Irish people supporting English football clubs

[gawa316]

1 - Which team do you support?

Liverpool

2 - How long have you supported them?

Since about 1987

3 - Are you from the same town or city as that club? If not, do you have any personal or familial connection to it? Did you live there for a while? Do you live there now?

No and no.

4 - If the answers to 3 are all no, why do you support this team? How did you pick them out of all that's available?

My big cousin got me into them and then I just adored John Barnes

5 - When England plays in international competitions, how do you feel about them? Do you
a - Root for England, particularly any players from your favourite EPL club?
b - Don't have a strong opinion one way or another, but would lean slightly towards wanting England to do well
c - Don't have any opinion at all
d - Have a mild preference for England to lose
e - Vigorously support England's opponents, and yearn for the English to do on the receiving end of a bloody good hiding

Living in the states you at least don't have to put up with media and all 'it's coming home' crap. Found myself wanting to beat the Argies but then wasn't bothered when they did go out.

6 - Are there any local clubs in your own town or city that you could give your support to? If there are but you don't, why not? Is the quality of the competition not worth your while? Are the facilities crap? Did you just never get into it? Is it not well publicised and you don't know the games are on?

Played for my local team and would've went to see Ballianmallard numerous times but it's just not the same

[trueblue1234]

I don't mean this in a confrontational way, I'm just genuinely curious about it, and I'm trying to get to the bottom of it. If you're an Irish person who supports an English soccer club, can you please answer the following questions. Just be as straight and honest as you can with each one.

1 - Which team do you support? Arsenal

2 - How long have you supported them? 1989

3 - Are you from the same town or city as that club? If not, do you have any personal or familial connection to it? Did you live there for a while? Do you live there now? No No No No

4 - If the answers to 3 are all no, why do you support this team? How did you pick them out of all that's available?
I was 9. You got to see limited football and I just gravitated towards the team. What were you gonna tell your friends at 9 or 10 - that you couldn't support Arsenal cause you lived next to St Julians Road and had to watch Omagh Town RIP)?

5 - When England plays in international competitions, how do you feel about them? Do you
a - Root for England, particularly any players from your favourite EPL club?
b - Don't have a strong opinion one way or another, but would lean slightly towards wanting England to do well
c - Don't have any opinion at all
d - Have a mild preference for England to lose
e - Vigorously support England's opponents, and yearn for the English to do on the receiving end of a bloody good hiding

Toggle between C and D

6 - Are there any local clubs in your own town or city that you could give your support to? If there are but you don't, why not? Is the quality of the competition not worth your while? Are the facilities crap? Did you just never get into it? Is it not well publicised and you don't know the games are on?

There were - but the standard was different. You can enjoy supporting your local high school at Friday Night Lights - and still follow the 49ERS.

Many thanks.

Not trying to go off topic - what happening to Omagh?

I remember they were in a lot of finals and going well in league (iirc) etc. when I was younger.

Are they still going in a lower level capacity or gone completely?

Got into financial bother in 2004/5 ish. Had to fold. Real shame.
A new version was started in 2024 at underage with the first senior team playing this year I believe. But will be competing with other local clubs like Strathroy, Tummery etc for players. Be a while before it hits the previous heights!!

[square_ball]

5 - When England plays in international competitions, how do you feel about them? Do you
a - Root for England, particularly any players from your favourite EPL club?
b - Don't have a strong opinion one way or another, but would lean slightly towards wanting England to do well
c - Don't have any opinion at all
d - Have a mild preference for England to lose
e - Vigorously support England's opponents, and yearn for the English to do on the receiving end of a bloody good hiding

Meh probably b. Wouldn't mind to see them winning but I still find the crushing defeats a bit funny. 

Why is that? Noticed in the world cup thread you were fairly supportive of England. Not to have a dig but genuinely curious when the supporters of the club you support would be fairly notorious for not supporting England? 'Scouse not English'. 

[Baile Brigín 2]

More to the point, why do these people support these UK teams. not go out an watch their local soccer teams or support the main soccer team in their county? Is it because these uk games are on at weekends and 2/3 tmes in a week and can be watched from home or in the pub?

Same as Cheltenham. It's a weekend away on the beer.

Most Irish daytrippers know hee haw about soccer. It's a jolly boys outing

[statto]

More to the point, why do these people support these UK teams. not go out an watch their local soccer teams or support the main soccer team in their county? Is it because these uk games are on at weekends and 2/3 tmes in a week and can be watched from home or in the pub?

Same as Cheltenham. It's a weekend away on the beer.

Most Irish daytrippers know hee haw about soccer. It's a jolly boys outing

If they were really going for the jolly it's a very expensive way of doing so.

[RedHand88]

More to the point, why do these people support these UK teams. not go out an watch their local soccer teams or support the main soccer team in their county? Is it because these uk games are on at weekends and 2/3 tmes in a week and can be watched from home or in the pub?

Same as Cheltenham. It's a weekend away on the beer.

Most Irish daytrippers know hee haw about soccer. It's a jolly boys outing

That's just not true though. They would know a lot more than the ones who sit at home.

[Tony Baloney]

More to the point, why do these people support these UK teams. not go out an watch their local soccer teams or support the main soccer team in their county? Is it because these uk games are on at weekends and 2/3 tmes in a week and can be watched from home or in the pub?

Same as Cheltenham. It's a weekend away on the beer.

Most Irish daytrippers know hee haw about soccer. It's a jolly boys outing

There are *lots* of "tourists" at the big team grounds, but there are plenty of people going over with tickets secured via a supporters club they are in. The latter are invested in both the sport and their team and are not casual fans you see on coaches with Rory's Travel Club! And I'm not knocking the latter is a means of getting tickets when sometimes it seems impossible.

