What it means to be a LOI fan.

OPENROAD · 22-09-2009 12:28AM

dor83 wrote: »

I just feel that for you to say that someone can only be a fan of a team from their local area is incorrect, imo a true fan is not defined so easily.

+1

DSB · 22-09-2009 12:30AM

dor83 wrote: »

The only club there that is in my local area are Kells teams and they are amateur teams but you said that someone can only be a real fan of their local team, so you are saying that someone from my area can not be a real fan of any professional club.

Live football is very important to me, I have attended football matches in every country I have been to including LOI games and going to see games in the womens U-17 World Cup while I was in NZ. This is because first and foremost I would say I am a football fan and would watch any live game I can afford to go to, but I would also say I am an Inter fan because they are the club I actually get emotional about. I just feel that for you to say that someone can only be a fan of a team from their local area is incorrect, imo a true fan is not defined so easily.

How many Inter games have you been to? Just out of interest, I'm not gonna reply with 'omgz thats pathetic' or anything like that. Just wondering how it compares to the Irish Premiership fan considering travel being that bit even more difficult than England

dor83 · 22-09-2009 12:37AM

DSB wrote: »

How many Inter games have you been to? Just out of interest, I'm not gonna reply with 'omgz thats pathetic' or anything like that. Just wondering how it compares to the Irish Premiership fan considering travel being that bit even more difficult than England

I don't know exactly but it is 50+, I was a season ticket holder until 2 seasons ago when I went to live in NZ and would have one now if I was staying in Europe for the season but unfortunately I won't be. I actually think it is just as easy to get to Italy if you organise it right and the season tickets are dirt cheap there, Inters start from €130 and include all 19 home games and 2 free cup games.

Iago · 22-09-2009 09:57AM

DSB wrote: »

Supporting your chosen top Premiership side through thick and thin isn't really that tricky is it? Thin isn't really that thin like is it? Did your club not make the CL semifinals this year or something? Oh boohoo.

and you see this is where a big part of your misguided (imo) opinion falls down.

You being a fan of an LOI team is absolutely no different to me being a fan of an EPL team. We're both passionate about the success of our clubs, we probably both spend far too much money in supporting those clubs. We've both had periods where our club isn't doing well and periods where we're on top of the world.

We've been abused and pilliored for our choices and we still stand with our heads held high and a smile on our faces because this is our club, our team, our life.

I've been a fan of football since I was 5 years old, I've been a Manchester United supporter since then. I've gone to games all over Europe, I've been to Champions League finals and League Cup games against such giants as Port Vale & Watford. I watch every reserve and academy game. When we win I'm ecstatic, when we lose I'm miserable and unapproachable for days.

I live breathe and sleep football, and specificially United and to try and equate the fact that my club is in no danger of going out of business (although that's not really true is it?) with how "real" a fan I am is ridiculous at best.

GlasnevinRed · 22-09-2009 11:35AM

Not another thread turning into LOI vs The World, it's getting ridiculous at this stage. I'm a Shels fan and even I'm getting sick of it. Fair enough if there's one thread on the topic but there's no need for the rest of them to go that way..

And on the topic of following other LOI clubs in Europe. Couldn't agree more with Anto. I laughed when RBS beat Bohs this year and even bought my Bohs mate a can of Red Bull the next day.

_blank_ · 22-09-2009 11:43AM

GlasnevinRed wrote: »

Not another thread turning into LOI vs The World, it's getting ridiculous at this stage. I'm a Shels fan and even I'm getting sick of it. Fair enough if there's one thread on the topic but there's no need for the rest of them to go that way..

Amen Brother

DSB · 22-09-2009 12:03PM

Iago wrote: »

and you see this is where a big part of your misguided (imo) opinion falls down.

You being a fan of an LOI team is absolutely no different to me being a fan of an EPL team. We're both passionate about the success of our clubs, we probably both spend far too much money in supporting those clubs. We've both had periods where our club isn't doing well and periods where we're on top of the world.

We've been abused and pilliored for our choices and we still stand with our heads held high and a smile on our faces because this is our club, our team, our life.

I've been a fan of football since I was 5 years old, I've been a Manchester United supporter since then. I've gone to games all over Europe, I've been to Champions League finals and League Cup games against such giants as Port Vale & Watford. I watch every reserve and academy game. When we win I'm ecstatic, when we lose I'm miserable and unapproachable for days.

