Why do Irish people support English teams?

jmayo · 09-03-2019 1:47pm

tuxy wrote: »

To be fair the vast majority of Irish people support England in world cups that Ireland do not qualify for.

He he he.
Good one.

I don't care if people follow, are fans of, or "support" English teams or teams from wherever.

What I do hate is when they start referring to the WE.
WE played terrible the other night or WE are going to win the league.

Unless you are a die hard regular fan going to the matches, or a native with local links then I think you don't have the right to use the WE.

Omackeral · 09-03-2019 1:48pm

orourkeda1977 wrote: »

Now that you mention it, I have family in the Birmingham Area. A number of them lived in Small Heath for years and are all Birmingham City supporters.

It does happen.

Nowhere near the scale it should if the "my uncle abroad" or the Irish diaspora reasons are used. Most people would hardly know any Blues fans over here

8-10 · 09-03-2019 1:48pm

OldMrBrennan83 wrote: »

No, it's barely a sport when you look at the actual skills involved. Most of them haven't a clue what's going on anyway, but that's not why they're there. Prosecco anyone?

Still good that they're going to the Irish grounds and supporting the game here rather than daytrips to England though right?

Perifect · 09-03-2019 1:49pm

Avatar MIA wrote: »

Pointing out the deficiencies in LOI football is looking down on Irish culture?

Pog mo thoin!

No, you painted Irish culture as being about dancing at the crossroads and being anti-English. Sneering attitude so similar to what some in England have. Leannán tú cultúr Shasanach!

Avatar MIA · 09-03-2019 1:49pm

RobMc59 wrote: »

Apologies

"Parental family ties appear to have been much stronger. "

It was a tradition, but nothing to do with sectarianism. Liverpool was formed after the Everton owners fell out with their Anfield owning landlord, but for money and not religious reasons.

Omackeral · 09-03-2019 1:50pm

Haven't read the full thread but whoever thinks there's no class in our league needs to check out Morrissey's goal from last night. There's bangers every week.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8zxYUox-as

Perifect · 09-03-2019 1:51pm

limnam wrote: »

Doesn't upset me.

Regular LOI attendee

So you got my point then.

Avatar MIA · 09-03-2019 1:51pm

Perifect wrote: »

No, you painted Irish culture as being about dancing at the crossroads and being anti-English.

That was mocking you (I assumed clearly). Do keep up mo chara :pac:

Avatar MIA · 09-03-2019 1:53pm

Omackeral wrote: »

Haven't read the full thread but whoever thinks there's no class in our league needs to check out Morrissey's goal from last night. There's bangers every week.

I saw that earlier, I follow Cork on FB

ozzy jr · 09-03-2019 1:54pm

Maurice Yeltsin wrote: »

It's a cultural problem in this country more than anything. We are event junkies. Kids today wouldn't believe that until 18 or so years ago very few people outside of South east Dublin and Limerick cared for the rugby side.

This is it. Irish people are event junkies. They don't want to go to a game every week. They'll do a few games a year and think they're great. Some will even do a few games in more than one sport and think they're some sort of super fan.

8-10 · 09-03-2019 1:54pm

RobMc59 wrote: »

Apologies
https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/english-soccer/question-of-religion-as-basis-for-support-still-contentious-1.1655070

Article over 5 years old and states:

"anecdotal evidence that, historically speaking, the city’s Catholics were more inclined to become “Blues” "

Hardly proof that it is a Catholic club today. It even says historically speaking. If you think today's fans head to Gooddison after mass with the Eucharist in their belly I don't think you do understand the reality of the club as it is today. You see much more diversity now

Perifect · 09-03-2019 1:55pm

Avatar MIA wrote: »

That was mocking you (I assumed clearly). Do keep up mo chara :pac:

Fail! Backtracking with your tail between your legs.

Dravokivich · 09-03-2019 1:55pm

Maurice Yeltsin wrote: »

Bury, Oldham, Rochdale and Stockport are comparatively ****e.

In a county with a population half of that of Ireland and with four giants within spitting distance they get more through the gates than the whole LOI. Four small teams that share a city with two of the biggest teams in the world get more in the gate of any of the big three Dublin clubs. Tens of thousands through the gates at eternal non achievers in the London area (Crystal Palace, Millwall, West Ham, Brentford, Leyton, Southend, Charlton Athletic, Luton, Crawley, AFC Wimbledon, QPR, Fulham) when the easy option would be to fob these off in favour of Chelsea and, to a lesser extent, Spurs and Arsenal.

It's a cultural problem in this country more than anything. We are event junkies. Kids today wouldn't believe that until 18 or so years ago very few people outside of South east Dublin and Limerick cared for the rugby side.

