Why do Irish people support English teams?

Bonniedog · 04-06-2019 7:29pm

Midlife wrote: »

It's like asking an Irish Basketball fan why they bother with the warriors and don't just support a local club.

I'd imagine people with a genuine interest in basketball here either play or support a local club.

I like watching it the odd time I'm burning the midnight oil and love watching GSW, but I certainly don't have an emotional attachment to them!

Same applies to NFL teams although I do know people who lived over there and have liking for the team in the city they were.

Let's face it, the EPL thing is a residue of our historic connection, good and bad, with Britain. I don't like EPL and find some of their supporters annoying and sad, but I don't regard them as being less Irish or anything. no more than people who spent a lot of their time watching British soaps.

Just nt the same thing as being engaged with real life things happening your own community; be it soccer, GAA, rugby, basketball, cricket, bowls, whatever! Not a uniquely Irish phenomenon. Japanese are disturbingly obsessed with Man U, NY Yankees and foreign crap of all varieities, for sucha cultured people!

Greyfox · 04-06-2019 8:44pm

gormdubhgorm wrote: »

Plus when 'we' (my new team Holland) play the Republic of Ireland, I will naturally chose the Dutch as 'we' are a better team.
'We' play much better football...
But yet an Irish person who supporters a Premier League team (top six team usually) thinks this behaviour is the most natural thing in the world with thier new team.

It is the most natural thing in the world and your trying to say apples and oranges are the same thing when they are actually very different. Ireland/Dublin represent where I was born so I'd never wear the jersey of another country/county as I am Irish/a Dub. clubs are different, I was born and raised in Crumlin, St pats and Shamrock rovers are my nearest clubs, both very good LOI teams and a good Friday night option but neither club represent my community and I could pick either club. People might find the we strange with foreign clubs but I don't see the foreign clubs complaining

gormdubhgorm · 04-06-2019 8:52pm

Greyfox wrote: »

It is the most natural thing in the world and your trying to say apples and oranges are the same thing when they are actually very different. Ireland/Dublin represent where I was born so I'd never wear the jersey of another country/county as I am Irish/a Dub. clubs are different, I was born and raised in Crumlin, St pats and Shamrock rovers are my nearest clubs, both very good LOI teams and a good Friday night option but neither club represent my community and I could pick either club. People might find the we strange with foreign clubs but I don't see the foreign clubs complaining

Of course the foreign clubs won't complain they get more money!
It is not apples and oranges.
Both are teams and they represent an area.
A country is just a larger extension of what a club team is.

In fact, when Ireland were relatively successful on the national stage the players used to refer to it as like being in a 'club side'.

Basically what you are saying is that LOI clubs have lost most of thier community to global brands.

I don't see how you think it is the most natural thing in the world supporting a foreign club?
That baffles me if I am honest.
Granted if you had an Irish club you supported and a foreign club as well because you like soccer - I could understand that a bit where a person just loves the sport.
But to just support a big foreign club and say you are a fan of soccer itself, does not stack up for me.

Astria · 04-06-2019 8:56pm

DEFTLEFTHAND wrote: »

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 .

Yeah support the English teams and then give out yards about the English ðŸ˜‚ beats me too!!

blade1 · 04-06-2019 9:18pm

Astria wrote: »

Yeah support the English teams and then give out yards about the English &#55357;&#56834; beats me too!!

Why?
I could support my local team but my neighbours could be dicks.

odyssey06 · 04-06-2019 9:42pm

gormdubhgorm wrote: »

Of course the foreign clubs won't complain they get more money!
It is not apples and oranges.
Both are teams and they represent an area.
A country is just a larger extension of what a club team is.
In fact, when Ireland were relatively successful on the national stage the players used to refer to it as like being in a 'club side'.

A country is not even remotely a larger extension of a club team.
Players of a country cannot transfer from one country to another.
There are no transfer fees.
At any point in time the number of clubs from a given city playing in the main leagues of a country rises and falls waxes and wanes.

Clubs and countries are entirely different entities in origin and nature.
GAA county teams are more like international soccer teams.

