Annoying things being a lower league fan

[Pliny Harris]

More relating to Halifax here because that's where I've grown up and calling League One "lower league" is like calling an £80k salary low pay. But if I walked around Calderdale all day, I'd see more Huddersfield Town, Dirty Leeds, Burnley, Manure and Chelsea badges on display than Halifax Town ones (NB: Calderdale has HX postcodes and practically wherever you live here, the Shay's the closest ground to get to).

I know this is the same old gripe but it can't be reiterated enough. When we had Charlton Athletic in the FA Cup four seasons ago and the North Stand terrace wasn't open and there were 200 away fans in the 2,000 seater Skircoat I got repeatedly told by Haligonians afterwards "Oh, I watched that game on ITV and the Shay was EMPTY!" It had never occurred to them that maybe instead of boring me to death on the latest Premier League ins and outs, they could consider lending at least some moral support to their local side. All the kids I went to school or college with who'd "rather die" than watch their local side, then once in a blue moon will go down to Anfield or Old Trafford and asphyxiwank themselves over their blurry 32x zoom Instagram of Juan Mata's backside with all their chums. At least I brought some university friends to the Shay and they all enjoyed themselves, better hit rate than the locals.

It all amounts to bourgeois posturing to me. They revoke any identity with the locality that made them. They're too self-regarding for getting on board with a club that won't necessarily be the best, but will represent their town, people, local culture/businesses and catchment area. They're above all that. Instead they want to latch onto the bellies of distant millionaires whose paths they'll never cross as if it's the choice between a Rolex and a broken Casio. Without an area to represent, trendy football teams may as well be farmed side-by-side in vast stretches of flat land in the American midwest, as geography and charm are seen as obsolete. It's usually one of a handful of top tier outfits, but sometimes it's a "statement" club like St Pauli or Barcelona.

That's what's annoying about being a fan of a "lower league" club or almost any local club. As a football fan you're driving against a blizzard of fatuous shoutbox pundits and the various media that feed them. As someone who just wants to see their town well represented you're drowned out by sub-Hello! magazine gossip and you're a significant minority. Even the "football fans" on the streets around your nearest ground are very unlikely to pull together in support for their local team.

 

[BCFC]

I was browsing a Chelsea forum (theshedend.com) the other day and there is a thread called 'Support Local vs Non Local' If anyone has any spare time it's quite funny to read.

 

[Pliny Harris]

I was browsing a Chelsea forum (theshedend.com) the other day and there is a thread called 'Support Local vs Non Local' If anyone has any spare time it's quite funny to read.

Got a link? Can't find it myself and enjoy getting flustered about these things.

 

[The Alex]

I just went and found the link

 

[Ciderhead]

Listening to Leroy Rosenior declaring that your club along with the other 23 in the league "will be alright".

Bit harsh. Occasionally he chucks in a "they'll do well"

 

[JJH]

The fact that more Liverpool shirts sold in Bristol the season before last than either Bristol City or Bristol Rovers shirts sums up the modern generation in itself.

I don't give a fuck what other City fans say - I'd rather see kids in the streets playing football in BRISTOL ROVERS shirts rather than teams like Manchester United or Liverpool. I have far more fun celebrating in the stands every week and being in a passionate crowd of fellow reds, rather than being sat on your lonesome in your living room with a glass of Pop Fizz and a Dairy Milk and performing a slow clap when 'your club' that you have nothing associated with.

The best part is - these glory seeking c*** even try tagging along when City/Rovers have a bit of success. It has often been said in the Media that 'Bristol City have the potential to be such a big club' due to mainly the catchment area and the size of the City etc etc, but none of them bother turning up when we're in L1 - but when/if we get to the PL, they'll all turn out in their numbers. We proved at Wembley the potential we have - but the day-trippers thoroughly killed the atmosphere at Wembley, as none of the bastards knew the song. Personally - I think they have allocated certain tiers for the day-trippers, and then had all the ST holders/regular attenders in a tier of their own - but that's a discussion for another day.

All in all, I'm not 'annoyed' that I support a lower league team that I am most passionate about. I love every single moment of it, and will continue to stick through the highs and the lows, like a real football fan. I'd put my life on it that I had more fun following and celebrating our L1 title in the stands home and away every week, than 95% of those Chelsea 'fans' who would have halfheartedly celebrated their PREMIER LEAGUE title in their living room.

 

[SpireiteDan]

Knowing that you've done very well to keep your best player(s) over a year.

 

[Pliny Harris]

http://www.theshedend.com/topic/27998-support-local-vs-non-local/

Some pure gold (rat-infested shite) in there.

