Pubs and football

Degsy · 12-03-2007 07:37PM #1

Why is it that pubs feel the need to blare football over the speakers to the extent that you cant hear yourself thinkk.I go into a pub for a drink or maybe for food but absolutely not to hear Sheffield Wednesday play Acrington Stanley in some "qualifier" or whatever they call it.I can understand(slightly) if it was a worl cup semi final with ireland vs england and a national holiday riding on the outcome but this idea that everybody in a pub wants needs to be subjected to the match and attendant racket is a bit much.Recently a few of us had been having a drink when we were lifted out of it by crowd noise on a speaker,this was about half an hour before the bloody match even started,i asked the barman to turn it down as we couldnt hear ourselves think and he more or less told us if we didnt like it we could split.This we did,leaving the pub half empty,as i'm sure he was the only one who wanted to see the match.Would it not make more sense to have a room or an area wher supporters of football idiocy can go and watch it without everbody else being subjected to it?

copacetic · 12-03-2007 07:40PM

I think in general most pubs get a lot of business out of people in to watch matches and will always cater to this market. They'd be stupid not too.

It might makes sense for them to have a room for you lot so the rest of us wouldn't have to be subjected to your whinging though!

super_furry · 12-03-2007 07:41PM

Go to a different pub. Simple.

Degsy · 12-03-2007 07:50PM

super_furry wrote:

Go to a different pub. Simple.

Have you ever tried going to a pub on a sunday afternoon where football WASNT playing?

cornbb · 12-03-2007 08:21PM

I'm gonna get up on this soapbox with Degsy. TVs in pubs are a ****e idea - bloody useless conversation killing machines. I go to the pub to get AWAY from the TV ffs!

[/tired old rant]

Celticfire · 12-03-2007 08:27PM

Hear Hear !!

Pherekydes · 12-03-2007 09:14PM

And why the fcuk is it always soccer? As the OP said, what interest have we in Wycombe Wanderers Vs Wolverhampton Wanderers? Look, Sonia's about to win Olympic gold on the other channel.

Why can't we watch the European/World/Olympic Athletics? Or the Tour de France (like they have in Pubs in France)? Or the cricket world cup? (OK forget this last one

)

Pighead · 12-03-2007 09:17PM

Most men have very little to say to each other, and without the blare of football they would be sitting there in an awkward silence. The blare of the football gives them a connection and when its over they hug each other and think to themselves "What a great day that was"

copacetic · 12-03-2007 09:27PM

Slow coach wrote:

And why the fcuk is it always soccer? As the OP said, what interest have we in Wycombe Wanderers Vs Wolverhampton Wanderers? Look, Sonia's about to win Olympic gold on the other channel.

Why can't we watch the European/World/Olympic Athletics? Or the Tour de France (like they have in Pubs in France)? Or the cricket world cup? (OK forget this last one )

Have you ever tried asking? In general they'll turn on whatever people want to watch, gaa, golf, rugby etc. Its supply and demand people..

connundrum · 12-03-2007 09:37PM

I must say I do enjoy a Sunday in the pub watching a match or two, getting the dinner and maybe a few pints.

There are quieter pubs about y'know. I've oft been in a pub on a Sunday when there was no match on at all... I didn't stay long, but long story short - they exist.

Pherekydes · 12-03-2007 09:43PM

daveym wrote:

Have you ever tried asking? In general they'll turn on whatever people want to watch, gaa, golf, rugby etc. Its supply and demand people..

And get a bottle across the head?

Seriously for a minute, I was in Kerry last summer, having dinner in a pub, watching the European Athletics Championships, when in walks a local, picks up the remote (left conveniently on the counter) and proceeds to check the racing results. We were the only others in the pub, and to him we didn't even exist. I'll probably get ripped for this, but soccer fans are even more ignorant.

To answer your rhetorical question, if I walked in a pub with an entire club (of athletes) there'd be no point in asking for a channel change if there was even one soccer fan present.

You'll gather from this that I'm not a frequenter of pubs.