When the Irish players described it as a club team they meant in atmosphere that it had a small squad of the same set of players over time, instead of the choppy-changey nature of the larger international squads of other countries.
They said it precisely because it was NOT a normal expectation but because it was so remarkable, that here was an international team with the atmosphere of a club team.

There is simply no comparison between club teams - some of which were formed for people in Sheffield who could play football on Wednesdays, some for the workers of a particular factory such as Arsenal - and political entities recognised internationally.

Basically what you are saying is that LOI clubs have lost most of thier community to global brands.

No, if they lost their community to anyone they lost it to the local GAA club and county team - or rather, didn't lose it but GAA got there first and are entrenched in almost every parish. And if GAA satisifies those for whom community is the be all and end all when it comes to sport, for those who want the glory, glamour, the flair, the drama and the sense that what they are watching is where 'the action is' on a worldwide stage, the natural place to look is the top divisions of England.
And many Irish sports fans are capable of appreciating both qualities.

That top divisions in England and Scotland are also where players winning 95% of the caps for the Republic of Ireland international soccer team have plied their trade.

When you factor in common language, common travel area and the media penetration of not just soccer and Match of the Day but British TV, media, the BBC in general into Ireland, the interest is easily explicable.

Would we have a domestic soccer league on par with say that of Norway or Denmark if we didn't have a GAA? Or would the close proximity of the 'pull' of the English clubs have always meant Irish players plying their trade there?
I don't know, but if you want to know why Irish people support English soccer teams, the answer is in that mix of factors.

Greyfox · 04-06-2019 9:58pm

gormdubhgorm wrote: »

I don't see how you think it is the most natural thing in the world supporting a foreign club?
That baffles me if I am honest.
Granted if you had an Irish club you supported and a foreign club as well because you like soccer - I could understand that a bit where a person just loves the sport.
But to just support a big foreign club and say you are a fan of soccer itself, does not stack up for me.

I watch lots and lots of football, not just the EPL and would watch a big LOI game if I happened to have the time therefor I'm a fan/lover of football. All that matters is the emotional connection and I feel that connection with my foreign club. I love there history, there former players, what the club means to some people, the memories I have with people I watched matches with and all the wonderful banter and conversations I've had with rival fans, I absolutely adore the Liverpool/Manu rivalry and with English football I have something in common with so many other Irish people.

Omackeral · 04-06-2019 10:22pm

YFlyer wrote: »

The Yid army

It was actually the game when Roy Carroll spilled Mendes' halfway line shot about 2 yards over the goal line and it wasn't given. Suppose that was memorable in fairness and had a great view of it.

D14Rugby · 04-06-2019 10:23pm

The irony of the exact same posters that said football isn't tribal defending saying "we".

Bobeagleburger · 04-06-2019 10:25pm

LOI v EPL debates are always amusing. A lot of inner bitterness emerges!

Omackeral · 04-06-2019 10:30pm

Greyfox wrote: »

I absolutely adore the Liverpool/Manu rivalry and with English football I have something in common with so many other Irish people.

I couldn't hate it over here anymore than I do. Apart from calling each other Mancs, Scousers, bin-dippers and scum, there is zero difference between an Irish United fan and an Irish Liverpool fan. They're the exact same. Both love a team from the NW of England that play in red and are historically huge. Fans of both over here go on as if they're polar opposites but they're the exact same!

Omackeral · 04-06-2019 10:31pm

RoboKlopp wrote: »

LOI v EPL debates are always amusing. A lot of inner bitterness emerges!

A lot of logic and hypocrisy too.

Bobeagleburger · 04-06-2019 10:37pm

Omackeral wrote: »

A lot of logic and hypocrisy too.

Oh, that's for sure. Full of it.

Bonniedog · 04-06-2019 10:42pm

The Manc and Scouser thing. Pathetic.

Wasn't someone murdered outside a pub in Wicklow 6/7 years ago over a fight over this sort of cr@p?