Part of me is hoping to find some incisive new argument that justifies why most people prefer to latch onto the success of a team they're not connected to but... nah. The typical "Oh but I had no choice!" lark. It's strange how no-one growing up in Tottenham has no choice but to support Coalville because their "old man" is a fan despite all their family being dyed-in-the-wool for Spurs, isn't it? I love this world they all live in where they were "given hell" by Arsenal and Liverpool fans for having a Chelsea scarf on, growing up in Oxford or whatever. And then that special one or two who couldn't even place Stamford Bridge on a map but have never watched a game because of "finances" or that they prefer the view on a TV screen(!!!). It all smacks of someone whinging about their slow metabolism while demolishing their third tube of Pringles.

Edit: forgot my favourite one, who posted saying he watched his local side a few times when they got promoted but gave up on them when they were relegated shortly after, because they didn't want to "evolve" or "progress". Terrific lack of self-awareness, actual belly laugh.

 

[Aberstone]

Plastics asking you to justify why you support your club.

 

[Grecian O'Grecian]

I love it.

If I had to pick something it would just be the identical, small, generic stadiums. The only difference between the likes of Burton and Morecambe's stadiums are the colour of the seats.

 

[Bottega Don]

The fans of the so called larger clubs in the lower divisions who think they should be given the title due to their superior home attendances and away followings.

 

[Millwall_Matt]

Gotta say I think supporters in this division (and the one below) are largely better informed, more loyal, more passionate and more able to have a well reasoned discussion than the morons you get in the top leagues. Mostly those of us down here have done our time and know that a relegation isn't the end of the world and actually treat success like something to be savoured rather than expected.

Even rivals at this level are able to offer some degree of reasonable conversation (largely) with the few obligatory digs thrown in.

Its just a shame that there are too few of us at the games to actually carry out the sort of atmosphere that can be enjoyed against the bigger clubs in the Championship. I doubt any club next year will bring more than a thousand to the Den which does rather dent the noise levels.

 

[Gator]

The lack of coverage in the mainstream media is grating. For the combined attendances and passion of fans in the football league, the amount of attention it gets compared to especially the top 6 of the premier league is very frustrating. I understand why it is like that but it's still incredibly annoying.

Similar to what someone said earlier about other locals/mates slagging you and your club off for being 'boring', 'shite' etc but as soon as you get a prem club in the cup or a game at Wembley they all beg for tickets. Also when you get the knuckledragging pond life day trippers at Wembley who don't follow your club but come along and act like twats and give the whole fanbase a bad name.

 

[BigDaveCUFC]

I'm not going down the local top flight fans route as I do not class them as fans/supporters anyway.......plus its then unfair to the genuine fans of the big clubs.

I must say though one thing I do dislike is this lower league fan view that we are somehow a better fan than them of clubs higher up........we'd all attach them same horrid fans if we rise and lose them if we fall..............but all will have a good collection of fans.

so as for my annoyances I'm linking them to my time following:

A: The annoyance over 20 years of seeing lots of proper, individual grounds replaced with genetic modern models just for progress, while I can agree its better it is still a shame to see the individuality gone.

B: The corporate legal clap-trap in regards to radio coverage/fixtures etc, etc that you have to pay a fee to listen to local commentary online if not lucky enough to live in area. that you cannot post fixtures as some company has paid a fee for rights etc, etc

C: Sponsored food cabins............apart from Kiddy, gone are the days of individual food cabins, all replaced with sh*te 'rollover' hotdogs and the same 3 flavours of genetic pie

D: Food cabin prices...........about £2.00 for a bottle of coke, £2-3 for a pie when you can buy a pack of 3 for less than £1.50 in supermarket, etc, etc............disgrace

E: Yearly shirt changes just to fund money

F: The fact you believe the FL has absolute f*ck all care about any of the clubs in its authority, especially them in L2.

 

[4froale]

''why do you support Oldham, they are crap''

''why do you pay £350 to watch Oldham all year when you could go and watch city for not much more''

Annoying thing is these ironic bastards then take the piss out of our attendances.

 

[GFCSludge]

Gotta say I think supporters in this division (and the one below) are largely better informed, more loyal, more passionate and more able to have a well reasoned discussion than the morons you get in the top leagues. Mostly those of us down here have done our time and know that a relegation isn't the end of the world and actually treat success like something to be savoured rather than expected.

Even rivals at this level are able to offer some degree of reasonable conversation (largely) with the few obligatory digs thrown in.

Its just a shame that there are too few of us at the games to actually carry out the sort of atmosphere that can be enjoyed against the bigger clubs in the Championship. I doubt any club next year will bring more than a thousand to the Den which does rather dent the noise levels.

Allay your doubts for next season, for we shall bring at least 1,001 to the Den.

