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Post by busby3859 on Sept 10, 2014 23:56:14 GMT
This is probably a bit of a strange thing to feel, maybe to say, or even purely to admit, but, I don't actually feel comfortable being a fan of Manchester United.
I love the football club, i care very deeply for it on and off the pitch. It's future stability and the way its run always at the very top of my concerns. It has given me some of the happiest times of my life for which I've been extremely lucky to have seen in the grand scheme of football fans in this country.
My issue is that I have absolutely no connection with Manchester whatsoever. Nothing at all. I'm 200 miles away from the city! On paper I'm the typical 30 something "glory hunter" with a cliche reason as to why I follow them.
Following United felt normal when i was growing up, i didn't think twice about it, it's natural for a child to follow his Dad's team. It wasn't till I got older that I started to question why i followed them, why my Dad did, considering he or the family had no links with Manchester, so i asked. His initial answer only consisted of two words, George Best. The greatest player he has ever seen. His big brother took him to Highbury to watch Arsenal v United and from that moment he fell in love with Best and United. His brother's intentions to get him to follow Arsenal obviously backfired. So I found out why, but I didn't particularly agree with the reason. As I grew up it became clear to me that a football fan should follow and support their local side. Its the logical decision, it keeps the game alive. Im a fan of a football team that I hardly ever see. Apart from a few matches over different campaigns , a season ticket and a handful of away matches It's a shameful attempt of support really.
So whilst not being happy with the amount of football I watch, I'm also not feeling comfortable as to why. Feeling more like a trespasser, a day tripper, an out of town glory hunter. I'm sure this must annoy some genuine Mancunians who truly support their local club. It doesn't sit comfortably with me that when I go up to old trafford that I could be depriving a lad from manchester a seat that he lives 10 minutes away from when I've drove 5 hours. It wouldn't be a shock that some Mancunians despise the likes of me which I can completely understand. It's your city, its your football club.
This dilemma literally gives me sleepless nights. It feels almost impossible to just cut ties with the club even if i wanted to. I even bought a season ticket at my local League 1 club a few years back to try and do the right and logical thing. I just didn't have a care for them, i felt nothing apart from being a football fan and enjoying watching matches. I had a zero emotional attachment whatever the result. I would choose to miss going to a live game to watch united on the TV if the kick offs clashed. It seems ludicrous to opt to watch a match on the tele rather than go to a live game which is a fantastic experience at any level.
I know football has changed and "brand" Manchester United encourage worldwide support purely for financial gain but that certainly doesn't make it right. The club should look after their local community first and foremost. Gone are the days when men would work all week in the factories and go to the match on a Saturday, an escape for the working class. Now it's more important for United to have an official noodle supplier to sell shirts in Asia and associate themselves with Mr Potato head. Jeopardising season preparations by going on these ridiculous tours every single year to sell a few more shirts and get an irrelevant branded sponsor. I know this is the same with most top flight clubs these days, not just United. Football clubs have lost their purpose unfortunately and that Is sad.
Anyhow, I was just hoping for some people's thoughts on the matter. I completely understand if I get abuse thrown at me.
I feel i have made one rather significant personal decision though. Sadly for a general footballing tradition and for myself, I won't be encouraging my son to follow United. Which is difficult to accept. I will do everything in my power to get him to support his local team, which is where he should be, so he can watch live football all season and really support his team unlike myself.