Here's a question, and I've asked it myself of some of the dimmer members of the species: How many people in Manchester or Liverpool follow Arsenal or Celtic? Or Barcelona or Munich? Or Bohs or cork city?

Probably be sectioned :-)

gormdubhgorm · 04-06-2019 11:17pm

odyssey06 wrote: »

A country is not even remotely a larger extension of a club team.
Players of a country cannot transfer from one country to another.

Yes they can transfer from one country to another - Alex Bruce, Declan Rice etc.
The countries are becoming more and more like defacto clubs.

What is the difference why can I not switch the country I support, like Irish Premier League (mostly top six) supporters do with thier clubs?

You as a Premier League supporter switches clubs because you just decide to pick this team- you manufacturer an 'emotional connection' as many do who play for thier adopted country (because they are not good enough to play for thier chosen nation).

How is it frowned upon and not the done thing for a soccer supporter to switch support to a better country a more glamorous one?

You switch clubs? You pick the club that are winning at that time.
Players switch countries as a 'career move' in many cases.
Yet for me to switch my support from the Irish soccer team to the Netherlands team would horrify people. I could say I like the jerseys and style of play there is an 'emotional connection'.

What is the difference between:
1) Locals from one nation supporting foreign clubs from another nation, instead of thier own?
2) Nationals from one nation supporting foreign nations, instead of thier own?
3) Or players making a 'career move' to play for another nation not of his birth?

Explain this nuance to me.
Because I think that is the nub of it.

Why is it OK for you to chose the top six English club, a player can chose a country (for an international career)
But I can't chose a country I like to support that are better and more glamorous than Ireland? :rolleyes:

gormdubhgorm · 04-06-2019 11:36pm

odyssey06 wrote: »

No, if they lost their community to anyone they lost it to the local GAA club and county team - or rather, didn't lose it but GAA got there first and are entrenched in almost every parish. And if GAA satisifies those for whom community is the be all and end all when it comes to sport, for those who want the glory, glamour, the flair, the drama and the sense that what they are watching is where 'the action is' on a worldwide stage, the natural place to look is the top divisions of England.
And many Irish sports fans are capable of appreciating both qualities.

So you are basically telling me that the Irish soccer fan in general is a snob who only wants the designer stuff?
The own brand does not appeal to them because of successful marketing.
There can be flair and drama at lower levels of football as well.
There are many divisions in English football, all the supporters there do not solely gravitate towards the top six teams.
People who like soccer can get as much joy from the sport, by following lower level teams.

Some even got fed up of the cost and commericalisation of thier local team in England.

Greyfox · 05-06-2019 12:10am

Bonniedog wrote: »

How many people in Manchester or Liverpool follow Arsenal or Celtic?

Very few but that's due to those citys having much better teams than Ireland has and there clubs having a far, far bigger impact on the city. LOI football doesn't have a huge impact generally which is why some people like me don't feel like it's part of there community. LOI deserves better but it's competing against so many other things

Bonniedog · 05-06-2019 12:34am

Greyfox wrote: »

Very few but that's due to those citys having much better teams than Ireland has and there clubs having a far, far bigger impact on the city. LOI football doesn't have a huge impact generally which is why some people like me don't feel like it's part of there community. LOI deserves better but it's competing against so many other things

Well better example might be why don't people in Stockport support Man u or Man city, or people in Tranmere support Liverpool or Everton?

Because they have local pride and connection, perhaps.

dxhound2005 · 05-06-2019 1:11am

Bonniedog wrote: »

Well better example might be why don't people in Stockport support Man u or Man city, or people in Tranmere support Liverpool or Everton?

Because they have local pride and connection, perhaps.

