Braesoyetts Posted August 8 Share Posted August 8 (edited) This is something I’ve always been curious about. There’s a perception of football fandom that is all about growing up with the club - kids going to games with their dads (parents), then staying a fan of that club the rest of their lives. Yet we all know that it’s not always like that. Plenty of folk change their football club allegiances (admittedly not usually between bitter rivals though!) Likewise there is a perception that folk only support one club - possibly one club per country or whatever, but not multiple SPFL clubs for example. Yet I’ve read historical research from the 1930s where older men were asked about their football attendance, and while some were committed to one club, others would go with multiple clubs in an area, depending on who was playing who, and who was playing better. For example, some would watch Leeds, Huddersfield, Bradford, Doncaster, depending on the week. I don’t know how common that is nowadays, but curious. The poll is multiple choice, so feel free to select any that apply. Also, please feel free to add your comments for context. For my own context, I came from a Celtic supporting family, but in the halcyon days of the late eighties and early nineties, opted to go with Aberdeen. (I may have just liked their colours.) After a couple of years I went back to supporting Celtic (along with all my family and most of my friends, schoolmates etc.) As I reached adulthood, I got tired of the sectarianism and the lopsided nature of Scottish football, and decided to follow what may be my local team (Firhill and Celtic Park are about the same distance from my home). I must have gotten used to not winning things, as I’ve stuck with the same team for the near 25 years since. Anyway thanks in advance for anyone who responds! Edited August 8 by Braesoyetts 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tamthebam Posted August 8 Share Posted August 8 I supported Meadowbank Thistle. Then for reasons beyond my control there wasn't a Meadowbank to support any more. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barry Ferguson's Hat Posted August 9 Share Posted August 9 Clyde in League 2, Celtic in the Premiership and Rangers in Europe. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottsdad Posted August 9 Share Posted August 9 13 hours ago, Braesoyetts said: For my own context, I came from a Celtic supporting family, but in the halcyon days of the late eighties and early nineties, opted to go with Aberdeen. (I may have just liked their colours.) After a couple of years I went back to supporting Celtic (along with all my family and most of my friends, schoolmates etc.) As I reached adulthood, I got tired of the sectarianism and the lopsided nature of Scottish football, and decided to follow what may be my local team (Firhill and Celtic Park are about the same distance from my home). I must have gotten used to not winning things, as I’ve stuck with the same team for the near 25 years since. Anyway thanks in advance for anyone who responds! I grew up in Alloa, my dad was a Falkirk fan and took me to their games. Been a Bairn ever since. I've never understood, really, how someone can switch teams. That said, my brother did - in his 20s he moved more and more from Falkirk to Alloa as a fan. He goes to see them now rather than Falkirk. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melanius Mullarkey Posted August 9 Share Posted August 9 7 hours ago, Barry Ferguson's Hat said: Clyde in League 2, Celtic in the Premiership and Rangers in Europe. The holy trinity... Spoiler of c***s. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Braesoyetts Posted August 10 Author Share Posted August 10 17 hours ago, scottsdad said: I grew up in Alloa, my dad was a Falkirk fan and took me to their games. Been a Bairn ever since. I've never understood, really, how someone can switch teams. That said, my brother did - in his 20s he moved more and more from Falkirk to Alloa as a fan. He goes to see them now rather than Falkirk. I think if I’d started off being taken to Firhill, I never would have changed. It’s probably easier in some respects to switch from an OF side to a smaller team, cause you’re leaving behind a lot of baggage and a lot of non- football stuff that is better left behind. You will of course have to get used to mockery from your family and friends….. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmic Joe Posted August 10 Share Posted August 10 I had to tick the "only one team" option as I started supporting my local team, but moved away. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tongue_tied_danny Posted August 10 Share Posted August 10 I ticked the same team local option. In the primary school playground I would have said Celtic one week, Rangers the next and then Aberdeen the week after. I don't count that as supporting them though... as I never went to games or bought merchandise. I didn't even particularly care about any results. They were just big names to be associated with. I was getting taken to Montrose games though. I support my local club unequivocally and I have no leanings at all towards any other SPFL club, or English team. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GordonS Posted August 10 Share Posted August 10 22 hours ago, scottsdad said: I grew up in Alloa, my dad was a Falkirk fan and took me to their games. Been a Bairn ever since. I've never understood, really, how someone can switch teams. That said, my brother did - in his 20s he moved more and more from Falkirk to Alloa as a fan. He goes to see them now rather than Falkirk. As the OP said, it's easier to drop a club as ugly and toxic as the OF. I understand your brother switching to Alloa too, because following teams at different levels means different experiences. I've never enjoyed being in one seat for a whole game - or worse, a whole season - I like to go to different parts of it depending on the weather or whatever. I like being able to bring a bottle of juice in a bag without being treated like a threat to national security. I enjoy being within walking distance of the ground. And I really don't want to spend what full-time clubs charge - my season ticket for 17 league games is £155 and a pie is about £2. I still probably spend the same over a season as a fan of a Premiership club but I go to far more games. I like knowing the club chairman and being able to speak to him at games. There are lots of other little things, it's a more relaxed, happy vibe that suits me better. I miss the level of excitement, the goal celebrations and the singing, though I get my hit of that following the men's national team. Each to their own and I'm not saying lower/ non-league is better, it's just about what suits you. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sugar_Army Posted August 10 Share Posted August 10 (edited) As a kid growing up in Dundee my dad only supported Scotland so that was our bonding time. He had loads of drinking buddies that went to see Celtic so I was put on a bus to see them although did take me to see Celtic v Airdrie in the SC final in 75. None of my friends were OF fans. But in 75 my nephew was born and Paul Hegarty's wife was in the next bed to my sister. Some United players came in, spoke to me and I was overawed. By 77 I had started secondary school and some of my mates went to United games, so I went with them...suddenly I was hooked. I still go to United games, never look for Celtic results and have no feelings towards them other than hate both sides of the OF. I could have kept watching Celtic winning silverware but I chose my local team who had never won anything at that point. In fact, had my classmates been Dundee fans I could have been a Dee (shudders). I do not regret my choice despite the ups and downs. I still follow Scotland and was in Germany for Euros. Even wore the shirt that my late father had worn when we watched Scotland v Norway together in the 98 world cup in Bordeaux. Edited August 11 by Sugar_Army 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TPAFKA Jersey 2 Posted August 13 Share Posted August 13 Always St. Mirren. My Dad (despite being a Rangers fan) took me to a handful of games in the early 70s when St. Mirren were arguably at their lowest point. Cold winters days and about 2000 fans rattling around in what then was a reasonably big stadium meant I really didn’t get the bug. I was still too young I think. Around 1975/76 my step father started taking me to St. Johnstone games (who he supported). As much as I enjoyed the experience more by then, I always felt like a neutral. Then in January 1977 my two uncles took me to watch St. Mirren v Dundee Utd in the Scottish Cup. 20000 inside Love St, first division Fergie’s Furies thrashed the Premier Division side 4-1, a pitch invasion at the end and that was me well and truly hooked. Became a die hard home and awayer right up until I moved to Jersey in 1986 just before my 20th birthday. Since then I’ve averaged about 6 games a season and that number has grown in recent years as it’s become more affordable and easier from a family perspective. Last season I made it to 10 games, so this season I’ve just bitten the bullet and got a season ticket for the first time since I moved away nearly 40 years ago. Mon the Buds! 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshbairn Posted August 20 Share Posted August 20 Falkirk from a bairn, maybe about 8 months of Rangers at 14/15 until the look of shame and disappointment from my Dad finally hit home and back to Falkirk. Moved away and got back for the odd game over the years and subscribed to Falkirk TV, never really took on a local club in my travels. Moved from Wales to Inverness in 2012, decided it was time to adopt a local club. County and Caley weren't on because of the history with Falkirk and knowing I'd burst out laughing whenever Tokely was mentioned, so it was Clachnacuddin. Been to a majority of home and away games ever since, still go to a rare Falkirk game and watch the streams occasionally, but I'd be hard put to name many of the current team. If asked I say I'm a Clach supporter rather than a Bairn. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fruit Pascalis Posted August 23 Share Posted August 23 If you support more than one team you need your hard drive checked 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itzdrk Posted August 23 Share Posted August 23 Im a fan of two teams, it's a fairly recent thing. I used to be dead against it but I just kinda fell in love while visiting and go back at least twice a year. I don't live there though so I'm not a real supporter. I am only a real supporter of Ayr United. In the unlikely event they ever played it would only be Ayr for me and I'd hope we annihilated them. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marten Posted August 23 Share Posted August 23 23 minutes ago, itzdrk said: Im a fan of two teams, it's a fairly recent thing. I used to be dead against it but I just kinda fell in love while visiting and go back at least twice a year. I don't live there though so I'm not a real supporter. I am only a real supporter of Ayr United. In the unlikely event they ever played it would only be Ayr for me and I'd hope we annihilated them. Being from The Netherlands and living in Scotland I wasn't originally intending to pick a team, but after going to my local team Lochee United I basically ended up sticking around and they are definitely my Scottish team. But I would still say I'm only a real supporter of Excelsior Rotterdam. That's the team I grew up with and I will always keep a close eye on. I just missed following a team too much when I moved to Scotland hence why I ended up picking one to follow closely. As much as I care about Lochee United, they will never come close to Excelsior (and none of my mates at Lochee would expect that). 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.