 

[THE TERRACEMAN]

People in Burton on Trent, Staffordshire, going in their droves to watch "the sheep" in Derbyshit. This annoys me more than anything else.
I couldn't go to our away game at Cheltenham this season due to going to visit my dad who was seriously ill in hospital in Birmingham. On the station in Burton I was texting my mate who was on his way to the game but the opposite platform was crawling with Burton folk off to watch the sheep. Made my blood boil !

 

[Zeus]

I love it.

If I had to pick something it would just be the identical, small, generic stadiums. The only difference between the likes of Burton and Morecambe's stadiums are the colour of the seats.

They aren't century old structures that have been supplemented and maintained loosely over the years, I'm not sure what you expect from them?

Burton's is actually very well designed & Morecambe's isn't.

 

[TrinidadsNumberOne]

Perennial lower league clubs who think they're a big club - Plymouth and Port Vale (when the latter were in League Two) were the worst for their laughable delusions of grandeur.

The fact most the chairmen of FL clubs are spineless and would sell their souls for a short-term cash boost which means we're loaded with EPPP and potential B teams in the JPT.

Clubs like Mansfield, Cambridge and York whinging for 3 up 3 down from the Conference to League Two for years and then suddenly becoming content with 2 up 2 down.

The debt-laden Championship which is a disgrace of a division with too many clubs spending way beyond their means and barely nothing is being done about it.

Having our Football League existence threatened by shitty little vanity projects such as Crawley, Eastleigh and AFC Fylde.

Having a chairman who says we're lucky to be in League One despite only spending 6 seasons since 1989 below that level, including 3 since 1994.

Sky not televising one of your actual league games since January 2008, could do with the cash boost.

The Football League being the most spineless organisation in football along with the FA. Constantly getting shit on by the Premier League yet putting no pressure on the Conference to limit the rise of unsustainable hobby clubs and also not kicking out clubs who constantly fail to spend within their means, laughable how the likes of some teams who have avoided liquidation bounce back under new ownership and then spend way more beyond their means.

 

[THE TERRACEMAN]

They aren't century old structures that have been supplemented and maintained loosely over the years, I'm not sure what you expect from them?

Burton's is actually very well designed & Morecambe's isn't.

Obviously I'm biased being a Brewers fan but I would have to agree with you here, Morecambe overdid the main stand to the detriment of the opposite side. The Pirelli stadium is a decent design for the size of the club, the good thing about the ground also is that the ground work I believe was done at the time of construction for future expansion to be carried out when and if required.
I really liked the old Saltergate and also like the new ground by the way.

 

[DaveOAFC]

Same songs sang at every ground what's happened to teams having unique songs? All this it's the oldham boys making all the noise is toss.

Lack of continuity constant squad upheavals every season. No identity, players aren't at clubs long enough for them to give a shit about the sides they play for and for the fans to strike up any sort of rapport.

Greg Dyke trying to ruin the league pyramid. Tosser.

 

[THE TERRACEMAN]

We used to have a lot of original songs "when I were a lad" but if we sang them now we would get kicked out of the ground ! Understand what you are saying though.

 

[Jockney]

The boring inferiority complex that lower league fans have. Do you still get annoyed when people at school tell you your trainers aren't cool?

 

[Bottega Don]

The boring inferiority complex that lower league fans have. Do you still get annoyed when people at school tell you your trainers aren't cool?

My lonsdales are well cool ffs

 

[ccfctommy]

Speaking to a local student in Coventry. I told him when asked that I supported City.

He said, who Manchester City?

Pffft!

 

[PUSBCCFC]

Speaking to a local student in Coventry. I told him when asked that I supported City.

He said, who Manchester City?

Pffft!

Thought you're meant to be clever to go to uni!

 

[Jockney]

Allay your doubts for next season, for we shall bring at least 1,001 to the Den.

Gillingham have always brought good numbers to the Den. Usually better turnout and make more noise than Palace.

 

[Hurrikeen]

Not sure if it's already been mentioned, but those "massive" teams who continually say they should be in a higher league because they're so "massive" despite spending the majority of recent times in the same league as us "smaller" teams..

 

[Jockney]

Not sure if it's already been mentioned, but those "massive" teams who continually say they should be in a higher league because they're so "massive" despite spending the majority of recent times in the same league as us "smaller" teams..

Who says this really, tho. Apart from that one Port Vale fan a few weeks back.

 

[Hurrikeen]

Who says this really, tho. Apart from that one Port Vale fan a few weeks back.

I've heard it from Leeds, Bradford, Sheff Utd and many others, not all on here or TFF like, but i've heard plenty. Back when Leeds were in L1 for a few years, they'd throw that gem out every season on more than one occasion.

And then of course you have the Twitter loons, but tbf most of them need supervision whilst trawling the web so tend to laugh those off.