I live breathe and sleep football, and specificially United and to try and equate the fact that my club is in no danger of going out of business (although that's not really true is it?) with how "real" a fan I am is ridiculous at best.

Its completely different but whatever.

ShooterSF · 22-09-2009 12:06PM

DSB wrote: »

Well see I can expand on why I think that, but you've already informed me that you disagree with what would have been my counter argument. I'll do it, but I already know you're going to disagree, so we might be going down a slippery slope.

See in my world, geographical location means everything, and I'm going to use GAA as a reference point, if I went onto the GAA forum today, and told people I was a Kerry fan, or even not the full gloryhunting fan, maybe I said I was from Cork. Or Tyrone, theres a few good teams to choose from, like in the Premiership. If I was to go on there and say that I'd be laughed out of the forum, they'd probably assume I was a wum and ban me. Now I understand, in Dublin especially, that it might be that tiny bit harder to have that county pride, considering theres 5 football clubs to choose from and Sporting Fingal. But cmon nobody needs to be that pernickety. Also I'm sure not everyone has a LOI club in their county, but I don't understand why that should mean people shouldn't support their local club.

In England there is a pretty decent support for non-league clubs and my Football Manager playing exploits tell me that there are clubs in the Blue Square South and North who have higher attendances than some LOI Premier clubs. Obviously thats a culture thing, and I know people can give me a million reasons why the LOI is not worth supporting, but in the end in my opinion a fan is someone who supports their local club through thick and thin, whether its Manchester United or Tralee Dynamos. Supporting your chosen top Premiership side through thick and thin isn't really that tricky is it? Thin isn't really that thin like is it? Did your club not make the CL semifinals this year or something? Oh boohoo.

The bit in bold is where I think a lot of LOI fans make a mistake. I didn't chose Man UTD really. I was about 6 and was fascinated with their style of play, their players etc. I developed a bond for the club the same way I'm sure you have for your local club. Ok you may have watched your's live, I watched mine in pubs drinking coke. But that's my point. Me supporting Dundalk would be like you supporting Man Utd there would be no emotional bond to it.
To answer another question asked of me, do I support the Irish team? Yes, again I grew up being brought out with other fans to cheer them on I remember Italia 90 (was 6 at the time too) in a pub with my old man supporting them. Does that negate my geographical argument? I don't think so... I don't support Meath in the GAA as I have no interest or Ireland in the rugby.
I'm not even trying to have a go at LOI fans here. And I wouldn't dare mock the clubs or their fans. All I'm doing is standing up to claims that I can't feel the same connection for my "foreign" club as you do your local one. Because even if you couldn't, I can.

DSB · 22-09-2009 12:31PM

ShooterSF wrote: »

The bit in bold is where I think a lot of LOI fans make a mistake. I didn't chose Man UTD really. I was about 6 and was fascinated with their style of play, their players etc. I developed a bond for the club the same way I'm sure you have for your local club. Ok you may have watched your's live, I watched mine in pubs drinking coke. But that's my point. Me supporting Dundalk would be like you supporting Man Utd there would be no emotional bond to it.
To answer another question asked of me, do I support the Irish team? Yes, again I grew up being brought out with other fans to cheer them on I remember Italia 90 (was 6 at the time too) in a pub with my old man supporting them. Does that negate my geographical argument? I don't think so... I don't support Meath in the GAA as I have no interest or Ireland in the rugby.
I'm not even trying to have a go at LOI fans here. And I wouldn't dare mock the clubs or their fans. All I'm doing is standing up to claims that I can't feel the same connection for my "foreign" club as you do your local one. Because even if you couldn't, I can.

Of course you chose them. Fair enough you were 6 and making choices is a bit different, but lets not over romanticise it and make out like it was some kind of vocation.

ShooterSF · 22-09-2009 12:36PM

DSB wrote: »

Of course you chose them. Fair enough you were 6 and making choices is a bit different, but lets not over romanticise it and make out like it was some kind of vocation.

Well in the same way as you chose to get a crush or fall in love with someone. It's not a logical choice. I didn't sit there one day and say who am I going to invest myself emotionally in?

dor83 · 22-09-2009 12:37PM

DSB wrote: »

Of course you chose them. Fair enough you were 6 and making choices is a bit different, but lets not over romanticise it and make out like it was some kind of vocation.

