Some good points here from the pro bandwagon and anti bandwagon birgade. Yes we need the bandwagon people to fill Croker but what gets me is when the true supporter is not able to get to the big event because of the fair weather fans scooping up all the tickets. There should be greater promotion of the season ticket to reward the loyal supporter were he/she gets a discounted rate and guaranteed seat at all the games.

cacsmckilly (Tyrone) - Posts: 1294 - 28/05/2012 13:16:35    1181836

the bandwagoners who only come out for the championship are neither supporters or fans of the county they attach themselves too.............the only thing they have in common with the county is the team colours..........they must think that by wearing the colours they wont stick..............well the fact is they do stick out.... most regular supporters know who's who at the end of the day...............if i find myself beside bandwagoners at a game i love nothing more than exposing them with a question or two about the team or perhaps a previous game...........

Gammy_Knee (USA) - Posts: 1482 - 28/05/2012 13:56:05    1181890

jimbodub
County: Dublin
Posts: 8950

1181821
They're a reliable bandwagon!

Yes thats where the money is made every year.

Nicely put Mes.

It's true though man. Every year without fail the bandwagoners will appear. They're very reliable and it's great.

For example before last years semi-final v Donegal there was the usual messing for tickets the week before. A friend of my Da's rang me looking for a ticket. Now this man hadn't been to a Dubs game all year but had been going to a Dubs match or two every year for the past 35 years. I had no hesitation in getting him sorted with a ticket.

I dislike the 'holier than thou' attitude that some people put on about attending games. Before the Spring Series I'd rarely bother going to see the Dubs play league hurling/football. Maybe a game or two a year at most. If the DCB was to scrap the Spring Series than my attendance at League matches would revert back to that I reckon.

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13833 - 28/05/2012 15:12:53    1181997

cacsmckilly These days there is only one game in the whole year that sells out and soon enough that won't even sell out.

The problem with the band wagon is that the're not reliable. They don't really care about the team and are more concerned with the weather, who else is going and where the pints will be had before hand. This summer has shown how unreliable they are just look at the attendances so far. The band wagon has decided they couldn't be arsed this summer and we are being left with the real fans. We need to work on building up county fan clubs, try to build up a big fan base for every county that goes to all game from January and not be left hoping that your neighbour who didn't even know what division the county team is in will turn up for the big game.

Louth Gael (Louth) - Posts: 1227 - 28/05/2012 15:14:34    1182001

28/05/2012 13:56:05
Gammy_Knee
County: USA
Posts: 717

1181890 the bandwagoners who only come out for the championship are neither supporters or fans of the county they attach themselves too.............the only thing they have in common with the county is the team colours..........they must think that by wearing the colours they wont stick..............well the fact is they do stick out.... most regular supporters know who's who at the end of the day...............if i find myself beside bandwagoners at a game i love nothing more than exposing them with a question or two about the team or perhaps a previous game...........

Yes they are supporters and yes they are fans of their county. Introduce paragraps much easier to read than loads of ...............

ormondbannerman (Clare) - Posts: 13473 - 28/05/2012 15:57:41    1182060

As a supporter who hasnt missed a match since the age of 6, (McKenna cup, league and championship) Nothing annoys me more than seeing these bandwagon supporters! In 2010 especially you have people who reckon their good supporters and know the whole Craic and then 5 or 6 months down the line, they wouldn't even recognise their 'heroes' in the words of James McCartan, "There's a big difference between a supporter who supports a team in the good times and a supporter who supports a team all the time"

MissDownFanatic (Down) - Posts: 411 - 28/05/2012 15:58:19    1182061

Most people can't afford to be scurrying around the four provinces in the depths of winter following their county, usually watching dire football.

AfricanGael (UK) - Posts: 1947 - 28/05/2012 16:20:05    1182078

AfricanGael
County: UK
Posts: 181

1182078 Most people can't afford to be scurrying around the four provinces in the depths of winter following their county, usually watching dire football.

What county games would take them around the 4 provinces in winter?

dhorse (Laois) - Posts: 11374 - 28/05/2012 18:03:27    1182185

dhorse
County: Laois
Posts: 10124

1182185
AfricanGael
County: UK
Posts: 181

1182078 Most people can't afford to be scurrying around the four provinces in the depths of winter following their county, usually watching dire football.

What county games would take them around the 4 provinces in winter?

All of the Leagues have counties from the 4 provinces ( 3 provinces in div 2 ) and of course London in Div 4, so plenty of travelling involved during the league.

AfricanGael (UK) - Posts: 1947 - 28/05/2012 18:36:31    1182234

Yes but the league begins in Feburary.....hardly the depth of winter

MissDownFanatic (Down) - Posts: 411 - 28/05/2012 21:17:27    1182389

AfricanGael
County: UK
Posts: 182

1182234 dhorse
County: Laois
Posts: 10124

1182185
AfricanGael
County: UK
Posts: 181

1182078 Most people can't afford to be scurrying around the four provinces in the depths of winter following their county, usually watching dire football.