There are Celtic supporters clubs all over England. Including four in Manchester. How would anyone here know how many Celtic supporters there are in different English cities?

http://www.celtic-badges.com/csc-information-england.html

gormdubhgorm · 05-06-2019 1:16am

dxhound2005 wrote: »

There are Celtic supporters clubs all over England. Including four in Manchester. How would anyone here know how many Celtic supporters there are in different English cities?

http://www.celtic-badges.com/csc-information-england.html

Some of the names are interesting anyway

'Birmingham Sons of Erin'

My favorite is:

'Black Country Che Guevara'

YFlyer · 05-06-2019 1:34am

Omackeral wrote: »

It was actually the game when Roy Carroll spilled Mendes' halfway line shot about 2 yards over the goal line and it wasn't given. Suppose that was memorable in fairness and had a great view of it.

The linesman couldn't help the Utd scarf from covering his eyes when he was racing back towards the corner flag.

gormdubhgorm · 05-06-2019 1:41am

This American Soccer fella calls soccer fans who do not watch thier local team fraudulent.

But an English fella argues,

Surely it’s time football supporters were allowed the same geographical freedom as players, without fear of being branded a "glory hunter" or "plastic fan"?

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/the-filter/10735258/Whats-wrong-with-not-supporting-my-local-team.html

This English fella discusses why he swapped teams -

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/thinking-man/10658105/Why-arent-football-fans-allowed-to-swap-teams.html

And he discuss some nuance about inconsistencies as he sees it in people who are critical of him

Another guy just got fed up of his club he said he supported (much like an Irish fan of an English club would from a distance)

But he changed it when he got sick of the team, it was easy for him to let go it seemed.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/when-saturday-comes-blog/2013/mar/14/football-club-miserable-support-another-team

05-06-2019 2:06am

gormdubhgorm wrote: »

If you really love a sport you would watch it at all levels.
Ireland Premier League supporters do not so much as love the sport, they love the brand the glamour.
When it was called 'the best league in the world' for decades (when it plainly wasn't) the Irish supporter really believed it.

This argument simply can't be aimed exclusively at Irish fans of EPL clubs. How many Dublin football fans will be turning up for the Summer only in Croke Pk to see the 'drive for five'? How many of these were at O'Byrne Cup games early in the year or at NFL games down the country or at Dublin club games? Is the summer only fan merely a lover of the 'brand and the glamour' and not a lover of the sport of Gaelic football itself as well?

gormdubhgorm · 05-06-2019 2:31am

Deleted User wrote: »

This argument simply can't be aimed at Irish fans of EPL clubs. How many Dublin football fans will be turning up for the Summer only in Croke Pk to see the 'drive for five'? How many of these were at O'Byrne Cup games early in the year or at NFL games down the country or at Dublin club games? Is the summer only fan merely a lover of the 'brand and the glamour' and not a lover of the sport of Gaelic football itself?

Those sunshine 'supporters' that go GAA games for the big games are definitely there for the glamour. They are there for the event more-so than the sport itself.
It is the same is all sports.

But the Irish EPL supporters are particularly insincere in thier approach.
Not only do they support a foreign club which they chose, But the chose the club who are winning/or have a good chance of winning.
It was not Huddersfield, Cardiff and Fulham last year for Irish EPL supporters.

If Irish EPL supporters were not only after the glamour and brand why do they only support top six teams in the majority of cases?
As far as most Irish EPL supporters are concerned the bottom half of the table in the Premier League is an irrelevance.
They could hardly be even described as even as Premier League followers in the true sense as they are only interested one half of the Premier league at a push.

Sam Quentin · 05-06-2019 2:45am

Thank God ME MAMMY got me a Dundalk FC school bag....... C'mon D Town

05-06-2019 2:59am

gormdubhgorm wrote: »

Those sunshine 'supporters' that go GAA games for the big games are definitely there for the glamour. They are there for the event more-so than the sport itself.
It is the same is all sports.

But the Irish EPL supporters are particularly insincere in thier approach.
Not only do they support a foreign club which they chose, But the chose the club who are winning/or have a good chance of winning.
It was not Huddersfield, Cardiff and Fulham last year for Irish EPL supporters.

If Irish EPL supporters were not only after the glamour and brand why do they only support top six teams in the majority of cases?
As far as most Irish EPL supporters are concerned the bottom half of the table in the Premier League is an irrelevance.