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Post by Deez on Sept 11, 2014 0:17:51 GMT
Think you're being way too hard on yourself mate. Chill out, watch a few videos of RVP from a couple seasons back or an Angel di Maria compilation video and go to sleep with a smile on your face
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Post by Deleted on Sept 11, 2014 0:47:17 GMT
This is probably a bit of a strange thing to feel, maybe to say, or even purely to admit, but, I don't actually feel comfortable being a fan of Manchester United. I love the football club, i care very deeply for it on and off the pitch. It's future stability and the way its run always at the very top of my concerns. It has given me some of the happiest times of my life for which I've been extremely lucky to have seen in the grand scheme of football fans in this country. My issue is that I have absolutely no connection with Manchester whatsoever. Nothing at all. I'm 200 miles away from the city! On paper I'm the typical 30 something "glory hunter" with a cliche reason as to why I follow them. Following United felt normal when i was growing up, i didn't think twice about it, it's natural for a child to follow his Dad's team. It wasn't till I got older that I started to question why i followed them, why my Dad did, considering he or the family had no links with Manchester, so i asked. His initial answer only consisted of two words, George Best. The greatest player he has ever seen. His big brother took him to Highbury to watch Arsenal v United and from that moment he fell in love with Best and United. His brother's intentions to get him to follow Arsenal obviously backfired. So I found out why, but I didn't particularly agree with the reason. As I grew up it became clear to me that a football fan should follow and support their local side. Its the logical decision, it keeps the game alive. Im a fan of a football team that I hardly ever see. Apart from a few matches over different campaigns , a season ticket and a handful of away matches It's a shameful attempt of support really. So whilst not being happy with the amount of football I watch, I'm also not feeling comfortable as to why. Feeling more like a trespasser, a day tripper, an out of town glory hunter. I'm sure this must annoy some genuine Mancunians who truly support their local club. It doesn't sit comfortably with me that when I go up to old trafford that I could be depriving a lad from manchester a seat that he lives 10 minutes away from when I've drove 5 hours. It wouldn't be a shock that some Mancunians despise the likes of me which I can completely understand. It's your city, its your football club. This dilemma literally gives me sleepless nights. It feels almost impossible to just cut ties with the club even if i wanted to. I even bought a season ticket at my local League 1 club a few years back to try and do the right and logical thing. I just didn't have a care for them, i felt nothing apart from being a football fan and enjoying watching matches. I had a zero emotional attachment whatever the result. I would choose to miss going to a live game to watch united on the TV if the kick offs clashed. It seems ludicrous to opt to watch a match on the tele rather than go to a live game which is a fantastic experience at any level. I know football has changed and "brand" Manchester United encourage worldwide support purely for financial gain but that certainly doesn't make it right. The club should look after their local community first and foremost. Gone are the days when men would work all week in the factories and go to the match on a Saturday, an escape for the working class. Now it's more important for United to have an official noodle supplier to sell shirts in Asia and associate themselves with Mr Potato head. Jeopardising season preparations by going on these ridiculous tours every single year to sell a few more shirts and get an irrelevant branded sponsor. I know this is the same with most top flight clubs these days, not just United. Football clubs have lost their purpose unfortunately and that Is sad. Anyhow, I was just hoping for some people's thoughts on the matter. I completely understand if I get abuse thrown at me. I feel i have made one rather significant personal decision though. Sadly for a general footballing tradition and for myself, I won't be encouraging my son to follow United. Which is difficult to accept. I will do everything in my power to get him to support his local team, which is where he should be, so he can watch live football all season and really support his team unlike myself. What? If you're not a fan then you're not a fan. Really don't get this
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Post by Deleted on Sept 11, 2014 0:49:28 GMT
Justified abuse for not being from Manchester? If your nit a WUM then you should try again to explain what this is about.
