Are you more apathetic?

[Kim Jong Un]

Bit of a weird one, but does anyone feel as you age you become more apathetic towards your team, and football in general?

I can't really explain it. The result on a Saturday would once dominate my weekend. I'd travel to Bury or York on a Tuesday night, watch my team lose 2-0 and then start planning on how to get to some other godforsaken part of the world on Saturday.

I just don't feel that same level of passion anymore. Maybe it comes with the realisation that football is so dependent on money, even if we got to the Championship I have no belief we could compete these days unless wealthy owners took over. Maybe it's because football seems to get more sterile season after season. It's good football violence has been largely stamped out but it did bring a certain edge to proceedings. The lack of visual support from Oxford since the ultras disbanded has certainly made games far less enjoyable.

When you're young, football is everything, but as you get older and other things come in to your life, it becomes a sideshow rather than the main focus.

Does anyone else feel the same? I feel like all the lads my age aren't as "Into it" as they were once upon a time.

 

[Eastfield Posh]

I think your mindset changes as you get older so apathetic may be a strong word .

Personally , I'm more cynical in my 50"s than I was when I was a teenager but still live for the weekend working out pub & grub for them away days still get the butterfly guts effect leading up to a match , doesn't tend to be as strong for home games unless it's derby match or big team in cup etc....

In fact this season just gone I've kind of gone full circle , having lots more free time on the weekend I've done far more away days & far less home games turning the clock back to when I was a teenager & in my early 20's & despite a few hammerings on the pitch totally enjoyed it & will probably do the same next season , with Plymouth gone & hopefully Sunderland lots of 2 hour(ish) away days for us & the return of what I call 1 of our 2 main local rivals The Imps to look forward to , no Cobblers unfortunately , though we are growing a nice hatred towards Fake Dons which should be good.

Roll on August !!!

 

[DearneValleyRover]

I think you are less inclined to travel to away games as often especially if it’s a ball ache to get to or you know the teams going to get hammered and there isn’t a decent watering hole.

 

[dedwardp]

Of course, plus there's very little to surprise you as you've seen it all before after a while. Growing up I would do around 15 away games each season I would think, I could count on one hand the number I've bothered with over the past two to three years. Only so many times you can go to somewhere like Walsall. Still go to every home game but it usually feels a bit of a chore and as though you're only going out of habit really.

 

[Meadow]

I was like that last season. I quit stewarding in October, and as I didn't have a season ticket, I decided to pick and choose which matches I went to. I missed most of an awful run then the win against West Ham.

ST ordered for next season though, things have got a lot more exciting with WaG in charge.

 

[Big Bird]

Yes. But every now and then something happens and I remember why I love the game. I dread summers without a World Cup or European Championship because I'd rather shit in my hands and clap than watch cricket or golf and boxing is about as close as I get to being fully immersed in a sport but even then big fights are sporadic and can be over in minutes.

Some weekends the football is just 'on' and if Town lose I don't bother with any highlights or Match of The Day but I sure miss it when it's not there.

Have two young kids so im skint and work Saturday mornings so away days have been out of the question for a while, but I get excited thinking about taking my lad to his first away game and then a couple of years later my daughter as well as long as the interest is there.

So I guess the results mean less but I think I'll always have an immense love for the sport.

 

[UTS]

I certainly have. As a kid I used to go almost as a ritual, wouldn’t miss a game home or away. For years it was like this. Then I went to uni and couldn’t go as often.. but strangely I become more passionate for the club itself even though I was further away.

I started to feel myself becoming too emotionally attached to the club, to the point I felt down when we lost... we then went on a 12 match losing streak which was horrendous. Anyway I finished Uni and thought it would be nice to be able to go to games again... 17/18 season, bought a season ticket, watched 3 home games, but was so deflated after a 3-2 defeat to Bristol Rovers that I reflected on whether I actually enjoyed going (we were managed by Lee Clark which didn’t help).

Anyway, I stopped going, my season ticket was cut up in a moment of anger after another home defeat... (drastic I know)... since then I have found other things to do with my weekends and the flame is no where near as intense for Bury as it once was.

We got promoted last week, I went to the game, only my second away game of the season... I was indifferent at the final whistle, it was weird and almost sad.

 

[Davidimp]

Up until three years ago I'd lost my love of going for sure.
Then the Cowleys arrived and I've only missed one league game since then and that because we couldn't get tickets.
What has made it even better now for is my daughter now shares my love of the imps. She went a bit before they arrived but since they arrived like so many kids in the city have become Lincoln fans.