But if somebody from Meath chooses to support any LOI club how is that any different to choosing a club from abroad?

ShooterSF · 22-09-2009 12:39PM

GlasnevinRed wrote: »

Not another thread turning into LOI vs The World, it's getting ridiculous at this stage. I'm a Shels fan and even I'm getting sick of it. Fair enough if there's one thread on the topic but there's no need for the rest of them to go that way..

And on the topic of following other LOI clubs in Europe. Couldn't agree more with Anto. I laughed when RBS beat Bohs this year and even bought my Bohs mate a can of Red Bull the next day.

Some of it is unfair bashing of the LOI but then some of the thread (like my own involvement) is standing up for my support of a foreign club being bashed/mocked by LOI fans. It's not all one way I'm afraid...

DSB · 22-09-2009 12:58PM

ShooterSF wrote: »

Well in the same way as you chose to get a crush or fall in love with someone. It's not a logical choice. I didn't sit there one day and say who am I going to invest myself emotionally in?

Yeah but if you like football you were always going to pick a team to support. Alot of people like women but don't have to pick one to invest emotionally in until.........

dor83 wrote: »

But if somebody from Meath chooses to support any LOI club how is that any different to choosing a club from abroad?

Because its still your local club like. Google maps tell me that Drogheda is a 40 minute drive for you. Not so bad eh? Google maps also tell me that Milan is a 21 hour and 18 minutes away from you.

GlasnevinRed · 22-09-2009 01:19PM

ShooterSF wrote: »

Some of it is unfair bashing of the LOI but then some of the thread (like my own involvement) is standing up for my support of a foreign club being bashed/mocked by LOI fans. It's not all one way I'm afraid...

I never said it was all one way. And while I agree with lots of the points on the LOI side it still doesn't make it any less annoying.

ShooterSF · 22-09-2009 01:37PM

GlasnevinRed wrote: »

I never said it was all one way. And while I agree with lots of the points on the LOI side it still doesn't make it any less annoying.

I agree on the bit in bold. I like the "to each his own" motto. Unfortunately some threads LOI fans open to discuss their league or games gets a few smarmy remarks from others which is stupid but I'd like to think a majority of us EPL fans stay out of them or actually offer some genuine discussion but and this is a big BUT some LOI threads are like loaded dice (like some of the Op's recent ones) taking digs at "Barstoolers" or non-"real football fans" and yet these people get angry when fans standing up for who they support come on to the thread.
To be honest I think *some* LOI fans would rather we argue over each other's support than have the EPL fans ignore their threads. I also thing some EPL fans enjoy those arguments too unfortunately.

dor83 · 22-09-2009 02:06PM

DSB wrote: »

Because its still your local club like. Google maps tell me that Drogheda is a 40 minute drive for you. Not so bad eh? Google maps also tell me that Milan is a 21 hour and 18 minutes away from you.

It's not my local club though, the easiest LOI club for me to get to would be Bohs because I don't have a car and even they are in a different county. Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to say there is something wrong people being fans of LOI clubs, or any others for that matter, I respect their choice and wish them well. I am just amazed that people who complain about others belittling them for supporting the club they do but at the same time trying to belittle others because they don't support a a club that they feel is appropriate because of where they live, double standards imo. There is a difference between a football fan and a fan of a single club imo, but it has nothing to do with where you come from.

GlasnevinRed · 22-09-2009 02:23PM

ShooterSF wrote: »

I agree on the bit in bold. I like the "to each his own" motto. Unfortunately some threads LOI fans open to discuss their league or games gets a few smarmy remarks from others which is stupid but I'd like to think a majority of us EPL fans stay out of them or actually offer some genuine discussion but and this is a big BUT some LOI threads are like loaded dice (like some of the Op's recent ones) taking digs at "Barstoolers" or non-"real football fans" and yet these people get angry when fans standing up for who they support come on to the thread.
To be honest I think *some* LOI fans would rather we argue over each other's support than have the EPL fans ignore their threads. I also thing some EPL fans enjoy those arguments too unfortunately.

I'm still better than you because I'm an LOI fan though.:rolleyes:

What it means to be a LOI fan.

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