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Post by washyourhands on Sept 11, 2014 1:12:07 GMT
Justified abuse for not being from Manchester? If your nit a WUM then you should try again to explain what this is about. Totally agree with Aus here. Whilst it is admirable to feel some kind of local connection to who you support, tje reality is that Football is now a global game. I myself am from Salford and moved to London when I was eight but have absolutely no issue with people who wish to support the club that are not from Manchester! Ask yourself this, if geography was a prerequisite to being a United fan, would we be the huge commercial, global entity we are now; would we able to buy the likes of Di Maria? It ia also about how you define being a 'fan'. I am fortunate enough to be able to watch a few games at OT but there are those around the world and country who cannot for obvious reasons. Does that make them lesser fans when they are paying tv subscriptions that arguably contribute as much to swelling Club coffers as gate receipts? Restricting affinity to tribal or local loyalty is parochial and specious in today's footballing climate and you shouldn't define your son's choice in this way either.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 11, 2014 1:25:20 GMT
Justified abuse for not being from Manchester? If your nit a WUM then you should try again to explain what this is about. Totally agree with Aus here. Whilst it is admirable to feel some kind of local connection to who you support, tje reality is that Football is now a global game. I myself am from Salford and moved to London when I was eight but have absolutely no issue with people who wish to support the club that are not from Manchester! Ask yourself this, if geography was a prerequisite to being a United fan, would we be the huge commercial, global entity we are now; would we able to buy the likes of Di Maria? It ia also about how you define being a 'fan'. I am fortunate enough to be able to watch a few games at OT but there are those around the world and country who cannot for obvious reasons. Does that make them lesser fans when they are paying tv subscriptions that arguably contribute as much to swelling Club coffers as gate receipts? Restricting affinity to tribal or local loyalty is parochial and specious in today's footballing climate and you shouldn't define your son's choice in this way either. Nail on the head.
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Post by _ on Sept 11, 2014 1:54:47 GMT
Oh dear, ashamed of being a fan complex. Usually attributable to excessive listening to fatheads on BBC 606 and believing it!
Like Washy, I am also from Manchester/Salford area but have travelled with a fair few non-Mancunian groups like the Worcester, Lancaster, Epsom, Birmingham, Hastings and Cockney Reds. I have stood nearby the Paddy Reds in the old Scoreboard Paddock and have sat near a couple of Norwegians in the Stretty. I don't think anyone I have met had a 'to be or not be' moment in their heads. A long long time ago the odd Mancunian might ask someone where they came from out of genuine curiosity.
If it really is a psychological issue ask yourself why do all those Bitters fans come from Greater London area, or the Sheep scum in the Midlands, or those retard Scousers from Wales. When I first travelled on the train from London, Euston was divided by police because of the Scouses and Sheep-shaggers travelling to their games. I had a problem with Manc's supporting Chelski - there used to be a lot. There was a retard bin dipper from Manchester, but its difficult to blame retards given their deep victim and persecution complexes.
So if you want some advice - get two tickets for you and your lad at OT - and get a fucking grip!
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Post by Ole's Red Whiteknight03 Army on Sept 11, 2014 2:10:07 GMT
Exactly Aus. I come by my addiction the same way. My dad was born and raised in Bolton but was seduced by Best, Law, Charlton and big European nights at OT. He grew me up on stories of the old working class thing and I got hooked. I'll be damned if somebody tells me I can't support the club I love just because of where I was born, even if that was half a world away in the middle of the Canadian prairies. I love this club just as much as the next guy, and we all make sacrifices to watch and support our club. I can't tell how many times I've dragged my hungover ass out of bed at half six to watch an insipid 1-0 win over some middle of the road nobody. Honestly, at least you can get to matches, and at least you have a local club to nominally support when you can. There isn't a club within a 28 hour drive from me.
Like you said, times have changed. Football is a global game now, and while that sounds like a cliche, support can take more forms than walking to the ground you live in the shadow of. Once upon a time you also did the job your father did and his father did and his father before him. You married within your class and ethnic group or you were disgracing your heritage. Times change. Feel how you want, but I'm not going to feel any less of a supporter just because of geography.
