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Why do Irish people support English teams?

DEFTLEFTHAND

I was born and raised in Tipperary. My mother kept the home when Dad worked.

Dad worked in the merchant navy for yrs and loved soccer.

He lived in Inchicore when I was born. He was an officer on the Holyhead ferry.

We used to go to Richmond Park. Some of my earliest memomories in life are of him swearing and getting angry with me up on his lap.

He was a very emotive man, but very loving.

I just could never get why most of Dublin and the rest of the country supported the English league .

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odyssey06

D14Rugby wrote: »

And there exactly is the point, every single person that follows their local club has that feeling. Now imagine the feeling you have when your team play and multiplying it by that feeling of belonging as you call it. Supporting a foreign team doesn't even come close.

Or maybe lots of people already have that sense of belonging from the land, from their jobs, from their church... and approach football purely from a sporting perspective.

D14Rugby

odyssey06 wrote: »

Or maybe lots of people already have that sense of belonging from the land, from their jobs, from their church... and approach football purely from a sporting perspective.

So what you're saying is you have a limit to how many things you feel you belong to and because of this you shouldn't get the full experience from following a football club?

odyssey06

D14Rugby wrote: »

So what you're saying is you have a limit to how many things you feel you belong to and because of this you shouldn't get the full experience from following a football club?

No, a football club is a football club. To some people it is something more. To others, it is a sporting club and they connect with it on that level and are content with that and don't need it to mean any more than that.
It doesn't mean they are not fans of the sporting club.

D14Rugby

odyssey06 wrote: »

No, a football club is a football club. To some people it is something more. To others, it is a sporting club and they connect with it on that level and are content with that and don't need it to mean any more than that.
It doesn't mean they are not fans of the sporting club.

A football club is a representation on the area its from. If you see it as just a football club I really feel for you.
If that were the case why not shut down every league in the world and just have one big super league and everyone can just pick a team in that and "support" them?

That's why MK Dons are so hated, the Kilcoynes are hated, so on so forth. If football clubs were purely sporting then ripping them out of their area would be no big deal.

odyssey06

D14Rugby wrote: »

A football club is a representation on the area its from. If you see it as just a football club I really feel for you.
If that were the case why not shut down every league in the world and just have one big super league and everyone can just pick a team in that and "support" them?
That's why MK Dons are so hated, the Kilcoynes are hated, so on so forth. If football clubs were purely sporting then ripping them out of their area would be no big deal.

Why do we have club football then instead of just having regional provincials and internationals like county cricket? Or NFL franchises that are for the whole of a city?
Arsenal was founded for workers at the Royal Arsenal. Presumably nobody else should have supported them, except workers and their families?
Sheffield Wednesday should still be playing on Wednesdays?

Why do clubs even sell TV rights? On your logic the only people who should be able to see a game are those in the ground.
We don't even need national leagues, local teams for local people, just have a city league for all the teams within the same city. Save on travel expenses.
On your logic you shouldn't even cheer for Man Utd if you are from Manchester, unless their ground is the exact closest to you as the crow flies over all the other teams in the pyramid that are based in Manchester?

Fanbases come in two sorts, the ones who go to the games and the sometimes larger sometimes smaller fanbase of fans who view on TV. Clubs want both and have valued both since the 1980s. If they moved they would lose one kind, if they cut off TV rights they would lose the other.

Kermit.de.frog

Mr_Muffin wrote: »

The quality on offer.

Same as TV/Movies. British/American content is better then Irish content.

Of course it is.

What do you expect when so many Irish people have such a lack of self esteem and faith in their own country? That applies across the board, not just football btw.

Quality is poor when things are not supported.

Ergo Irish football.

odyssey06

Kermit.de.frog wrote: »

Of course it is.
What do you expect when so many Irish people have such a lack of self esteem and faith in their own country? That applies across the board, not just football btw.
Quality is poor when things are not supported.
Ergo Irish football.

Realistically, we are never going be able to compete with US and UK. We're not going to be able to produce the output or offer the rewards a talented english speaker can get there. That's why Irish players play for English teams at soccer, Irish actors appear in American movies and English soaps.

When you throw the appeal of GAA into the mix as a spectator and participatory sport, the 'event' rugby games, well there is only so much support to go round...

How does a lack of self esteem and faith explain a sport, GAA, that is only really played in Ireland gathering higher attendances than global sports such as soccer, rugby, cricket? Are we hiding, afraid we can't compete, or is it a reflection of self-esteem? As is the confidence of irish players and actors into trying to make it in US & UK?

If we wanted to focus on quality we should have put all our eggs into the 'rugby' basket and became the New Zealand of the northern hemisphere. Instead we have support and quality and resources spread all around, reflecting the arbitrary twists and turns of history and culture.

D14Rugby

odyssey06 wrote: »

Why do we have club football then instead of just having regional provincials and internationals like county cricket? Or NFL franchises that are for the whole of a city?
Arsenal was founded for workers at the Royal Arsenal. Presumably nobody else should have supported them, except workers and their families?
Sheffield Wednesday should still be playing on Wednesdays?

