Why do so many Irish people support English soccer teams? What is the connection? As someone who worked over there for a while in the early 1970's and did not get into the sport I would love to know why others did, many of them never having set foot in England prior to starting to support certain teams. This is not meant to be a "put down" to those who did. I would genuinely love to know why they support those particular teams, like why should someone from say Clare have an affinity with a team from say Blackburn? I would think that many supporters would have been very young when they began supporting teams and may have been influenced by Match of the Day and because of the success of certain teams but I would love to have the matter explained !!

Cavan_Slasher (Cavan) - Posts: 10253 - 05/04/2010 15:57:06    609129

Why do Irish people like English bands?
Why do Irish people like English movies?
Why do Irish people like English comedians?
Why do Irish people like English food?

All of the above are the exact same so I'd like them answered as well.

fredrickwood (Roscommon) - Posts: 2871 - 05/04/2010 16:35:36    609170

Because our teams are pure dung.

Brolly (Monaghan) - Posts: 4472 - 05/04/2010 16:43:59    609178

Brolly summed it up well there .

Dellboypolecat (Tyrone) - Posts: 15069 - 05/04/2010 16:53:37    609188

Part of being a colony, or in the ROI case, post colonialisation syndrome.

The people still feel inferior and still follow the "mother country's" sports, pastimes, and all the rest.

Mind you, I really got into Man City when I lived there. Nowadays, my interest in purely a sociological one.

patrique (Antrim) - Posts: 13709 - 05/04/2010 18:05:54    609253

Fred,

I am not asking about those things !! I want to know why people began supporting their "particular" soccer teams !! Why did that team become their favourites ? I already said its not a wind-up !!

Cavan_Slasher (Cavan) - Posts: 10253 - 05/04/2010 18:07:18    609255

they all pretend to support these teams, but in reality it means nothing to them

32_4_1 (Meath) - Posts: 4202 - 05/04/2010 18:31:57    609274

fredrickwood
County: Roscommon
Posts: 2258

609170 Why do Irish people like English bands?
Why do Irish people like English movies?
Why do Irish people like English comedians?
Why do Irish people like English food?
__________________________________________________________________________________________

Liking a band or movie is not the same as a soccer club.

Soccer, like all sports, should be about our best 11 versus your best. Our street verus yours, village against village, city versus city, country against country. Supporting a club shouldn't be a choice. Unfortunetly, in my view, soccer has become about who you like rather than where you are from.

Your comparison between movies/bands and sport is illuminating. Its just entertainment for you. Fair enough.

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13837 - 05/04/2010 19:01:12    609304

Brolly got it straight away. Who would want to support someone like Bohemians unless you are a local

Arney_GFC (Fermanagh) - Posts: 101 - 05/04/2010 19:02:23    609307

1.Irish teams are useless

2.Its the biggest sport in the world

3.England is geographically the closest strong soccer nation to us

4.We speak the same language and have easy access to english television channels

5.Irish footballers went across to england and gave us an interest

miketyson (Limerick) - Posts: 2748 - 05/04/2010 19:09:59    609315

Arney_GFC
County: Fermanagh
Posts: 62

609307
Brolly got it straight away. Who would want to support someone like Bohemians unless you are a local


Do you support Fermanagh?

Did Tyrone, Down, Derry, Donegal etc etc support the county through a 100 years of misery?

If we go by that reckoning EVERYONE in the GAA would support Kerry and Kilkenny.

Think again lads/lasses.

patrique (Antrim) - Posts: 13709 - 05/04/2010 20:19:10    609408

I think miketyson isn't far away. But also there are very few Irish families who do not have some one who lives in England or has lived in England at sometime in there lives. Be it themselves or a brother or sister, cousin or someone even a close friend. The link with England and where they lived will always be a draw to a person. eg As we all know Pat lived in Manchester for sometime and he is a proud City fan (sadly he went to the dark side)lol.

I have cousins over in Ireland and they are mainly United fans. Some have been here, some have not but they do have a link.

Mancirish (UK) - Posts: 2200 - 05/04/2010 21:15:09    609486

Nobody has yet explained why they support their particular team !!

Cavan_Slasher (Cavan) - Posts: 10253 - 05/04/2010 21:21:35    609495

Slasher its an extra reason to go on the sauce.Sorry darlin cant sit in the utd match is on im heading into town to watch it

beer baron (Cavan) - Posts: 3916 - 06/04/2010 10:25:55    609598

Ok Slasher. I have supported Everton for as long as i can remember. I was growing up in the 80's when they were one of the top teams in England. At that time programs such as match of the day, saint and greavsie etc were on tv at the weekends whereas the only time you heard about the irish leagues was in the sports section at the end of the news. So, i gues exposure to the english game through various media is what influenced me to follow everton. Hope this answers your question

frankbhoy77 (Antrim) - Posts: 1300 - 06/04/2010 10:45:40    609611

The same could be said of Foreign Holidays Because our weather is pure dung!

fortyfive (Tyrone) - Posts: 5929 - 06/04/2010 11:20:11    609629

I support Nottingham Forest because when I was a kid I loved Robin Hood. I was convinced that he played for Nottingham Forest. They came and played a pre-season friendly against EMFA (who became Kilkenny City) in the mid 70s. EMFA were the local side and its star striker was a family friend. He was famous in our parish but not beyond.

They went on to win Division 2 that year and then went on to win the league followed by two European cups.

I supported Kilkenny City until they went bust and Nottingham Forest because you had to support an english team as there was no exposure in teh late 70s early 80s on tv or radio of irish soccer.

I also ended up going out with a girl from Newark near Nottingahm and so used go to Forest about 5 times a year and catch every game against the London teams.

I'd still prefer Kilkenny to win and under 12 camoige match in all honesty.

YOU REDS!

Puddersthecat (Kilkenny) - Posts: 1692 - 06/04/2010 11:34:35    609645

Frankbhoy and Puddersthecat,

Thanks for that. It explains your reasons well !!
One of the lads at work follows Man Utd because his father worked in Manchester for years and he was actually born over there. He goes over regularly to games. A good reason but i would like to know why people support them if they have no connection to that city at all. Like why Man Utd, Liverpool, Chelsea instead of Man City, Everton and Arsenal ? Is it the success they are following ?

Cavan_Slasher (Cavan) - Posts: 10253 - 06/04/2010 13:30:47    609780

Slasher, i think the success of a team has something to do with it. With everton being successful in the 80s they received a lot of coverage and media attention. Once you start to follow a team you begin to know and aspire to some of the players. Of course the success does not always last eg everton but by that time you are a true supporter and stick with them through thick and thin in the hope that the glory days will return

frankbhoy77 (Antrim) - Posts: 1300 - 06/04/2010 14:23:05    609839

Grandmother worked in Dublin during the 1950s, living on St. Attracta's Rd in Cabra. She got to know the Whelan family in her time there, and was a die-hard Man United supporter ever since. She used to light a candle on top of the television anytime United were being shown.
All the family followed in the tradition (didn't get much choice in the matter).

black&white (Sligo) - Posts: 1628 - 06/04/2010 14:26:19    609843