 

[Kim Jong Un]

I certainly have. As a kid I used to go almost as a ritual, wouldn’t miss a game home or away. For years it was like this. Then I went to uni and couldn’t go as often.. but strangely I become more passionate for the club itself even though I was further away.

I started to feel myself becoming too emotionally attached to the club, to the point I felt down when we lost... we then went on a 12 match losing streak which was horrendous. Anyway I finished Uni and thought it would be nice to be able to go to games again... 17/18 season, bought a season ticket, watched 3 home games, but was so deflated after a 3-2 defeat to Bristol Rovers that I reflected on whether I actually enjoyed going (we were managed by Lee Clark which didn’t help).

Anyway, I stopped going, my season ticket was cut up in a moment of anger after another home defeat... (drastic I know)... since then I have found other things to do with my weekends and the flame is no where near as intense for Bury as it once was.

We got promoted last week, I went to the game, only my second away game of the season... I was indifferent at the final whistle, it was weird and almost sad.

I suppose that indifference could be down to the financial problems? Fair play though, glad you've found other stuff you enjoy to do at weekends. From the ages of 11-22 I was at football every Saturday without fail, I'm happy to spend the day with the girlfriend or just put Jeff on the box sometimes now.

I still enjoy going to games, will always love football, but the way the game is now combined with life changes and I wonder if I'll ever feel the same about my club as I did before.

 

[Bartonyellow]

I think age has something to do with it. As you get older other things take over more.. Such as family.
I think it is also related to the success of your team. Lincoln fans are loving it at the moment but if they have a shite season that changes quickly

 

[Franchisor]

You realise there are dozens of more important things in life - family, friends, health, things going on elsewhere in the world and that life is precious and can end at any time just like that. You realise it's literally just a game.

You realise that on your deathbed in a few decades time, you aren't going to give a fuck that your team lost 1-0 away to Grimsby in League Two fifty years prior, even if at the time it felt like a big disappointment.

 

[Bobbin']

Short answer, no.

Sure as life goes on, you can’t always make every game due to other commitments etc but I’m definitely not apathetic and majority of the time, I’d rather be at the game than doing the other thing I have to do.

We’re going through a bad period now, but if anything it’s made me love the club more.

 

[Indian Dan]

It’s a strange one, for sure. Even during extended periods of shitness I used to go to every home game and most away.

I had 10 years living in Ireland which curtailed my attendance but not my interest. When I moved back to the UK I thought I’d just go back to week in week out attendance - but I didn’t.

Now I’ve moved again to Kefalonia I doubt I’ll see many more games in the flesh. Results either way don’t bother me any more - or at least as much - and now, of course, there’s iFollow.

But, generally, yes I’m apathetic about football in general.

 

[WilsdenBantam]

I wouldn't say I am, football has definitely become to sterile though. But I still love watching live football and enjoy going to Valley Parade, though not so much this season.

However like UTS when I was younger I felt far more emotionally invested, over the weekend the result would always play on my mind it was almost an obsession.

But when we got relegated this season I was a bit like meh so what? I am whenever we lose now I still enjoy a win but suppose I'm just more emotionally mature that I don't let loses and failure get to me.

I think it's more an age thing, we just get used to the emotions the sport brings and almost numb to it, plus we realise there are bigger things in life. But like most of you here we'll be back next season moaning as ever, it's just what football fans do.

 

[SF_]

I'm 31 this week and I don't think my passion for North End has waned, although more commitments and more outgoings mean I go to less away games than when I was in my teens/ early 20s.

I would say my interest in overall football has gone down though, I used to be well up on the European Leagues but now I don't have a clue, barely know anything about the bottom half Prem teams either and hardly ever glance at League Two.

 

[JJH]

since then I have found other things to do with my weekends...

City as fook now aren't you Benno?

 

[joethegill]

Apathetic about my club? Maybe. But not about football in general. In the last couple of years I've done a load of travelling around trying to complete the 92, and it's been great fun. Yeah it's not quite the same buzz when it's not your team, but I've seen some cracking games which I maybe wouldn't have been able to enjoy if I supported one side or the other.

I don't have anywhere near the same knowledge base about European football as I used to, but that's mainly cause I don't play Football Manager so much anymore! I don't really know who's in Serie A for example, past the top sides, and likewise La Liga. But my non-league knowledge has gone up several notches in its place - maybe my brain just can't deal with all of it at once!