They could hardly be even described as even as Premier League followers in the true sense as they are only interested one half of the Premier league at a push.

Rubbish. If say you grew up in Westport in Mayo (like me), wheres my 'local' LoI club? The nearest one ever has been Galway (50 miles away). The next nearest are 75 to 80 miles way (Sligo, Longford etc). Heres a map of showing a distribution of LoI clubs (not all are shown). The LoI is not relevant to many people who like soccer in this country. Thats not intended as a derogatory comment btw, but one based on geography.

05-06-2019 3:03am

i support a team in the closest high-quality league of the sport im most interested in

im given to believe this is fairly common

SonOfGoat · 05-06-2019 3:08am

OP, you're a muppet with too much time on your hands. Your question is nonsense. Answer your own question by asking yourself why do you support an english team, your a ****ehouse looking for attention with all your bizarre threads.

jk23 · 05-06-2019 8:05am

The Gaa also has an influence on the LOI... As mentioned a couple of posts ago, will a mayo man really support Galway United? I don't think so but maybe I am wrong. Same with Sligo rovers...

Turtyturd · 05-06-2019 8:26am

Greyfox wrote: »

LOI deserves better but it's competing against so many other things

It doesn’t though, and unfortunately those associated with it having this attitude is why it’s never improved to the stage of being an attraction to most football fans in this country.

You can’t just put out a sub standard product and think it deserves to be supported because it’s local. Will be interesting to see who gets the blame once Delaney is gone and there’s no improvement in quality, increased ire towards ‘barstoolers’ perhaps?

D14Rugby · 05-06-2019 8:43am

I love the "how could someone from mayo support a team from sligo/Galway" argument because equally as valid is "how could someone from Ireland support a team from England"

paulbok · 05-06-2019 8:46am

Deleted User wrote: »

Rubbish. If say you grew up in Westport in Mayo (like me), wheres my 'local' LoI club? The nearest one ever has been Galway (50 miles away). The next nearest are 75 to 80 miles way (Sligo, Longford etc). Heres a map of showing a distribution of LoI clubs (not all are shown). The LoI is not relevant to many people who like soccer in this country. Thats not intended as a derogatory comment btw, but one based on geography.

jk23 wrote: »

The Gaa also has an influence on the LOI... As mentioned a couple of posts ago, will a mayo man really support Galway United? I don't think so but maybe I am wrong. Same with Sligo rovers...

These are the reasons I don't have a 'local' LOI team. I live in Roscommon, approx half way between Sligo and Athlone both an hour away so feel no connection to them. Longford Town are a lot closer but feel no connection to a team in another county due to GAA divisions.
I'm well aware the same reasons can be held moreso against supporting an English team, but I had to pick someone and when I was 5/6 when I chose to support Man Utd. I was unaware the LOI even existed. English teams were on TV, Irish were not. First to market and all that.
I did go to a lot of Bohs and Shels games for a while when I was in college but never felt any affinity to either.

odyssey06 · 05-06-2019 9:14am

gormdubhgorm wrote: »

Yes they can transfer from one country to another - Alex Bruce, Declan Rice etc.
The countries are becoming more and more like defacto clubs.

What is the difference why can I not switch the country I support, like Irish Premier League (mostly top six) supporters do with thier clubs?

You as a Premier League supporter switches clubs because you just decide to pick this team- you manufacturer an 'emotional connection' as many do who play for thier adopted country (because they are not good enough to play for thier chosen nation).

How is it frowned upon and not the done thing for a soccer supporter to switch support to a better country a more glamorous one?

You switch clubs? You pick the club that are winning at that time.
Players switch countries as a 'career move' in many cases.
Yet for me to switch my support from the Irish soccer team to the Netherlands team would horrify people. I could say I like the jerseys and style of play there is an 'emotional connection'.

What is the difference between:
1) Locals from one nation supporting foreign clubs from another nation, instead of thier own?
2) Nationals from one nation supporting foreign nations, instead of thier own?
3) Or players making a 'career move' to play for another nation not of his birth?

Explain this nuance to me.
Because I think that is the nub of it.