Why do clubs even sell TV rights? On your logic the only people who should be able to see a game are those in the ground.
We don't even need national leagues, local teams for local people, just have a city league for all the teams within the same city. Save on travel expenses.
On your logic you shouldn't even cheer for Man Utd if you are from Manchester, unless their ground is the exact closest to you as the crow flies over all the other teams in the pyramid that are based in Manchester?

Fanbases come in two sorts, the ones who go to the games and the sometimes larger sometimes smaller fanbase of fans who view on TV. Clubs want both and have valued both since the 1980s. If they moved they would lose one kind, if they cut off TV rights they would lose the other.

No because there are different demographics in cities and clubs are there to cater for those demographics.
Clubs started like that because it was a time where everyone in a certain area did a certain job, as that changed they said let's just represent the area.
What does the day they play have to do with who supports them.

See there you go again confusing watching matches with supporting the teams.
As for if you're from Manchester, Manchester is very much split into areas that are for clubs so yeah if you're from those areas support those clubs unless there's something like your family support a different one and moved there.

Clubs don't really care about both fan bases they just want people to watch the TV and buy shirts, they don't care if they're fans or neutrals.

There are fans who have to follow their team on TV for one reason or another but we're not talking about that, we're talking about people that choose to. Big difference.

odyssey06

D14Rugby wrote: »

No because there are different demographics in cities and clubs are there to cater for those demographics.
Clubs started like that because it was a time where everyone in a certain area did a certain job, as that changed they said let's just represent the area.
What does the day they play have to do with who supports them.

And now they have changed to represent the fans that support them all around the world, as well as the local area, even though they started out as merely playing outlets for the workers of Royal Arsenal, or those who had a halfday on a Wednesday in Sheffield, or for members of the Villa Cross Wesleyan Chapel, or the congregation of St Domingo Methodist New Connexion Chapel (that's Everton).

A club is a club, it's not a county it's not a city it's not a country. Their players come from England, sometimes from Ireland, sometimes from the four corners of the earth. As does their fans.
Why people have an issue with this I really don't know. I think the ones who have an issue with it are the ones with an issue. Get over it and live and let live.

For some people being there on the terraces is a deeper experience, fine, but I don't see why that has to turn into denigrating the experiences of the TV fan. Talk up that experience, don't talk down the other.

Strumms

You need to see both leagues as a product first and foremost. As an entertainment product....

The skill and entertainment on the pitch in the premiership is vastly superior to what can be offered here. There is vastly more money on offer to attract the best players in the world to the premiership.

The facilities in terms of scope, size, atmosphere and comfort are again, vastly superior in the premiership making each game more of an occasion of gladiatorial stature, something the LOI can’t begin to match.

The romanticism and legacy of the competitions there, scripted by the truest greats of the sport are the pillars that uphold the great legacy and ongoing appeal that we all tune in to watch as the next chapters are written, this weekend for example!

LOI for its quality, cannot compete but us vs them is not how it should be, it’s football ultimately, to be enjoyed.

[Deleted User]

Strumms wrote: »

You need to see both leagues as a product first and foremost. As an entertainment product....

The facilities in terms of scope, size, atmosphere and comfort are again, vastly superior in the premiership making each game more of an occasion of gladiatorial stature, something the LOI can’t begin to match.

I've been to Premisership games that have been like a morgue. You see so-called out-of-towners with their gift bags taking pictures all match and taking selfies rather than making noise. People getting p*ssed off if someone stands up.

8-10

Omackeral wrote: »

I've been to Premisership games that have been like a morgue. You see so-called out-of-towners with their gift bags taking pictures all match and taking selfies rather than making noise. People getting p*ssed off if someone stands up.

Barcelona is even worse

feargale

Omackeral wrote: »

I can't really comment on rugby but I'd have to laugh at someone who says watching on telly is better, especially when it comes to your own team, it absolutely cannot be. Imagine the sheer ecstasy of a 90th minute winner against your rivals or in a cup semi and you're surrounded by lunatics hopping all over you while the opposition stand there stunned. The players coming to you to share and revel in the moment. Can't get that from a tv screen. The highs are absolutely best enjoyed when actually there.

Been there, done that. Come back when you're my age and tell us if you get a thrill out of lunatics jumping all over you. My point is that rugby is better seen and understood on tv. I said nothing about atmosphere. If I tell you that Con Houlihan preferred to watch rugby from behind the goalposts you might get the gist of what I mean.

mikemac2

Jesse Future Pointer wrote: »

I get the links to England via relatives etc too, but it's nearly always big teams.

People give the family reason about their uncle emigrating there but yes funny how it’s always the big successful teams

Coventry and Luton town and Birmingham city should have legions of Irish fans but they don’t

[Deleted User]

The reasons are obvious. Some people just don't like it.