 

[eric read]

It’s a strange one, for sure. Even during extended periods of shitness I used to go to every home game and most away.

I had 10 years living in Ireland which curtailed my attendance but not my interest. When I moved back to the UK I thought I’d just go back to week in week out attendance - but I didn’t.

Now I’ve moved again to Kefalonia I doubt I’ll see many more games in the flesh. Results either way don’t bother me any more - or at least as much - and now, of course, there’s iFollow.

But, generally, yes I’m apathetic about football in general.

Out of interest, why have you moved to Kefalonia? It's not the most obvious place to move to.

 

[Indian Dan]

Out of interest, why have you moved to Kefalonia? It's not the most obvious place to move to.

My son and grandson moved out there earlier this year. Didn’t want to miss him growing up so here we are. Been here for a couple of months now. Still feeling a bit of a tourist tbh.

 

[DearneValleyRover]

My son and grandson moved out there earlier this year. Didn’t want to miss him growing up so here we are. Been here for a couple of months now. Still feeling a bit of a tourist tbh.

Are you learning the mandolin?

 

[Indian Dan]

Learning Greek, though.

Kalispera!

 

[Bobbin']

Anywhere near Sami or Agia Effimia?

 

[Indian Dan]

Down by the port in Pesada

 

[K-Win]

As for me, I must admit I've never been truly fanatical about Pompey - and even that level of support has deteriorated over time. I support my club most of the time, dislike it occasionally and keep up with the news regularly. However, I can only admire those who go that extra mile in support of their club.

I do love football though, but I also love other stuff - films, comedy, running etc

 

[David Curries Mullet]

Going pop and starting again in the Jumpers for Goalposts League rekindled my enthusiasm. Having almost lost it made me appreciate my Saturday afternoon fix, having become a bit jaded over the years. My interest in the PL / Champions League has reduced in proportion - can't be doing with the play acting, every fouls a booking malarkey. Unfortunately, it's creeping in to Non League now.

 

[Stagat]

Up until three years ago I'd lost my love of going for sure.
Then the Cowleys arrived and I've only missed one league game since then and that because we couldn't get tickets.
What has made it even better now for is my daughter now shares my love of the imps. She went a bit before they arrived but since they arrived like so many kids in the city have become Lincoln fans.

So you lost interest when you were shit and came back when you got good? Sounds more like being fairweather than the gist of the thread.

Anyway, I compare how I felt about us (Mansfield) coming 4th this season to us getting 3rd back in 01-02. That felt miraculous back then but would have been 'oh cool' this year. Missing out and coming 4th was a bit 'oh well' too tbh.

I was kinda apathetic about losing in the playoffs on penalties to Newport the other week but was apoplectic about some of the decisions when we lost to York in the 11-12 Conference playoffs.

So yeah, definitely care less about Stags really as time goes on and we get older.

 

[SoutheySWFC]

Jos Luhukay sucked the life out of me.....

 

[Davidimp]

So you lost interest when you were shit and came back when you got good? Sounds more like being fairweather than the gist of the thread.

Anyway, I compare how I felt about us (Mansfield) coming 4th this season to us getting 3rd back in 01-02. That felt miraculous back then but would have been 'oh cool' this year. Missing out and coming 4th was a bit 'oh well' too tbh.

I was kinda apathetic about losing in the playoffs on penalties to Newport the other week but was apoplectic about some of the decisions when we lost to York in the 11-12 Conference playoffs.

So yeah, definitely care less about Stags really as time goes on and we get older.

I went to about the half the home games not all.
I've been going since 1982 and away games since 1990.
My visit to your place was a goalless draw mid-week game 1992.
If you think I'm fairweather then fair enough.
Between 2011 and the Cowleys arriving was Lincoln wasn't much fun and had better things to spend my money on.

 

[Luke Imp]

I think part of it is the group of people you go with all going off and doing different things, too.

There used to be 5 of us who'd religiously go home and away every week, bar the more difficult midweek ones but there are only two of us left now as the other 3 moved away, marriage, house kids etc.

Weirdly, I felt more inclined to go when we were shit. You get to the stage where you want to go just in case you win a game having sat through so many poor results!

 

[Camborne Gills]

I don't go to many games, due to my location, but i still follow our fortunes with interest on a Sat/Tue. I try and get to the more 'local' games, and perhaps do a northern excursion now and again.

Aiming to go to Bury next season, along with Bristol R and (hopefully) Newport.