British football fans [or Polish people who have lived in Britain for a while]

♂

Nov 12, 11, 12:58 #1

Hi guys. I am doing a bit of research on the internet about the football fan psychology because it interest me as a football fan myself. I am particularly looking at the culture of the British fan. I was wondering if people on here who are British could tell me how far they go as football fans? By that I mean

Do you have a season ticket?

If you do how many games on average would you miss, if any?

If you don't, how often to you go to see your team play?

Do you go to games with the family and/or friends or by yourself?

When you go, do you always wear the strip? Sometimes? Never?

Do you take part in the singing of your club's songs or let others do that? How involved do you get in supporting your team? Are you more of a spectator who likes being entertained?

Do you buy a lot of merchandise related to your club? Do you buy general football merchandise not necessarily related to your club?

Do you feel, as a fan, that you have a voice about the decisions your favourite clubs makes?

Could you also tell me how often you talk and think about football and how far up the list it is with other important things in your life. This would include work, if you have job, family, if you have one, your religion, if you believe in any, other activities and hobbies that you have? A general idea of how much time in your life football takes up in comparison with other stuff you do.

I know this is a bit in depth but if you have a bit of time, I would appreciate your replies and do look forward to reading them. It would be great if you could leave your name, where you are from and who you actually support, or if not name then at least tell me where you are from and who you support.

Much appreciated for those who leave their details.

WielkiPolakThreads: 21 Posts: 155 Joined: Jun 3, 11 ♂	Nov 13, 11, 13:25 #2
Ok so as not to narrow it down so much, you do not have to be British. Any football fans reply, it would make for an interesting comparison in different countries. Would appreciate a few replies, I know there are football fans on the forum.

♂

Nov 13, 11, 13:54 #3

A season ticket for Piast? No

Games? I've been to both games since the opening of the new stadium and am going to the next one against Polonia Bytom next Sunday.

I might miss a game if my wife's family are having a party or get-together.

I go with my friend, Daniel

Wear the strip? No, I don't have one but I take the Piast scarf and sometimes dress in their colours of red+blue. I have red hair so.... ;)

I don't know the songs so well but the simple ones I join in to, yes :) I like the atmosphere and camaraderie, yes.

Merchandise? No, I'm Scottish. The scarf was free ;)

As a fan, I just watch matches. You know how power works, WP.

Football is a big part of my life and always has been. I play regularly and have followed it wherever I have found myself. I used to like Hiroshima SanFrecce when I lived there. Religion, for me, is too organised and streamlined. Far better venture into the realms of spirituality which allows for YOUR steering of the soul. Tell me, are Polish people happier for being religious? I don't think so! Are they better? I don't think so! I have found that football brings people together in a much better way :)

I hope that helped, WP.

♂ [Moderator]

Nov 13, 11, 13:57 #4

WielkiPolak:

Any football fans reply,

at the end of last season and up to now i have been following the exploits of Gateshead in the blue square league.

when next in the town i will go and see them. one reason is because it's cheap. also, they will have a new stadium and because a number of the players were once household names.

all their latest highlights are online just after each game.

i will be buying the vintage shirt sooner or later too.

BTW. daughter number three was all excited this week because three players from WKS visited her school. autographs, photos and a kick around with the pupils. all good stuff.

(it's possible that this thread may end up in Off Topic)

SeanusThreads: 22 Posts: 30,158 Joined: Dec 25, 07 ♂	Nov 13, 11, 14:11 #5
Then let's keep it on topic. Polish football is on-topic, Wrocław. I am a British football fan who watches Polish football. Come on, you know it's much more exciting than a lot of the other absolute drivel on the forum.

♂ [Moderator]

Nov 13, 11, 15:17 #6

In the Uk a big problem with supporting a club when you live in a different city is the ridicules expenses occurred when you go to watch them. Watching my club means a round trip of 270 miles. If I go by train this means a £60 rail ticket, and up to £60 to watch the game. Other added expenses are tube tickets and something to eat and drink. If I decide to stay in a hotel overnight then that's another £60 at least.

Another problem is the stadium only holds 36,000 and they could almost get double every home game. So getting a ticket is very hard, as is a season ticket because there is a waiting list of many years. A season ticket is of use only to people who live near the ground otherwise it would be too expensive going to every game. A midweek game would also mean time of work and lost wages as well.

