Why do Irish people support English teams?

ohnonotgmail wrote: »

says who?

Says Irish society, and the unwritten football supporter rules.

Plus Rcihie Sadlier wrote a great piece how he picked Rangers as his team as a young lad because he liked Ally McCoist.

https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/footballs-senseless-bigotry-hasnt-gone-away-you-know-26726387.html

That was frowned upon as well, even though both Rangers and Celtic are British teams! Both of them pay taxes (even Rangers now ) to HM revenue and customs.

It is the same type of thing, there are crazy unwritten rules and mental gymnastics, when it comes to the Irish football supporter of British teams.

thegetawaycar wrote: »

I think this thread just goes in circles.

The reason Irish people follow foreign teams are numerous. For some it's been passed down from family, for some it was to fit in with friends but mostly it's because football in Ireland is seen as a TV program. It's to be watched on TV with the odd trip to watch it live (same goes for a lot of GAA supporters going to championship games only).

Most people will tell you it's due to the quality on show, the same people will tell you they didn't care how Liverpool played or the standard of the final but just that they won the Champions League. People want to be associated with successful brands and teams in England are some of the most successful in the world.

League of Ireland clubs need to focus on getting the passing punter through the door and not an us versus them mentality, Bohs are seeing good return on building links in the community and getting football fans (ones that are used to actually going to live sports) who are visiting Dublin to games. I believe Rovers are doing a deal that anyone on a Ryanair flight can buy a cheap ticket. This isn't a coincidence. In Ireland we don't have a large number of people that are used to going to watch sporting events live week in week out while our participant numbers are high by population.

I think most of what you've said there is fair. It's the glitz, the glamour of it all, basically it's the absolutely superb marketing job that the English clubs have done since the 90s compounded by the fact our national association has been a joke since the 60s/70s.

The bit that really gets me is Ireland could have that, maybe not to the same extent but look at the SPL, I watch a good bit of that and the standard of play outside of Celtic there is really no better if not worse than the LOI but there's a tonne more money there than there is here because Scottish people actually attend their domestic matches in huge numbers, despite being a hell of a lot easier for them to get to a EPL game compared to here.

Its a seriously bad cycle of issues compounding each other and its uniquely Irish that most of the population actually just couldn't care less about it and would rather slag the people trying to fix the issues than help them.

RobMc59 wrote: »

You sound quite bitter and would probably make a good Everton fan:)

Omackeral wrote: »

What exactly sounds ''bitter'' in the post you quoted? Honestly baffled by that.

He was playing on the phrase used by others to describe Everton fans, especially used by Liverpool fans.

Everton have also appropriated the term to describe themselves -

https://www.reddit.com/r/Everton/comments/60mkgu/why_the_bbc_makes_us_bitter_blues/

Here is a man united forum which discusses thier honest feelings about local fans v foreign fans of the club

http://www.redcafe.net/threads/local-vs-foreign-based-supporters.3380/

I found another article where a Liverpool FC 'club liaison officer' is trying to give the message that all LFC fans -

https://www.thisisanfield.com/2018/10/how-liverpool-fc-approach-the-foreign-vs-local-fans-debate-and-why-jurgen-klopp-is-key/

The Liaison officer says -

'Anyone who commits themselves to supporting Liverpool, in whatever way that may be, is worthy of the utmost respect.'



I assume that is code for we will take your money from wherever you or from no matter how you support the club.




'There are supporters who don’t buy anything, which is fair enough, and there are supporters who buy everything but don’t go to the match.

“So how do you classify these people and how do you treat them differently?

“People have an affection for Liverpool and they want to support them in whatever way that may be. That guarantees them a level of instant respect from me.'


But on this LFC forum on Reddit there is a key phrase for me that jumps out-

'Who's trying too hard to be a scouser?'

(Written by a Norwegian LFC fan!)


https://www.reddit.com/r/LiverpoolFC/comments/20roal/scousers_your_general_feelings_on_foreign/

Remember when Des Cahill used to bore us all to death with tales of his "beloved Reading"!

I knew chap who was a Halifax supporter, from having spent summers over there with one of his aunts in the 70s. I can appreciate that sort of thing!

The funniest is when Irish Celtic fans slag off Irish fans for supporting the premiership

I don't understand why all Dublin soccer fans don't support Dundalk FC!?.... As it's the best team geographically to Dublin C'MON D TOWN

17-pdr wrote: »

And your opinion of those that wouldn't?

Well I would have more respect for those Irish fans PL fans who continue to support thier chosen team.
Like the Spurs fan on this thread he gives the impression that even if they went down a few divisions he would stick with them.
That is being more of a football fan, he is not just into the glamour brand/product.

But the reality is the chances of any of the 'top six' being relegated is very slim.
Especially given the financial gulf between the PL teams and Championship teams these days.

In England there are at least a percentage of fans who support a larger team and thier smaller local team, or even just thier local team regardless of level.
It is those group that seem to at least get the community aspect of football.
Not being all about the glamour.

Because the Irish PL team supporter chose a team who are the cream of crop when they are 10, it is far, far easier for them to jump ship when times are bad.

