I'm not nearly knowledgeable enough about the game to be a historian trust meHAHA, no not at all, that was a good read, cheers for that. Don't worry, I 'cracked the code' and saw your point which is completely valid; I am indeed looking at it from a modern set of eyes, 12,000 miles away, although, if I did live in England, I don't think my perspective would be any different. I'm sure there are English people here who are just as surprised as I am, like the thread starter for example. I just would've guessed that rivalries were just as strong back then as they are today. I'm wondering if some people back then didn't actually have a team that they supported and also, for those who did have a team, whether it was just as common for some of them to have another team they supported as it was for those who just merely attended another teams games, without any real passionate support. As I said, that was a good informative read in a good old bit of English footballing history; you should be a football historian, that is if you're not already
While we have our differences, I have to say this is class.Spurs are actually my 4th club.
As an American, I have to say- I love a lot of English teams! And it's fun because there are so many to choose from! But since I can't pick 'em all, I've gone with 4 mainstays (in the Prem, that is).
My list:
1) Arsenal
2) Chelsea
3) West Ham
Distant 4th: Tottenham
My favorite player is Jack Wilshire! I love him! He, imvho, truly embodies the spirit of the game with his never-say-die attitude and his grit and determination. He has helped us immeasurably and I once told him so, shouting (from the stands) the last time my beloved boys in red and white came on a tour of the US! It was so amazing- I got a special kit made up for the occasion with his name on the back and "No. 1 fan" on either side of it! I even wore the same size shorts that he wears- despite the fact that I'm quite a bit taller! They were small on me but I didn't mind- and I think he appreciated it because he smiled at me when he came out of the tunnel (something I'll never forget)! My man Jack is something else; I have a life-size poster of him in my room, surrounded by all my Gooner gear (including a replica trophy from our undefeated season a decade ago- which looks just like the real thing! This being a Tottenham board you might not know this but back then they called us "The Invincibles!" What memories!). Man oh man you should've seen me when we won the league at White Hart Lane (your stadium I believe)-- holy smokes- talk about good times! In fact as I'm typing this I'm wearing an Arsenal shirt with "Henry" on the back (although I feel like a traitor to Jack lol)! My wife thinks I should get rid of some of my memorabilia- she says "you're 47, yet you act like an overgrown child," but we all know how enticing this stuff can be! And there's no way in heaven I would willingly part with any of my Arsenal collection. I consider myself part of the team in a way, and I bet if the players could meet me they would feel the same! Oh well, maybe someday!
As for Chelsea: John Terry is- and always will be- my favorite defender, and I love the way Chelsea play (and their fans are great as well!). Roman really keeps us humming along- and now with Jose back at the helm the sky's the limit! Tbh it's hard picking between my blues and my reds so I basically don't; I wish for nothing but the best whenever I see them play, and when they face each other (which I believe you guys call a "derby"- except that unlike our Kentucky derby you "chaps" say "darby"- man you guys are out of control! But I digress...) I root for a great game! This may sound crazy but I have a jersey (sorry there "chaps"- I mean to say "shirt!" You Brits and your confusing terms lol!) that is half Arsenal and half Chelsea, split down the middle, which I wear when appropriate (and sometimes even when not!). This helps me to feel like a true supporter- and not one favoring one team over the other (which would hardly be fair since I adore them both!). Indeed, I love Chelsea so much I only buy Samsung products (haha- I just wish Emirates Airlines flew between cities in America!).
As for West Ham- well, though I don't really have much of an affinity for their current players, I do feel a kinship with both the supporters and the owners. Also, since they play in a kind of red and blue then it's almost as if they're a family member uniting my other two top sides- or at least thats the way I prefer to look at it! West Ham are like my underdog team- they're never really that good on the field (oh sorry- there I go again: "pitch") but they seem really cool and fun and feisty- good "blokes" as you guys might say...just one question: is there actual ham there (like ham you can eat- the pink stuff) or is it just a coincidence that ham is in the name? I'm wondering because I really like ham and maybe it's good there and if I make it out to a game (sorry: match) I'll buy some and eat it with my fellow hammies! We'll "ham" it up together!
As for Spurs, they're pretty decent, and I try and cheer them on when I can (at least as long as their winning doesn't interfere with any of my above true core teams). I don't know much about them but I do know that if I want to really mess with people's minds here in the States I can say "I'm watching Spurs"; they'll think I'm referring to the basketball team from San Antonio but you and I know better! Haha- joke's on them!
Anyway- wow- English soccer is freakin' awesome! So many cool squads! Cool names! Cool colors! I love it!!!