What county games would take them around the 4 provinces in winter?

All of the Leagues have counties from the 4 provinces ( 3 provinces in div 2 ) and of course London in Div 4, so plenty of travelling involved during the league.

believe it or not i had noticed that myself
The league format changed years ago, it starts the 1st weekend of spring nowadays

dhorse (Laois) - Posts: 11374 - 28/05/2012 21:23:15    1182399

Sport means different things to different people. Some people are die hard fans, some are seasonal, many are so called band-wagon. It takes a big ego for one to proclaim their way of life is better than anothers. Like it or not 'bandwagon' supporters are the lifeblood of sport in Ireland and many places else where. I couldnt imagine attending a AI Final with Dublin involved with only the 10 odd thousand so called proper Dublin fans.

I go to every Dublin game. Thats my hobby my interest my choice. To say that is better than another persons would be nothing short of arrogant. Many people have other interests, families, limited resources and time etc that keep them away from games. They only point of separation between fans i would make it that those who do follow thick and thin should be rewarded when the big games arrive. For all other games id rather see Croker and any other ground full with year round and seasonal supporters alike rather than being nearly empty with die hard fans alone!

seany16 (Dublin) - Posts: 1663 - 28/05/2012 21:42:35    1182431

dhorse
County: Laois
Posts: 10131

1182399
1182234 dhorse
County: Laois
Posts: 10124

The league format changed years ago, it starts the 1st weekend of spring nowadays

MissDownFanatic
County: Down
Posts: 20

1182389 Yes but the league begins in Feburary.....hardly the depth of winter

The first weekend of February is far from the "first weekend of Spring". Spring doesn't start until on or around the 20th of March. Wasn't Fermanagh's first league game postponed because of snow!

AfricanGael (UK) - Posts: 1947 - 29/05/2012 08:06:31    1182475

The first weekend of February is far from the "first weekend of Spring". Spring doesn't start until on or around the 20th of March. Wasn't Fermanagh's first league game postponed because of snow!


That must be why it's dubbed the spring Series

dhorse (Laois) - Posts: 11374 - 29/05/2012 10:41:45    1182583

seany16
County: Dublin
Posts: 628

1182431
Sport means different things to different people. Some people are die hard fans, some are seasonal, many are so called band-wagon. It takes a big ego for one to proclaim their way of life is better than anothers. Like it or not 'bandwagon' supporters are the lifeblood of sport in Ireland and many places else where. I couldnt imagine attending a AI Final with Dublin involved with only the 10 odd thousand so called proper Dublin fans.

I go to every Dublin game. Thats my hobby my interest my choice. To say that is better than another persons would be nothing short of arrogant. Many people have other interests, families, limited resources and time etc that keep them away from games. They only point of separation between fans i would make it that those who do follow thick and thin should be rewarded when the big games arrive. For all other games id rather see Croker and any other ground full with year round and seasonal supporters alike rather than being nearly empty with die hard fans alone!

Agree fully seany16. I attend as many Kildare games as possible including minor and u21 and I've often been disappointed with turnouts. Welcome the bandwagon supporters if they get behind the team and contribute to the gate. Might feel differently if we get to an All Ireland though.

St.Conleth (Kildare) - Posts: 1730 - 29/05/2012 11:04:56    1182606

I agree with Seany, a lot of people showing arrogance about how they are better than other 'supporters'.

At the end of the day its entertainment. These people pay their money and they are entitled to be there as much as you or I. If they dont want to be there then that's their choice too.

If you want to go to every game then go right ahead, but please dont look down upon people who dont want to I say.

benjyyy (Donegal) - Posts: 1435 - 29/05/2012 11:42:47    1182634

who cares when spring and winter starts and ends seriously like some people will argue over anything

hill16no1man (Dublin) - Posts: 12665 - 29/05/2012 11:59:24    1182647

the dubs are the biggest bandwagon jumpers in the game. Once the soccer in England and Scotland is over they pull out the Dublin jerseys and put away their Celtic tops. Most dubs wouldn't know what the NFL or O'Byrne cup was never mind go to them. Kildare played them this year in Newbridge and about a hundred turned up. Yet the hundred still made a show of themselves booing during a minutes silence. Great supporters alright.

fixxer (Kildare) - Posts: 202 - 29/05/2012 12:23:52    1182674

One thing I think we can all agree on is that it would be great if some of the bandwagon fans would stay after the big game, at least for the qualifier or one or two of next years NFL games. I would be happy enough if my county could build a decent home support. This year we played 3 competitive games at home, it isn't asking much to expect fans to come out for 3 games.

Louth Gael (Louth) - Posts: 1227 - 29/05/2012 19:33:09    1183148

hill16no1man
County: Dublin
Posts: 1717

1182647 who cares when spring and winter starts and ends seriously like some people will argue over anything

They would not

dhorse (Laois) - Posts: 11374 - 29/05/2012 19:44:32    1183160