may well have been to school with the striker, or lived next door to the keeper.
2)Geographical convenience. The only way to see football properly (again "back in the day" ) was to actually go to the match.
3)Supporting local business and putting money into the local team. Gate money was important once.

All of these are good reasons and many hold true for smaller clubs today. However, the nature of Premiership/Championship/League football has changed over the years. You can usually count on the fingers of one hand (sometimes no hands at all) how many local lads are turning out for their side. We all remember the fuss when one team contained no Englishmen whatsoever, and a lot come close to that regularly. Geography is less of an issue, too. Many fans don't actually attend matches at all, so with that in mind, does it make the slightest difference whether the team they're supporting is five minutes down the road or five hours down the motorway? On a related point - a lot of football fans are introduced to the game at a young age by a famiy member (father/uncle whatever) by being taken to a local match. What about people who come to it late? If you have no particular family loyaly and you're not likely to attend matches at the ground then what criteria do you use to pick a side? You could pick a local side, or you could just watch a bunch of matches and find a team whose style you admire (much like PoF and his Dolphins) or who field a particular player you like - it could be as shallow as you like their kit - in the long run that's no less valid a reason than picking the nearest lot.

As far as I can tell, your reason for picking your side doesn't matter. Yes, there may be "glory hunters" suddenly supporting teams (happens every time someone new wins the league), but then what? I bet there were a bunch of "glory hunter" Liverpool fans back in the 70s and 80s. As long as they were still supporting their side when things weren'r going as well, can you still call them glory hunters? Same with all teams - they have their ups and downs; sides that seem dominant and unbeatable for a few years lose a manager here, a few key players there and the momentum goes. As long as the supporters they pick up when they're doing well stick around when things get a little harder what right have people got to knock them?

(Edited by Kate 23/08/2005 08:08)

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by Kate
(quotes)


I have a theory regarding supporting non-local teams.

Football traditionalists will always say that you should support your local side. Why? A couple of reasons:
1)Back in the day, your local side would have had local lads in it - hell, you may well have been to school with the striker, or lived next door to the keeper.
2)Geographical convenience. The only way to see football properly (again "back in the day" ) was to actually go to the match.
3)Supporting local business and putting money into the local team. Gate money was important once.

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1. My local side (Brighton) will have 4 players from Sussex playing today. I went to school with the left back rather than the striker!

2. The only way to see football "properly" is still to go to the games. Unless you support one of the big 4 most games will not be on tv. You can watch a club on tv - you cannot support them.

3. Again outside of the clubs in Europe gate money is extremely important.

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by Kate
Geography is less of an issue, too. Many fans don't actually attend matches at all, so with that in mind, does it make the slightest difference whether the team they're supporting is five minutes down the road or five hours down the motorway?

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I'm glad you said fans. There is a difference between an armchair fan and a supporter.

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by Kate
What about people who come to it late? If you have no particular family loyaly and you're not likely to attend matches at the ground then what criteria do you use to pick a side? You could pick a local side, or you could just watch a bunch of matches and find a team whose style you admire (much like PoF and his Dolphins) or who field a particular player you like - it could be as shallow as you like their kit - in the long run that's no less valid a reason than picking the nearest lot.

As far as I can tell, your reason for picking your side doesn't matter. Yes, there may be "glory hunters" suddenly supporting teams (happens every time someone new wins the league), but then what? I bet there were a bunch of "glory hunter" Liverpool fans back in the 70s and 80s. As long as they were still supporting their side when things weren'r going as well, can you still call them glory hunters?

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Yes! Liverpool have hardly sunk to the depths of despair since the 80's! If it's not for "Glory" It's funny how people who do not pick their nearest team always pick someone like Man Utd or Liverpool etc rather than Rochdale or Southend.

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by Dangermouse

Other sports - i support the Miami Dolphins (American Football) and the Chicago Cubs (Baseball), so anyone who knows about these teams know i'm not a glory hunter lol

(Edited by Dangermouse 22/08/2005 08:25)

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With ya there on the american football team (already dreading the new season the 'phins have lost all preseason games so far).

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by Kneon Light
I'm glad you said fans. There is a difference between an armchair fan and a supporter.

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But what if the only difference is that they can't afford to go and see games live? Does that make them any less of a fan?

Oh, and well done Kate for putting all that so well.

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by Pimpdaddy
With ya there on the american football team (already dreading the new season the 'phins have lost all preseason games so far).

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No change there then *rollseyes* Oh well, can't have everything i guess

And back to proper football - I've been to a few different grounds but none beat Stirling vs East Fife on a cold January afternoon - now those fans are devoted bbbrrrrr *shiver*

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by PictureOfFlowers
(quotes)

But what if the only difference is that they can't afford to go and see games live? Does that make them any less of a fan?

Oh, and well done Kate for putting all that so well.

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No not at all (although it could be argued that people who go to games are better supporters because they do actually "support" their team rather than just listen to radio/watch on tv.). Some of the most committed fans I know started off as what I would define gloryhunters. I have simply been responding, and agreeing, with what Lizzieslayer said about Man Utd.

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by PictureOfFlowers
(quotes)

Oh, and well done Kate for putting all that so well.

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Aww shucks *kicks a pebble*