What makes a supporter ?

TangerineSeasider

TangerineSeasider

Well-known member
We had a discussion around our bait table today at work about ’supporting’ a team.

This was aimed directly at plastic fans of predominantly premiership teams who claim they are supporters , but in reality, have never been to their teams ground , bought a replica shirt etc....yet claim to be loyal fans.

This got me thinking....Although over the years I have seen my team, bought many replica items in the past etc....in the last 6 seasons or so ( mainly for financial reasons as I have a young family ) I’m very much a lapsed fan.
I did , however endure the embarrassing defeat this season away to Carlisle ( my current hometown ) in the Mickey Mouse cup.

Yes, Blackpool will always be my team, but taking the last handful of seasons into consideration, would I be classed as a supporter....a fan....a follower....or would I no longer qualify for any of those ?
 
TangerineSeasider said:
We had a discussion around our bait table today at work about ’supporting’ a team.

This was aimed directly at plastic fans of predominantly premiership teams who claim they are supporters , but in reality, have never been to their teams ground , bought a replica shirt etc....yet claim to be loyal fans.

This got me thinking....Although over the years I have seen my team, bought many replica items in the past etc....in the last 6 seasons or so ( mainly for financial reasons as I have a young family ) I’m very much a lapsed fan.
I did , however endure the embarrassing defeat this season away to Carlisle ( my current hometown ) in the Mickey Mouse cup.

Yes, Blackpool will always be my team, but taking the last handful of seasons into consideration, would I be classed as a supporter....a fan....a follower....or would I no longer qualify for any of those ?
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You have to ask yourself one thing. Can you go to games? If you can and you don’t go to games then you aren’t a true fan. Simple.
 
TangerineSeasider said:
We had a discussion around our bait table today at work about ’supporting’ a team.

This was aimed directly at plastic fans of predominantly premiership teams who claim they are supporters , but in reality, have never been to their teams ground , bought a replica shirt etc....yet claim to be loyal fans.

This got me thinking....Although over the years I have seen my team, bought many replica items in the past etc....in the last 6 seasons or so ( mainly for financial reasons as I have a young family ) I’m very much a lapsed fan.
I did , however endure the embarrassing defeat this season away to Carlisle ( my current hometown ) in the Mickey Mouse cup.

Yes, Blackpool will always be my team, but taking the last handful of seasons into consideration, would I be classed as a supporter....a fan....a follower....or would I no longer qualify for any of those ?
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It’s for self identification and none of anyone else’s business tbh. If some Indian bloke “supports” Arsenal and only ever watches them on tv then thats that’s up to him.....what has it to do with anyone else...who is he harming? What’s more if he also “supports” Rangers or Aberdeen because he like the colours of the kit so what?
 
Bloodtangerine said:
It’s for self identification and none of anyone else’s business tbh. If some Indian bloke “supports” Arsenal and only ever watched then on tv then thats that’s uo to him.....what has it to do with anyone else...who is he harming? What’s more if he also “supports” Rangers or Aberdeen because he like the colours of the kit so what?
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Self identification is a load of rubbish
 
Bloodtangerine said:
It’s for self identification and none of anyone else’s business tbh. If some Indian bloke “supports” Arsenal and only ever watches them on tv then thats that’s up to him.....what has it to do with anyone else...who is he harming? What’s more if he also “supports” Rangers or Aberdeen because he like the colours of the kit so what?
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Is he actually ‘supporting’ a team by watching a team on tv?
 
Athers said:
Going to games if physically possible
Financially supporting the club by buying merch like shirts, scarves etc
Buying games on iFollow to help fund the club
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i agree 100% Athers, but if you do none of the above are you classed as a supporter still ?
 
Athers said:
Going to games if physically possible
Financially supporting the club by buying merch like shirts, scarves etc
Buying games on iFollow to help fund the club
Click to expand...

not a shirter, scarfer and only bought an occasional badge or polo shirt so I’m not a supporter ?
 