Oh hey btw- I almost forgot to ask: what do you "blokes" think of my list? Is it close to yours?
I am sure as an Aussie you support a local Rugby Union team (or League, Aussie Rules, Cricket whatever)
Equally I am sure there are rivalries between teams from different parts of Australia
I am sure however that while you may hate teams from rival areas you unit in support when they play international rugby representing you in a Wallaby shirt against the ALL BLACKs for example
Sounds like he should have done with them what he did with you.My Grandad was all Spurs and insisted on taking me to my first game as a five year old. He certainly knew what he was doing because I have been hooked ever since. I think he was making sure at least someone in the family was Spurs because his sons ended up Chelsa, Hammers and QPR.
YesBut isn't that just the Aussie equivalent of English fans uniting when England play? Even when rival players are in the team.
of course, it would all change if we saw someone like Southampton in Europe. Everyone would be behind them. It seems when it comes to City, utd, Chelsea, scum and Liverpool, to the neutral, they are very easy clubs to hate and so neutral English fans want to see them beat by the continental Europeans. Not the same with a team like Southampton, or maybe even us, except for scum fans of course. We're hardly a hated club to the neutral are we? Can you remember the reception we got when we were in the CL?Yes
But what I am saying is - in them days the same logic applied to a smaller demographic
Namely Londoners and the outside London areas of the UK - because people were far less upwardly mobile and generations lived and died within a stones throw of one another therefore London as a City was more intrinsically linked to their identity above and beyond local divides and rivalries
I tried to illustrate how that changed generation to generation (My dad's generation having mostly lost the support of other London teams against non London teams but still very much uniting in support of English teams in Europe where my generation lost that support of rival English teams against the Europeans but still have the support for the national team regardless of local rivalries)
I only used Australia as the example because that's where you're from
It varies person to person - there are still some who support every English club in Europe because they represent England while others support the English teams they do not consider rivals (and some who either don't care or actively want all English teams to fail because they hate them all - only wanting a certain amount of English success in Europe for our coefficient)i
of course, it would all change if we saw someone like Southampton in Europe. Everyone would be behind them. It seems when it comes to City, utd, Chelsea, scum and Liverpool, to the neutral, they are very easy clubs to hate and so neutral English fans want to see them beat by the continental Europeans. Not the same with a team like Southampton, or maybe even us, except for scum fans of course. We're hardly a hated club to the neutral are we? Can you remember the reception we got when we were in the CL?
You mean to make the draws easier for teams in the CL and Europa and England in Euro? I'd say the average fan wouldn't have that level of intelligence to think of the coefficient rankings and their effects.others support the English teams they do not consider rivals (and some who either don't care or actively want all English teams to fail because they hate them all - only wanting a certain amount of English success in Europe for our coefficient)
I think that the change to ticket only (and expensive tickets at that) has also changed things substantially. It used to be that you would get up on a Saturday, see that there was nothing else happening and you knew that your mate was going to the Boleyn (for example) so you could jump a train and have a day out for next to nothing - a game of football, a program, couple of pints and 10 fags for less than a fiver...Yes
But what I am saying is - in them days the same logic applied to a smaller demographic
Namely Londoners and the outside London areas of the UK - because people were far less upwardly mobile and generations lived and died within a stones throw of one another therefore London as a City was more intrinsically linked to their identity above and beyond local divides and rivalries
I tried to illustrate how that changed generation to generation (My dad's generation having mostly lost the support of other London teams against non London teams but still very much uniting in support of English teams in Europe where my generation lost that support of rival English teams against the Europeans but still have the support for the national team regardless of local rivalries)
I only used Australia as the example because that's where you're from
I think this highlights the contrast between the two. Not sure why this guy is SO anti any other English team @ 1:31; and the way he articulates himself, I'm willing to bet he's not intelligent enough for his reasoning to be the coefficient rankings!Yes
But what I am saying is - in them days the same logic applied to a smaller demographic
Namely Londoners and the outside London areas of the UK - because people were far less upwardly mobile and generations lived and died within a stones throw of one another therefore London as a City was more intrinsically linked to their identity above and beyond local divides and rivalries
I tried to illustrate how that changed generation to generation (My dad's generation having mostly lost the support of other London teams against non London teams but still very much uniting in support of English teams in Europe where my generation lost that support of rival English teams against the Europeans but still have the support for the national team regardless of local rivalries)
I only used Australia as the example because that's where you're from
Really can't believe I've just heard this but chap on talksport was talking about spurs bring his second team. His favourite team is, and you won't believe it , Arsenal. I kid you not absolutely nuts. Can this really be possible.