So what if the popularity of rugby has grown over the last 18 years. It's only been professional for a little over 20 and the irfu is in a much better position to invest in it, than the FAI are, to invest in soccer. But you are comparing 2 different things. Even in rugby the domestic leagues such as AIL, can have issues with attendances. Top tier rugby here and top tier soccer here are miles apart to such an extent that there is no top tier soccer, than can compete to a high level outside of itself.

Alf Veedersane · 09-03-2019 1:56pm

DEFTLEFTHAND wrote: »

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

More exposure to English teams. No LOI teams near where I'm from so no exposure to them and no connection.

Only football I saw was Irish matches and English football on ITV so you'd pick a team and follow then in your formative years.

Perifect · 09-03-2019 1:57pm

Alf Veedersane wrote: »

More exposure to English teams. No LOI teams near where I'm from so no exposure to them and no connection.

Only football I saw was Irish matches and English football on ITV so you'd pick a team and follow then in your formative years.

There's an excuse when you're a child. Grown adults? It's sad.

Arthur Daley · 09-03-2019 1:57pm

Maurice Yeltsin wrote: »

Bury, Oldham, Rochdale and Stockport are comparatively ****e.

In a county with a population half of that of Ireland and with four giants within spitting distance they get more through the gates than the whole LOI. Four small teams that share a city with two of the biggest teams in the world get more in the gate of any of the big three Dublin clubs.

But apparently these are still better than the top teams in the League of Ireland. Rochdale play in League One, so the top League of Ireland teams could not live with them we are told. Bury and Oldham were bottom of league one last year, so still probably too good for the League of Ireland, in case anyone gets any ideas here.

They never play each other on a competitive basis, so we will never know for certain will we.

But in this footballing backwater, where even the top clubs can have no realistic sense of competing with League One clubs, people still moan that the national team can't make it to pretty much every tournament. As soon as a manager is in a few months, some cannot wait to get him out. Either because this footballing backwater isn't playing at major championships, or because the football isn't beautiful enough, or most likely a mixture of both. Something doesn't add up about that story.

Church on Tuesday · 09-03-2019 2:00pm

Because there's no even semi pro footbal club near me in Mayo that I can support, hence why I support Arsenal.

I could support Sligo Rovers at a stretch but I'm not from there either.

It's grand having loads of LoI clubs in Dublin but for the rest of the country club intensity is pretty sparse.

tayto lover · 09-03-2019 2:00pm

Went to work in London after my Leaving Cert exams.
Lived around the corner from Highbury stadium and started going to Arsenal matches. Great year to start following the club, 1971 the first double year. Went to all home games and many away too.
Returned to live in Dundalk years later and have been attending Dundalk games since. I also go to Gaelic games and even went to one Rugby match, Ireland v England. I enjoy all sports except Cricket.
I often refer to Arsenal and Dundalk as “us” or “we”. No apologies either as I feel a part of both clubs. They are also a part of me.

Avatar MIA · 09-03-2019 2:00pm

OldMrBrennan83 wrote: »

No, it's barely a sport when you look at the actual skills involved.

The pay is quite decent for the elite level, you should go to your province team and tell them you've decided to tog out for them. That you've seen games on tv and would like to show where they can improve.

And yet in the next sentence you infer the rules are difficult :rolleyes:

Alf Veedersane · 09-03-2019 2:02pm

Perifect wrote: »

There's an excuse when you're a child. Grown adults? It's sad.

If you've spent 10+ years watching an English team you're supposed to just stop and follow an Irish team when you become a 'grown adult'?

Why?

And why is it sad to follow and English team instead of an Irish one?

Avatar MIA · 09-03-2019 2:02pm

Perifect wrote: »

Fail! Backtracking with your tail between your legs.

Okay, when I mock you in future I'll try to be more obvious

8-10 · 09-03-2019 2:02pm

Perifect wrote: »

There's an excuse when you're a child. Grown adults? It's sad.

Makes people happy though at the same time. I think it's good to have passions.

Omackeral · 09-03-2019 2:03pm

Tommy Kelly wrote: »

Loads of people support counties different to the counties they are from. Go to a Galway Hurling match, let it be an inter-county match or the Galway county final and you'll see people there from Roscommon, leitrim, Mayo, Sligo etc. Some of them are well known to hardly ever miss a match and could teach some local lads a thing or two about Galway hurling in the days gone by. Same story around the country. You're talking out of your arse.

And they'd support them over their own county would they? I'm not on about going along to a cup final and lending support. Straight up supporting a county you've nothing to do with over your own one? Have to say I've never heard of that myself so maybe it's you talking out of your hoop...

OldMrBrennan83 · 09-03-2019 2:04pm

Avatar MIA wrote: »

The pay is quite decent for the elite level, you should go to your province team and tell them you've decided to tog out for them. That you've seen games on tv and would like to show where they can improve.