Even those teams who have gone down one tier to the Championship -
Aston Villa and Leeds for example.
How many of those Irish fans do you see now?

The fella who was about 10 in the 70's who thought Giles, Bremner were the best. Maybe his favourite player was Alan Clarke when he won the FA Cup in 72?
How many of those Irish fans still give a damn about them?
How many Irish Villa fans who were about 10 in the 90's that still give a damn about Villa now.
I mean it was great when they were challenging at the top of the PL. There was plenty of Irish interest. McGrath, Townsend, Saunton and Houghton.

Or the Irish people who started supporting Sunderland when Roy Keane managed them.
How many of those Irish 'fans' are still with the team?

By it's very nature (picking a top tier team and mostly top 6 and distance involved) the Irish PL fan, can be one of most insincere fans in sport - if things turn for the worst.
It seems to go against the true nature of the sport itself even the chant 'I'm xyz till I die?'
Really?
Your xyz until your team gets relegated more like!
The brand deprecates then.

So the Irish PL fan does not go through the natural 'suffering' that most other teams supporters of local teams experience.
It is easy being a fan of a team that is in contention for Europe, and silverware each year.
The teams are bigger and better, the team is world renowned, the stadium and facilities are superb, European games, trophies etc
They don't take the good with bad they just want the good times.

Deebles McBeebles wrote: »

Plenty of us around still G, just been through 3 years of Championship.

I know a few of the other sort you are talking about too though, lads who change club depending on success. Each to their own.

Fair play to you for sticking with it anyway.
In fairness I know there are bandwagon supporters in every sport and every country.
But by thier very nature I think that most Irish PL fans are particularly mercenary breed.
First sign of serious trouble and most would drop the team, or lose interest, and not be as 'emotionally involved' as they claimed the when it was a top side.
Those type are not natural football fans in my book.

gormdubhgorm wrote: »

Well I would have more respect for those Irish fans PL fans who continue to support thier chosen team.
Like the Spurs fan on this thread he gives the impression that even if they went down a few divisions he would stick with them.
That is being more of a football fan, he is not just into the glamour brand/product.

But the reality is the chances of any of the 'top six' being relegated is very slim.
Especially given the financial gulf between the PL teams and Championship teams these days.

In England there are at least a percentage of fans who support a larger team and thier smaller local team, or even just thier local team regardless of level.
It is those group that seem to at least get the community aspect of football.
Not being all about the glamour.

Because the Irish PL team supporter chose a team who are the cream of crop when they are 10, it is far, far easier for them to jump ship when times are bad.

Even those teams who have gone down one tier to the Championship -
Aston Villa and Leeds for example.
How many of those Irish fans do you see now?

The fella who was about 10 in the 70's who thought Giles, Bremner were the best. Maybe his favourite player was Alan Clarke when he won the FA Cup in 72?
How many of those Irish fans still give a damn about them?
How many Irish Villa fans who were about 10 in the 90's that still give a damn about Villa now.
I mean it was great when they were challenging at the top of the PL. There was plenty of Irish interest. McGrath, Townsend, Saunton and Houghton.

Or the Irish people who started supporting Sunderland when Roy Keane managed them.
How many of those Irish 'fans' are still with the team?

By it's very nature (picking a top tier team and mostly top 6 and distance involved) the Irish PL fan, can be one of most insincere fans in sport - if things turn for the worst.
It seems to go against the true nature of the sport itself even the chant 'I'm xyz till I die?'
Really?
Your xyz until your team gets relegated more like!
The brand deprecates then.

So the Irish PL fan does not go through the natural 'suffering' that most other teams supporters of local teams experience.
It is easy being a fan of a team that is in contention for Europe, and silverware each year.
The teams are bigger and better, the team is world renowned, the stadium and facilities are superb, European games, trophies etc
They don't take the good with bad they just want the good times.

How many of these people do you actually know because i've never met one. I even know somebody who still supports Blackburn the poor sod.

gormdubhgorm wrote: »

Fair play to you for sticking with it anyway.
In fairness I know there are bandwagon supporters in every sport and every country.
But by thier very nature I think that most Irish PL fans are particularly mercenary breed.

Yep I see it a lot with Malaysian fans, I work with City fans who wore United jerseys a few years ago over there.

But again, it's up to them, I just talk City to them now instead of United. If they want to change next year again then go ahead, why should the rest of us care?

8-10 wrote: »

Yep I see it a lot with Malaysian fans, I work with City fans who wore United jerseys a few years ago over there.

But again, it's up to them, I just talk City to them now instead of United. If they want to change next year again then go ahead, why should the rest of us care?

But my point is that type of support is not from a real fan standpoint.
They are more supporters of a brand rather than the actual team itself.
When the brand loses its value/street cred they lose interest.
Like the example I gave earlier with iphone they want the latest thing.

But in a really odd roundabout way those teams need these fans to maintain thier global brand and revenue.
Even if they just buy merchandise.

gormdubhgorm wrote: »

But my point is that type of support is not from a real fan standpoint.

There's no such thing as this "real fan" except in the unwritten rules of people who care about what other people do with their lives.

Anyone wearing a Liverpool shirt is fine by me whatever their reasons - I consider them a fan/supporter