The Football Supporters Association -of which BST and BRR are members-insists that a supporter is someone who follows his home town team only, although they have some varied and hypocritical applications on that hard and fast rule. For instance divisional reps at EFL meetings are often not regular supporters,and anyone who has moved away from his/her home town is allowed full access/voting rights.

Personally I just go and watch my team home and away and by and large enjoy the matches and company,indeed one of the local Leeds' supporters groups ran me today for a chit-chat and I'm not going on their bus to Forest on Saturday.

My rule of thumb generally is not to criticise people for how they live their football lives,not to be judgemental and to try and be open minded and balanced.Once you start on that path-as BRR did with me once when accusing me of being a lapsed supporter-then you end up being a hypocrite and have your own shortcomings exposed at some point.

Just saying-and incidentally trying to help you guys encourage support rather than sneer at potential fans who live on your doorstep.👍
 
Plumbs said:
The Football Supporters Association -of which BST and BRR are members-insists that a supporter is someone who follows his home town team only, although they have some varied and hypocritical applications on that hard and fast rule. For instance divisional reps at EFL meetings are often not regular supporters,and anyone who has moved away from his/her home town is allowed full access/voting rights.

Personally I just go and watch my team home and away and by and large enjoy the matches and company,indeed one of the local Leeds' supporters groups ran me today for a chit-chat and I'm not going on their bus to Forest on Saturday.

My rule of thumb generally is not to criticise people for how they live their football lives,not to be judgemental and to try and be open minded and balanced.Once you start on that path-as BRR did with me once when accusing me of being a lapsed supporter-then you end up being a hypocrite and have your own shortcomings exposed at some point.

Just saying-and incidentally trying to help you guys encourage support rather than sneer at potential fans who live on your doorstep.👍
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agree plumbs and I wouldn’t worry about BRR he is just a snobby self appointed type who some BFC fans are non too happy with
 
Bloodtangerine said:
There is no “the” BRR. He is a poster on AVFTT
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I just wish he was however he's perfectly entitled to join the FSA which I'm also a member of too. The emphasis though isnt really on him its on the supposed national fans organisation,which also discriminates against Yorkshire Seasiders,Chorley and Leyland and BASIL. For some reason BSA and BST are classed* as better fans which is an absolute nonsense and a mark of the divisive and hypocritical way the FSA operates.

~Just replying to the OP and adding to the discussion before anyone starts accusing me of muck raking.

*Only BSA and BST are allowed on as affiliates-the rest are merely associates
 
To support a club means that you make a financial contribution to the club somehow, such as attending matches, buying merchandise etc. If you just watched the club on TV say, you just follow the team, a fan of the side, but not a supporter, even though the sky sports subscription does help sky pay the clubs they show TV money.
 
BFC_Aspie said:
To support a club means that you make a financial contribution to the club somehow, such as attending matches, buying merchandise etc. If you just watched the club on TV say, you just follow the team, a fan of the side, but not a supporter, even though the sky sports subscription does help sky pay the clubs they show TV money.
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Aspie, says who?......as you say the clubs in the Prem make most of their money from SKY/BT so,the subscribers are making a financial contribution
 
Athers said:
Going to games if physically possible
Financially supporting the club by buying merch like shirts, scarves etc
Buying games on iFollow to help fund the club.

The physical side of supporting a club is not the be-all and end-all, the financial side also has a lot to do with whether or not you go to a game.
 
If it's your team you are a supporter, fan, follower or whatever you want to call it. Whether you go to every home & away game or just a few the choice is yours.
 
Curryman said:
Athers said:
Going to games if physically possible
Financially supporting the club by buying merch like shirts, scarves etc
Buying games on iFollow to help fund the club.

The physical side of supporting a club is not the be-all and end-all, the financial side also has a lot to do with whether or not you go to a game.
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likewise I’ve known one or two who have said they can’t afford to go but then spent all afternoon boozing, betting and watching the results on sky 🥺
 
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