Why is it OK for you to chose the top six English club, a player can chose a country (for an international career)
But I can't chose a country I like to support that are better and more glamorous than Ireland? :rolleyes:

Players can play for any club team in the world. They can be transferred mid-season. They can be transferred for fees between clubs, or when their contract expires.
They can play for two different clubs in the same city or country in the same league in the same season.
Clubs can field players of any nationality.
English clubs fields Irish players who would not be eligible for the English national side e.g. Seamus Coleman & Everton.
If Everton played Bohemians in a European game, and you're from Phibsborough you would kinda be expected to be cheering for Bohs.
If you are from Clontarf or Donegal, there'd be no expectations. If you are from Killybegs likely you'd be expected to cheer for Everton.

Players cannot simply pick and choose what country to play for out of all the countries in the world, they have to meet defined eligibility criteria.
Once they have played a competitive match for a country as an adult, they are locked into that country for life.
If they have eligibility to multiple countries, they have a choice as to which country to declare for. There is no transfer fee, no waiting for contract to expire. It is an entirely personal decision.
Declan Rice could opt for England or Ireland, he couldn't opt for Netherlands. He currently plays for West Ham, he could in future play for Ajax or PSV.

If you were from Luxembourg, cheering on Netherlands would be more understandable, I guess because the country you'd be expected to cheer for, even if they are in same pyramid, aren't (even periodically) at the same competitive level as Netherlands. If ROI didn't quality for a finals competitions, cheering on Netherlands would also be totally understandable. But if Ireland are playing Netherlands in a playoff, it will be thought strange for an Irish person to want Netherlands to win. But it's a free country, you are free to do that and people are free to think that's a little strange.

If you move to the Netherlands, live there for at least a year and pick up a slight Dutch accent, you'd probably be alright either way!

Greyfox · 05-06-2019 9:28am

gormdubhgorm wrote: »

This American Soccer fella calls soccer fans who do not watch thier local team fraudulent.

...But an English fella argues,

Surely it’s time football supporters were allowed the same geographical freedom as players, without fear of being branded a "glory hunter" or "plastic fan"?

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/the-filter/10735258/Whats-wrong-with-not-supporting-my-local-team.html

I am 100% on the side of the English fella, some very good points made in the telegraph article. You should try to support a local team as well but if you dont it doesnt make you any less of a football fan

Bonniedog · 05-06-2019 9:36am

gormdubhgorm wrote: »

Some of the names are interesting anyway
'Birmingham Sons of Erin'

My favorite is:

'Black Country Che Guevara'

:eek:

Is there a Coventry Heinrich Himmler?

Regarding point re Dublin Summer supporters, valid enough.

But Dublin, and Mayo indeed, would have big attendances for all league games as well. Dublin average is 20,000, Mayo around 10,000 maybe more?

But as said somewhere far above, Irish people are not great supporters of live sport compared to other countries.

Particularly galls me when you see certain hurling counties in Munster who get less than 10,000 for big home games in championship, but who will have 60,000 people whinging that they can't get a fkn ticket for the final!

We are lazy sods

The Moldy Gowl · 05-06-2019 9:48am

Turtyturd wrote: »

It doesn’t though, and unfortunately those associated with it having this attitude is why it’s never improved to the stage of being an attraction to most football fans in this country.

You can’t just put out a sub standard product and think it deserves to be supported because it’s local. Will be interesting to see who gets the blame once Delaney is gone and there’s no improvement in quality, increased ire towards ‘barstoolers’ perhaps?

Why dosent it deserve our support?
The vast majority who went once to have a look have come back. I was one and have a season ticket because I was a fan of football.

It's a great attraction to fans of football, you can have both. Nice day out with pints and football in front of you and then watch the premiership on Saturday. They aren't mutually exclusive.
I may not care as much as I did about the premiership but I still check reddit daily for man utd news and football news.

No one will get the blame as the standard and attendances have been increasing for the last few years.
Bohs have sold out against finn harps and ucd this season. 2 teams stuck at the bottom of the table.
The rovers match sold out 6 weeks in advance.