And yet in the next sentence you infer the rules are difficult :rolleyes:

I never mentioned the rules being difficult, what hole did you pull that out of? I said most of the daytrippers (and rugby is the biggest array of these) neither know nor care what's going on. So long as they get the selfie.

HappyAsLarE · 09-03-2019 2:05pm

“Supporting” a team in a championship gives you a focal point, and a context (their position relative to others).

Fundamentally Irish people like soccer. There is a neighbouring country that speaks the same language that has one of the highest standards of the sport in the world. That is what peaks our interest. We pick a team as a focal point.

Alf Veedersane · 09-03-2019 2:05pm

Omackeral wrote: »

And they'd support them over their own county would they? I'm not on about going along to a cup final and lending support. Straight up supporting a county you've nothing to do with over your own one? Have to say I've never heard of that myself so maybe it's you talking out of your hoop...

I know of one chap from Greystones try to explain why he supported Dublin even against Wicklow without using the word 'bandwagon'...

Avatar MIA · 09-03-2019 2:10pm

OldMrBrennan83 wrote: »

I said most of the daytrippers (and rugby is the biggest array of these) neither know nor care what's going on. So long as they get the selfie.

Ah, apologies. I thought you had a clue about what you were talking about. Rugby has been criticised for being too technical with complex rules and I thought you were saying that the supporters didn't understand what was going on. My crime? Over estimating you

OldMrBrennan83 · 09-03-2019 2:11pm

Avatar MIA wrote: »

Ah, apologies. I thought you had a clue about what you were talking about. Rugby has been criticised for being too technical with complex rules and I thought you were saying that the supporters didn't understand what was going on. My crime? Over estimating you

They don't care what's going on.

Perifect · 09-03-2019 2:12pm

Alf Veedersane wrote: »

If you've spent 10+ years watching an English team you're supposed to just stop and follow an Irish team when you become a 'grown adult'?

Why?

And why is it sad to follow and English team instead of an Irish one?

You don't have to watch an Irish team. Surely the realisation that you are following a team that you have no connection with hits you? For most, they've barely ever been in the city or town of the team they are following. As a child it's excusable, an adult, not really.

artvanderlay · 09-03-2019 2:13pm

I support Man Utd because when I was kid, I was left in the house alone one day, and was bored out of my mind. I hated football until that point, but for some unknown reason I sat and watched the 1990 FA Cup semi-final between United and Oldham, and it was cracker ending 3-3. I supported United that day because I prefer the colour red! I loved Mark Hughes and Bryan Robson straight away, real gung-ho players. I watched the replay 3 days later which Utd won, and then the final and replay which United again won dramatically. This was my initiation into the joys of English football. I thought it was always going to be like that! From that point on I supported United, and I believe our fates have been intertwined ever since. Good years in my personal life have tended to coincide with good times for Utd. 2013 was the worst year of my life, from literally a few weeks after Fergie's last game, and it's been pretty **** ever since, but in the past few months, there has been an upturn and a change in attitude in both myself and United. We lost our way, but now we are getting back on track by looking to the past, and embracing it rather than running from it

A bit f*cked up I know, but it's how I feel :pac: My uncle was a big Utd fan, and used to drive a bus in Manchester in the 60s giving lifts to all the famous players of that time, but I didn't know any of that until a few years after I started supporting United. He did used to give me programmes though after he found out I was a Red, and I used to watch matches with him in the pub in the early days of the Premiership. That 3-2 win over City, with Keane scoring a last minute winner stands out from that time. Have great memories of laughing my head off at ABUs and my uncle smirking at them

8-10 · 09-03-2019 2:15pm

OldMrBrennan83 wrote: »

They don't care what's going on.

Who's they? 100% of the people watching? You're generalising a lot to diminish the sport because it doesn't fit with your narrative of wanting to bash Irish people who support British clubs. When it's pointed out that attendances at rugby games in the Pro 14 v English Premiership is comparable and the Irish teams are better supported than some of the British ones you change tact to try and downplay the sport.

I think it's clear who here doesn't understand rugby....

Perifect · 09-03-2019 2:15pm

Avatar MIA wrote: »

Okay, when I mock you in future I'll try to be more obvious

I was talking about appreciating Irish culture, you then stated that dancing at the crossroads and being anti-English is not everything in life. This is your view of Irish culture. You proved my point and made yourself look silly at the same time. Congratulations.

Alf Veedersane · 09-03-2019 2:16pm

Perifect wrote: »

You don't have to watch an Irish team. Surely the realisation that you are following a team that you have no connection with hits you? For most, they've barely ever been in the city or town of the team they are following. As a child it's excusable, an adult, not really.

So if you're from anywhere in the country that doesn't have a LOI team, you follow no one because you won't have a connection with any team

That's some strange logic.