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Post by busby3859 on Sept 11, 2014 6:45:31 GMT
Wow. Maybe I am just over thinking shit judging by those responses. First time I've ever discussed it and I now feel like I've given myself a hard time needlessly. Its not as if i've ever been given any stick by any mancunians when i've been up there. I've found northerners to be more friendly than southerners I certainly don't regret following United, I just wish I could go more often and get back to having a season ticket. Maybe thats the underlining factor, not currently being in a position to go watch the club week in week out. Thanks for your responses though, much appreciated. And apologies for such a negative first post
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Post by washyourhands on Sept 11, 2014 8:55:02 GMT
Wow. Maybe I am just over thinking shit judging by those responses. First time I've ever discussed it and I now feel like I've given myself a hard time needlessly. Its not as if i've ever been given any stick by any mancunians when i've been up there. I've found northerners to be more friendly than southerners I certainly don't regret following United, I just wish I could go more often and get back to having a season ticket. Maybe thats the underlining factor, not currently being in a position to go watch the club week in week out. Thanks for your responses though, much appreciated. And apologies for such a negative first post It is all about opinions (to coin another cliche!) so no need to apologise! Phil's right, this tribal myth about United having to be 'ashamed' used to be peddled by the media and Bitters whining on the media, until that is they were brought by Arab petrodollars. Manchester United is Club that transcends North/South and international borders, the resonance echoing after the Munich tragedy. Oh by the way, I have met obnixious idiots everywhere! North, South, Midlands, South West.... But only those those with a hidden agenda try to gulit trip you for the team you support based on geopolitics, I am sure Phil would agree here.
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Post by _ on Sept 11, 2014 9:01:08 GMT
Wow. Maybe I am just over thinking shit judging by those responses. First time I've ever discussed it and I now feel like I've given myself a hard time needlessly. Its not as if i've ever been given any stick by any mancunians when i've been up there. I've found northerners to be more friendly than southerners I certainly don't regret following United, I just wish I could go more often and get back to having a season ticket. Maybe thats the underlining factor, not currently being in a position to go watch the club week in week out. Thanks for your responses though, much appreciated. And apologies for such a negative first post It is all about opinions (to coin another cliche!) so no need to apologise! Phil's right, this tribal myth about United having to be 'ashamed' used to be peddled by the media and Bitters whining on the media, until that is they were brought by Arab petrodollars. Manchester United is Club that transcends North/South and international borders, the resonance echoing after the Munich tragedy. Oh by the way, I have met obnixious idiots everywhere! North, South, Midlands, South West.... But only those those with a hidden agenda try to gulit trip you for the team you support based on geopolitics, I am sure Phil would agree here. Totally Washy, love the geopolitics angle!! Also like the invisible USP's that still resonate especially in Europe. Good call mate.
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Post by _ on Sept 11, 2014 9:10:32 GMT
Exactly Aus. I come by my addiction the same way. My dad was born and raised in Bolton but was seduced by Best, Law, Charlton and big European nights at OT. He grew me up on stories of the old working class thing and I got hooked. I'll be damned if somebody tells me I can't support the club I love just because of where I was born, even if that was half a world away in the middle of the Canadian prairies. I love this club just as much as the next guy, and we all make sacrifices to watch and support our club. I can't tell how many times I've dragged my hungover ass out of bed at half six to watch an insipid 1-0 win over some middle of the road nobody. Honestly, at least you can get to matches, and at least you have a local club to nominally support when you can. There isn't a club within a 28 hour drive from me. Like you said, times have changed. Football is a global game now, and while that sounds like a cliche, support can take more forms than walking to the ground you live in the shadow of. Once upon a time you also did the job your father did and his father did and his father before him. You married within your class and ethnic group or you were disgracing your heritage. Times change. Feel how you want, but I'm not going to feel any less of a supporter just because of geography. Dude, getting up at 6.00am with a hangover to watch Moyes trash was more than heroic last season. Some people know Bolton is Greater Manchester but there was a time when it was just a bit out. The Bolton Reds are a significant bunch of working class lads, old school. They made a great noise when they arrived at Victoria Station and marched to Deansgate. Pedigree roots, thoroughbred genes - you definitely bleed Red!! Let's hear more from people about their being True Reds.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 11, 2014 9:14:02 GMT
Madrid, Barca, United etc , all have fans from all over the world, never mind the same country, that's what being awesome gets you. Embrace it.
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Post by _ on Sept 11, 2014 9:18:49 GMT
IMO you don't have to be from Manchester to support United - it's in your blood, it's in your DNA and there is no way to stop it
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Post by Deleted on Sept 11, 2014 9:20:44 GMT
70k plus can only get into each game, no need to beat yourself up over that
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