There is appetite for it, especially in Dublin and its in spite of the fai.

8-10 · 05-06-2019 9:51am

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xN1WN0YMWZU

I'm pretty sure this video accurately describes some of the conversation in this thread!

The Tetrarch · 05-06-2019 9:59am

Why do the GAA have a television advertisement immediately after the Champions League final, or advertisements grouped around major soccer matches?
"Why do Irish people support English teams?" has a whiff of Sinn Fein / GAA about it.

The answer is it is better football.

Omackeral · 05-06-2019 10:30am

The Tetrarch wrote: »

"Why do Irish people support English teams?" has a whiff of Sinn Fein / GAA about it.

The answer is it is better football.

Why does anyone from Gillingham bother their hole supporting the Gills if this is the case? Premier League is better football than League One...

citytillidie · 05-06-2019 10:41am

This thread lol

So what people like to support teams from England and sit in the comfort of their home rather than spend time with friends and attend a local LOI if there is a team close to them.

Each to their own we are all following the same sport so why should it matter if people want to follow it on tv and get the same enjoyment as someone who goes to a local game?

It is all about how the person feels, and really should anyone else care how others get their enjoyment other than if it is not legal?

With LOI games mostly on Friday nights people can do both attend the LOI game and then enjoy a one of the multiple games that is on tv over a weekend.

Greyfox · 05-06-2019 11:06am

gormdubhgorm wrote: »

But the Irish EPL supporters are particularly insincere in thier approach.
Not only do they support a foreign club which they chose, But the chose the club who are winning/or have a good chance of winning.

Absolute nonsense and insulting to real football fans. If a local team want supporters its there job to persuade people to support them and if there not able to do this then the team doesnt deserve support. Football fans also have other things to do with there lives. if a club cannot prove that there great for my community or provide good entertainment why should I bother. They cannot expect blind loyalty without giving something in return, if a fan is not getting enjoyment or a sense of community back then he should not be supporting his local team. If a fan of a foreign team is getting enjoyment then the foreign club are giving something back

gormdubhgorm · 05-06-2019 11:07am

Deleted User wrote: »

Rubbish. If say you grew up in Westport in Mayo (like me), wheres my 'local' LoI club? The nearest one ever has been Galway (50 miles away). The next nearest are 75 to 80 miles way (Sligo, Longford etc). Heres a map of showing a distribution of LoI clubs (not all are shown). The LoI is not relevant to many people who like soccer in this country. Thats not intended as a derogatory comment btw, but one based on geography.

Well if there was enough of likeminded people like yourself with enough of interest a club could be formed to represent your area.
That is how clubs are created.

For example evergreen united in Kilkenny

http://evergreenfc.ie/history/

Or Wexfords Youths

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wexford_F.C.

gormdubhgorm · 05-06-2019 11:17am

The Tetrarch wrote: »

Why do the GAA have a television advertisement immediately after the Champions League final, or advertisements grouped around major soccer matches?
"Why do Irish people support English teams?" has a whiff of Sinn Fein / GAA about it.

The answer is it is better football.

How has Sinn Fein got anything to with it that is really stretching things.
Ironicaly a lot of the Sinn Fein voters you seem to be referring to say 'we' for Celtic that is just as bad as the Premier League 'we' brigades.
Another form of delusion.
As I said If I suddenly decided I wanted to support Holland instead of Ireland what would be said to me? I like the jerseys an emotional connection etc.
The same argument people use for supporting clubs.

I would hardly call myself a Sinn Fein supporter, but can you imagine the abuse I would get from the very same Irish Premier League Supporters if I wore an English jersey and cheered on England over Ireland?

How many times in a pub when an EFA game is on where the Barman turns down the volume for 'God Save the Queen'.
Then turns it back up again.
It has very little to do with how people vote or do not vote, it is just the bizarre cognitive dissonance that Irish people have around soccer and the Premier League.
It's bizarre and had been normalised.