P.S. I just thought to add: I was in a hotel bar in Canada a few years back, eating my dinner and waiting for the match to come on (American Football), when in walked a few folks and asked the barperson to change the channel (to watch said match). But first, the bartender and the new arrivals made absolutely sure they weren't putting me out by switching. I had to convince them, that although I was a Paddy I was still there to watch the match myself. Could you imagine this happening anywhere in Ireland?

copacetic · 12-03-2007 09:51PM

Slow coach wrote:

And get a bottle across the head?

Seriously for a minute, I was in Kerry last summer, having dinner in a pub, watching the European Athletics Championships, when in walks a local, picks up the remote (left conveniently on the counter) and proceeds to check the racing results. We were the only others in the pub, and to him we didn't even exist. I'll probably get ripped for this, but soccer fans are even more ignorant.

To answer your rhetorical question, if I walked in a pub with an entire club (of athletes) there'd be no point in asking for a channel change if there was even one soccer fan present.

You'll gather from this that I'm not a frequenter of pubs.

hmmm, I dunno I've gotten them to turn on the golf in my local a fair bit and no-one else has any interest in it. Right enough if something else is on they won't put athletics on, and you will struggle if a regular wants to watch something else.

I'm also watched athletics in more than a few pubs, in fact I saw gillicks win in a pub as I was out and about. Also watch McKiernan run in a pub in Kilkenny and seen Sonia a lot of the time too.

I don't know why you feel soccer fans are ignorant? Because if there is a game on they want to watch it and stand up for their rights to do so? If atheltics was more popular than soccer then it'd be on everywhere instead.

Degsy · 12-03-2007 09:56PM

One of my locals could have three clowns shouting at the telly while everybody else is ignoring it.I saw a bloke stand up on a chair one night and turn the football on like he was at home in his own place.What is it about football that people think they have the right to ram it down everybody else's throats?

Caliden · 12-03-2007 10:12PM

Acrington Stanley?? Who are they?

Dave! · 12-03-2007 10:19PM

Degsy wrote:

football idiocy

Not a fan then? :rolleyes:

Stay and home and stop f*cking moaning.

Degsy · 12-03-2007 10:20PM

Caliden wrote:

Acrington Stanley?? Who are they?

Who cares

Degsy · 12-03-2007 10:24PM

DaveMcG wrote:

Not a fan then? :rolleyes:

Stay and home and stop f*cking moaning.

If me and people like me DID stay at home thepubs would be out of business so fast there'd be nowhere for the football crowd to watch thier scabby matches.

Dave! · 12-03-2007 10:27PM

Or maybe the football crowd could watch their scabby matches without the pleasure of your scoffing and sighing as a soundtrack.

Pighead · 12-03-2007 10:30PM

Degsy wrote:

If me and people like me DID stay at home thepubs would be out of business so fast there'd be nowhere for the football crowd to watch thier scabby matches.

Bollox, 98% of men enjoy the noble art of watching football, the other 2% are bitch slapped and aren't allowed to watch it. Listen Degsy, don't be letting your missus bully you, nip it in the bud now unless you want to end up like Norman Bates.

Degsy · 12-03-2007 10:33PM

DaveMcG wrote:

Or maybe the football crowd could watch their scabby matches without the pleasure of your scoffing and sighing as a soundtrack.

Why,would i be drowning out the roaring of 20,000 english fans?Why,if people just want to watch a match do they have to have it blaring?Cant they just watch the men in thier shorts running around after a ball without the attendant racket?

copacetic · 12-03-2007 10:41PM

Degsy wrote:

Why,would i be drowning out the roaring of 20,000 english fans?Why,if people just want to watch a match do they have to have it blaring?Cant they just watch the men in thier shorts running around after a ball without the attendant racket?

sweet jesus, what did soccer ever do to you? talk about having a chip on your shoulder!

There are plenty of pubs around that don't have games on and don't allow music/loud talking and mobile phones etc where like minded people can relax without the sport on, why not try them?

Next you will be complaning that pubs are selling beer and everyone who drinks it is loud and annoying and in your face.