[Genocide Organ]

I don't even know why English people support English soccer clubs.

[johnnycool]

1 - Which team do you support?

Arsenal the Liam Brady era, then when he left to go to Italy, Everton due to Kevin Sheedy. Both left footed like me 

2 - How long have you supported them?

Pre 1981 Arsenal, post 1981 Everton till today

3 - Are you from the same town or city as that club? If not, do you have any personal or familial connection to it? Did you live there for a while? Do you live there now?

No and no.

4 - If the answers to 3 are all no, why do you support this team? How did you pick them out of all that's available?

Left footed Irish lads on the team. I'm fickle that way.

5 - When England plays in international competitions, how do you feel about them? Do you
a - Root for England, particularly any players from your favourite EPL club?
b - Don't have a strong opinion one way or another, but would lean slightly towards wanting England to do well
c - Don't have any opinion at all
d - Have a mild preference for England to lose
e - Vigorously support England's opponents, and yearn for the English to do on the receiving end of a bloody good hiding

It's the English press and pundits that put you off them and willing on their opponents

6 - Are there any local clubs in your own town or city that you could give your support to? If there are but you don't, why not? Is the quality of the competition not worth your while? Are the facilities crap? Did you just never get into it? Is it not well publicised and you don't know the games are on?

Wouldn't occur to me to go to a local game. I did go watch a mate playing for Glentoran once in the Oval and never again.

[AustinPowers]

5 - When England plays in international competitions, how do you feel about them? Do you
a - Root for England, particularly any players from your favourite EPL club?
b - Don't have a strong opinion one way or another, but would lean slightly towards wanting England to do well
c - Don't have any opinion at all
d - Have a mild preference for England to lose
e - Vigorously support England's opponents, and yearn for the English to do on the receiving end of a bloody good hiding

It's the English press and pundits that put you off them and willing on their opponents

Without meaning to divert the conversation, I listened to  the plaudits England  got after beating Mexico.  They  basically  just hoofed the ball upfield for last  30 minutes.  Mexico just couldn't get the  breakthrough. It was classed as one of the greatest performances ever (mainly by Shearer) , yet they did exactly the same v Argentina  and they were  ridiculed for it.

Having said that , Rooney did say after Mexico that  park the bus tactic won't work against  better  opposition. He was proved correct.

The  English media and pundits(mainly Shearer)  would sicken your hole

[Rossfan]

Why don't ye watch English games on RTÉ if they upset ye so much? or don't watch them at all!

Meanwhile many GAAboarders going to the meaningless soccer  friendly match in Croker?

[Baile Brigín 2]

I think there is a danger in over thinking this.

Following an arbitrary English side is easy. It's for the casual fan. Real soccer fans are either involved with their local club and actually going to soccer. Everyone has a suitable LoI or IL side within an hours commute. I don't want to come across as a purist, but for some people soccer is exclusively a tv thing. Some may occasionally go to their team, but most don't. That's fine, but lets not pretend it's normal.

It's not mutually exclusive to have an English team and want to see England lose, but it is more credible if you aren't wearing an English club team top in the pub while cheering on their opponents.

This thing in Croker is peak commodification of football. Two foreign sides in a non soccer arena designed to cut the FAI out. They even brought over the match official team in order to completely shut the locals out. We may laugh at that, but it's wrong.

[johnnycool]

Why don't ye watch English games on RTÉ if they upset ye so much? or don't watch them at all!

Meanwhile many GAAboarders going to the meaningless soccer  friendly match in Croker?

Partitionist RTE blue screen their coverage.
 

[lurganblue]

1 - Which team do you support? Aston Villa

2 - How long have you supported them? since 1992

3 - Are you from the same town or city as that club? If not, do you have any personal or familial connection to it? Did you live there for a while? Do you live there now? No connection to Birmingham

4 - If the answers to 3 are all no, why do you support this team? How did you pick them out of all that's available?

I picked them solely for the Irish connection on the pitch.  McGrath, Staunton, Houghton etc.  Nobody else in my family really followed a team at all. I was free to choose without influence really. There have been some ups, but many many downs. School could be rough at times lol

5 - When England plays in international competitions, how do you feel about them? Do you
a - Root for England, particularly any players from your favourite EPL club?
b - Don't have a strong opinion one way or another, but would lean slightly towards wanting England to do well
c - Don't have any opinion at all
d - Have a mild preference for England to lose
e - Vigorously support England's opponents, and yearn for the English to do on the receiving end of a bloody good hiding

I'd be in-between d and e here.  I do enjoy watching England big it up and then eventually fall. I dont particularly want them to win anything but I would be devastated if they did.

6 - Are there any local clubs in your own town or city that you could give your support to? If there are but you don't, why not? Is the quality of the competition not worth your while? Are the facilities crap? Did you just never get into it? Is it not well publicised and you don't know the games are on?

The biggest club in town is of course Glenavon.  Mourneview was really a no go zone in the early 90s. I could of course support Lurgan Celtic but that level never appealed to me.  I enjoyed playing for local Mid Ulster clubs but that would be as far as local support goes. Many from the town go down and support Cliftonville.  That never appealed to me either.

[AustinPowers]

Why don't ye watch English games on RTÉ if they upset ye so much? or don't watch them at all!

Meanwhile many GAAboarders going to the meaningless soccer  friendly match in Croker?

Because it's worth it  when they do fall apart. Tuchel was  a genius after Mexico , then  they want him sacked after Argentina for  resorting to the same tactics. Tis great entertainment when it goes  tits up for them

No, to your  second question. I'm not sure I'd go to a  Man U game if  they were a mile down  the road.