8-10 · 05-06-2019 11:20am

gormdubhgorm wrote: »

How many times in a pub when an EFA game is on where the Barman turns down the volume for 'God Save the Queen'.
Then turns it back up again.

What?

Omackeral · 05-06-2019 11:27am

I've never been in a pub for FA Cup final day but I have seen people over here give out yards on Facebook. ''Why are they playing that f*cking anthem, horrible''. Well pal, Manchester is in England and that's the anthem they use. It's the English cup final... their final, not yours.

gormdubhgorm · 05-06-2019 11:30am

Greyfox wrote: »

Absolute nonsense and insulting to real football fans. If a local team want supporters its there job to persuade people to support them and if there not able to do this then the team doesnt deserve support. Football fans also have other things to do with there lives. if a club cannot prove that there great for my community or provide good entertainment why should I bother. They cannot expect blind loyalty without giving something in return, if a fan is not getting enjoyment or a sense of community back then he should not be supporting his local team. If a fan of a foreign team is getting enjoyment then the foreign club are giving something back

How is it insulting to real football fans?
Is it insulting because it is true?
If they were real football fans and just loved the sport they would not care what level the team they call thier own is at.
It always has to be the top european teams or the teams that are winning.

The fans who it insulting to are the local fans of this big clubs, the atmosphere dies, people are there for the spectacle from all around the world.
Cameras are out, it is a holiday.
It forces locals to struggle to get tickets.
Man City is a prime example how many Man City jerseys were seen around Ireland when they were in the third tier twenty years ago?
When the chant was 'feed the Goat and he will score.'

Yet the ironic thing is some of Irish Premier league fans of the more traditional top teams Liverpool/Man United/Arsenal have the gall to say that Man City are not a real club - it is oil money.

But those same Arsenal/Man United/Liverpool Irish fans were attracted to thier club because of thier success and money!
Some Irish Premier League supporters consider themselves real fans not like Man City Irish fans for example.

It is really crazy the more I think about it.

It sounds like you just want a 'shiny product' rather than an actual team for the love of the sport.
I think that is insulting to real football fans.

gormdubhgorm · 05-06-2019 11:33am

8-10 wrote: »

What?

When an English FA cup match is on the barman in a pub turns down the volume when God Save the Queen is on and puts it back up when it is finished.
How many times have you seen that?
Plus it is even funnier if the barman 'supports' a premier league team.
It's mad really.

8-10 · 05-06-2019 11:36am

gormdubhgorm wrote: »

When an English FA cup match is on the barman in a pub turns down the volume when God Save the Queen is on and puts it back up when it is finished.
How many times have you seen that?

Never in my life

odyssey06 · 05-06-2019 11:39am

gormdubhgorm wrote: »

How is it insulting to real football fans?
Is it insulting because it is true?
If they were real football fans and just loved the sport they would not care what level the team they call thier own is at.
It always has to be the top european teams or the teams that are winning.

Why do Bohemians have higher attendances when they are at top of the table?
If Shelbourne get promoted back to Premier Division, should they insist only people who attended in Division One can get in?
Should they turn away any new fans as insulting to real fans?

Why even bother attending a Bohemians and Shelbourne, if they don't care about the level watch an even more local team like Home Farm or Fairview CY?

Based on your model of real football fans, there should be an equal distribution of real fans according to how local the team is.
Bohemians shouldn't have more fans than a team in the Leinster Senior League.

Fitz* · 05-06-2019 11:48am

Why do Irish people support NFL teams?
Why do Irish people watch and enjoy tennis and have favourite players such as Serena Williams or Rafa Nadal instead of James McGee (who I had to google if there was any Irish tennis players

)?
Why do Irish people watch Formula 1 and pick Mercedes over Jordan?
Why do Irish people play cricket, and then chose to play for Englans?
Why do Irish people watch NBA basketball and support the Chicago Bulls instead of Moycullen?
Why do Irish people watch and enjoy golf, and have golfers such as Speith as thir favorite, rather than Rory McIlroy with his changing allegiance?

Why do Irish people support English teams?

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