For the above reasons I only get to watch them play at home twice a season and once or twice away. I really don't know how traveling fans can afford to watch their clubs, but they do! If Sunderland were playing Plymouth on a cold winters evening for example; you could guarantee that there would be a couple of hundred away fans.

I would really like to go to every home game but unless I move to N17 that would be impossible, so at the moment I'm very grateful for TV and the streaming of live games on the Internet I also support my local non league club (5 leagues below the football league) £5 to get in ,£1.50 for a coffee and pastie and a 5 minutes walk home. It's not all bad:) .

MEMBER ♂

Nov 13, 11, 16:23 #7

Not so much a football fan. But could be helpful anyway. I am not really a fan of football full stop, however, in my line of work, I deal with football fans on a daily basis. As such, I need to follow football so as to converse with the punters.

So I own no season ticket, don't wear football strips ever (why English fans think that's a decent fashion choice of a Saturday night I don't know) and rarely go to any games. In saying that, I will be going to the Celtic - Athletico game a week on Wednesday as I will tolerate European games and my mate got cheap tickets. I also like to see Celtic, Wisła and Partick Thistle do well and I look out for results once I'm finished reading the paper.

I find a problem with British football fans (which I haven't found so much abroad) is that it has enveloped their lives. It's all they ever talk about when in the bar, at work, in company, etc. It's great that they are so passionate about something, but they seem oblivious to any other speort but football. An example the other week, there was top level international rugby live on TV and no football on any of the sports channels. What do the fans want to watch? Sky Sports News - Some guys sitting in the studio telling you the scores....come on!!

♂

Edited by: Oldyoungloon Nov 13, 11, 21:44 #8

WielkiPolak:

Do you have a season ticket?

No, Not since our club introduced a Database for buying tickets

WielkiPolak:

If you don't, how often to you go to see your team play?

Whenever I'm in Scotland, 5-8 games a season now

WielkiPolak:

Do you go to games with the family and/or friends or by yourself?

with our fan group until we disbanded, 2 years back,

WielkiPolak:

When you go, do you always wear the strip? Sometimes? Never?

Haven't owned a strip in 10 years, apart from a Serbian nation strip that was a gift from some red star fans

WielkiPolak:

Do you buy a lot of merchandise related to your club? Do you buy general football merchandise not necessarily related to your club?

We used to produce our own merchandise, to fund travels, tifo's and pay court fines, I also have have a growing collection of merch from groups all over europe and often trade with other fans.

WielkiPolak:

Do you feel, as a fan, that you have a voice about the decisions your favourite clubs makes?

None whatsoever,

WielkiPolak:

Could you also tell me how often you talk and think about football and how far up the list it is with other important things in your life. This would include work, if you have job, family, if you have one, your religion, if you believe in any, other activities and hobbies that you have? A general idea of how much time in your life football takes up in comparison with other stuff you do.

Football is my religion,
Pittodrie is my Church
Aberdeen is my Club

Prior to getting married and moving to away football took up a huge amount of time, evenings spent in warehouse's prepping tifo's, painting banners, Organising accomodation for guests and fans from all over Europe, match tickets, and fundraising events,
Uk football culture was dying on it's ass 10 years ago,, with the introduction of seating, cctv, health and safety. To an extent it still is, but there is light at the end of the tunnel, We were the first Ultra Style group in the Uk but we now look across the country and see groups are springing up all over the place, There are real movements for the Introduction of Safe Standing areas, And a real desire among ordinary fans to reclaim the game for fans not supporters and bring atmospheres back to our stadiums
Unfortunately for us, Pressures from Police, Media and Security took its toll and the group disbanded a few weeks after our tenth anniversary.
I've lost countless jobs, been in court more times than i care to remember for the Daftest stuff, but it was worth it,
I have always been fascinated by the fan culture,

If you have any more questions feel free to ask,

C

POLAND . The Unofficial Guide	Unanswered \| Archives
POLAND . The Unofficial Guide	Poland and Polish Community	Witamy, Guest \| PF Members \| Gold Members

Home \| Unanswered \| Archives \| Random \| Statistics	Time in Poland: 02:15 / May 27
About Us \| Contact Us \| Rules, Privacy \| Poland Advertising	© 2005-12 PolishForums.com