It's still possible to enjoy football without having a connection.

OldMrBrennan83 · 09-03-2019 2:18pm

8-10 wrote: »

Who's they? 100% of the people watching? You're generalising a lot to diminish the sport because it doesn't fit with your narrative of wanting to bash Irish people who support British clubs. When it's pointed out that attendances at rugby games in the Pro 14 v English Premiership is comparable and the Irish teams are better supported than some of the British ones you change tact to try and downplay the sport.

I think it's clear who here doesn't understand rugby....

I don't care what's going on in it either. I just don't go along for the photo op.

Perifect · 09-03-2019 2:19pm

Alf Veedersane wrote: »

So if you're from anywhere in the country that doesn't have a LOI team, you support no one because you won't have a connection with any other team

That's some strange logic.

It's still possible to enjoy football without having a connection.

You can support Ireland! You can still watch loads of soccer, why do you have to support a team you have no connection with and you've never actually been there even?

Omackeral · 09-03-2019 2:19pm

8-10 wrote: »

I suppose the same lads only support RTE and Irish funded TV productions and don't go near British programming

Daft comparison. Utterly daft. Who "supports" RTE?

limnam · 09-03-2019 2:23pm

Alf Veedersane wrote: »

It's still possible to enjoy football without having a connection.

Can't understand why people create all these rules.

Must live in the city

Must have a connection.

What does one do if they move from one city to another?

People should enjoy any sport anyway they want.

Putting all these limits on how you can enjoy something must lead to a very boring restricted life.

limnam · 09-03-2019 2:24pm

Omackeral wrote: »

Daft comparison. Utterly daft. Who "supports" RTE?

All the dafties paying the license fee :pac:

8-10 · 09-03-2019 2:25pm

Omackeral wrote: »

Daft comparison. Utterly daft. Who "supports" RTE?

The taxpayer

Clonmel1000 · 09-03-2019 2:25pm

Omackeral wrote: »

I honest to god saw a fella squaring up to the ref (on the telly) before. Honest to god. Was a Man United match also as it happens. His mates telling him to leave it. Just mind boggling.

It’s almost as bad as those rugby tossers shhhhhhing at the television waiting for a kick to be taken.

Avatar MIA · 09-03-2019 2:27pm

OldMrBrennan83 wrote: »

They don't care what's going on.

That's beyond presumptious, but you're entitled to your small minded, reverse snobbery, ill informed opinion... I suppose :P

OldMrBrennan83 · 09-03-2019 2:28pm

Avatar MIA wrote: »

That's beyond presumptious, but you're entitled to your small minded, reverse snobbery, ill informed opinion... I suppose :P

The rugby hive are a special bunch.

Edit - sorry, I forgot the :P (whatever that's about).

8-10 · 09-03-2019 2:30pm

Clonmel1000 wrote: »

It’s almost as bad as those rugby tossers shhhhhhing at the television waiting for a kick to be taken.

Or shouting anything at the TV. As if the ref and players can hear you!

Don't think it's exclusive to rugby unfortunately

Avatar MIA · 09-03-2019 2:30pm

Perifect wrote: »

Congratulations.

I've completely forgotten the train of argument on this, but thanks, I'll take it.

OldMrBrennan83 · 09-03-2019 2:33pm

Clonmel1000 wrote: »

It’s almost as bad as those rugby tossers shhhhhhing at the television waiting for a kick to be taken.

I remember seeing a lad on the phone getting shushed in a pub during a rugby match before and without hesitation he just roared "they can't ****ing hear us". I don't know what was better, the twat going scarlet as the penny dropped that they couldn't hear the pub or the glorious laughter that followed a few seconds later.

Necro · 09-03-2019 2:33pm

Perifect wrote:

You can support Ireland! You can still watch loads of soccer, why do you have to support a team you have no connection with and you've never actually been there even?

Why are you so worked up about it is the more pertinent question?

Avatar MIA · 09-03-2019 2:34pm

OldMrBrennan83 wrote: »

(whatever that's about).

Is there anything much you do understand you'd like to discuss seeing as rugby and emoji are not common ground.

Avatar MIA · 09-03-2019 2:37pm

OldMrBrennan83 wrote: »

I remember seeing a lad on the phone getting shushed in a pub during .

All gob****es talking on their phone in a pub regardless of the situation should be shushed.

OldMrBrennan83 · 09-03-2019 2:37pm

Avatar MIA wrote: »

Is there anything much you do understand you'd like to discuss seeing as rugby and emoji are not common ground.

You're an absolutely ridiculous person and that response (along with all the pointless :P) is befitting of a child.

youreadthat · 09-03-2019 2:37pm

It’s an advanced covert program by MI6 to infiltrate the Irish consciousness.

Why do Irish people support English teams?

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