That's what this thread should have been; One reply.

keithkk16

Last time I was at a Derry VS Finn Harps game ages ago I was in the harps away end and the amount of sectarian abuse harps fans were shouting at Derry players and their fans was shocking and so hateful. It was the last time I went to harps game and I'm from Donegal.

Lyle Lanley

keithkk16 wrote: »

Last time I was at a Derry VS Finn Harps game ages ago I was in the harps away end and the amount of sectarian abuse harps fans were shouting at Derry players and their fans was shocking and so hateful. It was the last time I went to harps game and I'm from Donegal.

No abuse in English football though. That's an exclusively Irish thing.

keithkk16

Lyle Lanley wrote: »

No abuse in English football though. That's an exclusively Irish thing.

I think James Mcclean is the only person that gets sectarian abuse in England?

DEFTLEFTHAND

the_syco wrote: »

Because most of Dublin acknowledges that their team is sh|te.

Absolute horse****, Dublin is a stronghold of LOI.

This is the culture. Would you support Saracens today because Leinster are ****?

NIMAN

keithkk16 wrote: »

Last time I was at a Derry VS Finn Harps game ages ago I was in the harps away end and the amount of sectarian abuse harps fans were shouting at Derry players and their fans was shocking and so hateful. It was the last time I went to harps game and I'm from Donegal.

What sectarian abuse was shouted?

As a Derry fan I have never heard any being shouted at us.
I've heard banter about having a queen, collecting our giro's or walking greyhounds, but nothing that would upset anyone.

Edgware

keithkk16 wrote: »

Last time I was at a Derry VS Finn Harps game ages ago I was in the harps away end and the amount of sectarian abuse harps fans were shouting at Derry players and their fans was shocking and so hateful. It was the last time I went to harps game and I'm from Donegal.

Just typical of the ****e you hear from certain elements that congregate behind goalmouths.
I wouldn't be too concerned about them. They are in every club. The usual local dirtbirds imitating their heroes across the water

Bobblehats

Leeeeinsterrrrr ..

Edgware

Bobblehats wrote: »

Leeeeinsterrrrr ..

Go the guys!

Bobblehats

Edgware wrote: »

Go the guys!

That’s goys but yeah ~

TCM

mikemac2 wrote:

People give the family reason about their uncle emigrating there but yes funny how itâ€™s always the big successful teams

Edgware wrote:

Go the guys!

The guuys are in trouble - thankfully - wine is on ice.

SharpshooterTom

Kermit.de.frog wrote: »

Let's be honest, the way some Irish go on about British clubs (which is embarrassing and has more than a hint of post colonial psychology with it) hardly does much to assuage the argument that a good sample of typical football supporters actually aren't the brightest.

Do the huge number of Scandinavians who obsess of the English league like the Irish also have post colonial psychology?

SHOVELLER

greenspurs wrote: »

I think it is. In general.
There are a few (2-3) clubs that play good attaching football , with some skill.
The majority of teams, play hoof ball.
The facilities in most grounds are fairly grim,

Tell me why you think its not sh1te - im interested .

Tell me how you know all of this if you dont go.

8-10 wrote: »

My team, Liverpool, have every game televised including friendlies. Rarely stuck for a stream. It's win-win for me too, either I go to the game and get one of the best atmosphere's in any sport, or I get to watch at home.

If we weren't constantly on telly I'd likely follow someone more local more regularly, I have a local LOI Div 1 team I played for underage and go to the occasional game of, but nothing beats being able to watch every single game in a season home or away

On tv:rolleyes:

ThomasFlynn wrote: »

Do the huge number of Scandinavians who obsess of the English league like the Irish also have post colonial psychology?

No because they support their own league.

People can do what they want but seeing and hearing Irish people bleating about "their" english team while ignoring their own league is pathetic. The very ones complain about the lack of success at international level but fail to see the laughable hypocrisy of spending huge sums funding our neighbour's league.

And its alwyas the same teams that are popular. Ask a barstooler why they dont "support" macclesfield or hereford and the answer speaks volumes.

There is simply no excuse for ignoring our league. The facilities have greatly improved. Look at Tallaght as an example. The standard has also got a lot better as our results in Europe show.

8-10

SHOVELLER wrote: »

On tv:rolleyes:

Yes, or in person, read my post. I doubt most LOI fans get to see every minute of every game every season. I get that either in person or on tv and feel privileged for that to be the case.

I’d hate to miss a game, when it does happen on occasion I can download the full game

Bobblehats

TCM wrote: »

The guuys are in trouble - thankfully - wine is on ice.

The favourites ground it out. Ah well

Greyfox

SHOVELLER wrote: »

People can do what they want but seeing and hearing Irish people bleating about "their" english team while ignoring their own league is pathetic...There is simply no excuse for ignoring our league.

How is it pathetic when every LOI fan knows the English championship is a far superior league to anything Ireland will ever have? What makes you think anybody has the right to tell someone what they should be doing with there free time? What is someone from Tallaght doesnt like the way some Shamrock rovers fans cause trouble after a match?