Chucky the tree · 12-03-2007 10:43PM

Degsy wrote:

Why,would i be drowning out the roaring of 20,000 english fans?Why,if people just want to watch a match do they have to have it blaring?Cant they just watch the men in thier shorts running around after a ball without the attendant racket?

If they were to mute the sound we'd be forced to listening to your and your mates moaning like a pair of women as to why you hate football.

Dave! · 12-03-2007 10:43PM

Degsy wrote:

Why,would i be drowning out the roaring of 20,000 english fans?Why,if people just want to watch a match do they have to have it blaring?Cant they just watch the men in thier shorts running around after a ball without the attendant racket?

In my experience most places do have the sound at a reasonable level unless there's an important match on. Maybe you should frequent better pubs.

If there's a decent match on, eg. Man Utd vs Liverpool, then it will attract a large number of people, and I would think the sound would be raised a considerable amount so that (a) the atmosphere in the stadium can be recreated to an extent in the pub, (b) the commentators can be heard over the high number of chattering people, and (c) because most people there will be watching the match, and so the establishment will obviously be catering for them.

If you want to read a book then (a) go to a better pub, (b) don't go to the pub when there's a match on (ring ahead?), or (c) find somewhere else to go.

Pighead · 12-03-2007 10:44PM

DaveMcG wrote:

If you want to read a book then (a) go to a better pub, (b) don't go to the pub when there's a match on (ring ahead?), or (c) find somewhere else to go.

(d) grow a pair of testicles.

county · 12-03-2007 10:47PM

taxi for Degsy

Degsy · 12-03-2007 10:52PM

Yeah it would be a pity you couldnt hear the commentaters saying "at the end of the day" and "over the full 90 minutes" and the other rubbish they've been saying since the 60's.For such a "manly" sport its followers are very thin skinned!

Pighead · 12-03-2007 10:56PM

Degsy wrote:

Yeah it would be a pity you couldnt hear the commentaters saying "at the end of the day" and "over the full 90 minutes" and the other rubbish they've been saying since the 60's.For such a "manly" sport its followers are very thin skinned!

Alright then hotshot, what "manly" sports are you into then?

copacetic · 12-03-2007 11:00PM

Pighead wrote:

Alright then hotshot, what "manly" sports are you into then?

One where the 'manly' players aren't 'ramming it down everybody else's throats' in their 'little shorts'??

Is Degsy trying to say somehing about us, the players or himself? I see undertones of something here people, possibly latent.

humbert · 12-03-2007 11:02PM

I have sod all interest in watching football but wouldn't begrudge those who do want to go to the pub with a few friends, have a few drinks and watch a match.

What does annoy me is when you go into a normal pub for a drink and a chat, it's not too crowded, some ambient noise, good atmosphere, the way a pub should be, but no, instead they have some god awful pop music playing so loud you have to yell at the top of your voice to be heard across the table.

Dave! · 12-03-2007 11:05PM

humbert wrote:

I have sod all interest in watching football but wouldn't begrudge those who do want to go to the pub with a few friends, have a few drinks and watch a match.

What does annoy me is when you go into a normal pub for a drink and a chat, it's not too crowded, some ambient noise, good atmosphere, the way a pub should be, but no, instead they have some god awful pop music playing so loud you have to yell at the top of your voice to be heard across the table.

I wouldn't begrudge those who want to go to the pub and have a chat without watching the match, and if they asked I'd have no trouble lowering the football.

But when they say smug things like 'football idiocy', I'd be more inclined to glass them :rolleyes:

5starpool · 12-03-2007 11:08PM

Stupidest thread....ever.

On a Sunday afternoon I would like you to find a pub that has Sheffied Wednesday vs Accrington Stanley (or the like) on at full blast. They will likely have the premiership games on and will cater for the people that like to go out for a few pints to watch the match. There are loads of pubs that don't have football on speakers, just go to one of them, or go to Keoghs or the stags head that aren't exactly awash with TVs.

Alternatively, stay at home and wait for the summer.

Pubs and football

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