As much as you'd love to think that's the case, there wasn't even an argument to lose. Maybe you call HotHead's infantile rants about me being a 'Gloryhunter' and 'Plastic fake fan' who only goes to games because it's the 'in thing' to do an argument. I call it being a Tit
There are a significant number of fans who don't sing, but to say they 'couldn't give a toss' is a making a value judgement. I'd suggest even the corporate fans who sit in the comfy seats are still there in the main because they enjoy football and want to see us win. I agree that there is a contingent of 'day tripper' fans, but at least they make the effort to turn up, can't knock them for that. As for fans geographical location, particularly in London and I'm not sure if you grew up there Jayram, but anyone who did will understand that fans of the London teams are not limited to the relative postcodes and the rivalry does not only exist within them and stop and start at their borders. The Arsenal v Spurs rivalry extends well beyond Islington and Haringey, the Spurs v Chelsea rivalry extends well beyond it's geographical boundaries, as does West Ham v Millwall, West Ham v Chelsea, Arsenal v Chelsea etc, the list goes on. It's a unique experience watching football in London as there are so many teams, so that on match days you'll always have a number of different sets of fans as well as travelling away fans, all mingling in London. You see the same sets of fans on the trains and tubes, in the pubs , you get to know their routes to the grounds, when to have banter with them and when to avoid them - you listen out for their results and you get an idea of what the journey home will be like. London is a melting pot and this extends to football fans too. The rivalries aren't confined to the postcodes. Anyone who lives in London and follows football will understand this.
Did you ever read "The Soccer Tribe" by Desmond Morris ? In it there's a map that shows the main areas of support for each of the London clubs
please log in to view this image It's an interesting map. I would say growing up in Lewisham, that there were as many Charlton fans as Millwall fans. Also Tower Hamlets was a big Millwall fan area, not so much West Ham as the map indicates. Hackney is a big Arsenal area, not so much Spurs territory as the map outlines. Also Bromley, is that a mixture of Palace and Arsenal fans ? I would have said it was a mix of Palace and Charlton fans in that area.
That is the very definition of being a football fan, the tribalness of the thing. This is what sets it apart from any other sport and this is something that many people do not understand. This is why an out of towner will NEVER feel the same as someone who has lived or does live within the boundaries of the club.
Yeah but there are catchment areas which cater for that. I wouldn't expect a South Londoner to support Arsenal, I wouldn't expect an East Londoner to support Chelsea, but I know these people exist. As Arsenal4Life correctly wrote, football is about the community you live in, the association between club and community. If you live in South London you are not going to be affected by the arsenal traffic. Where I live I am affected by both Arsenal traffic and Spurs traffic. When you are entwined into the very fabric of the club it becomes a part of you, big difference. My town hall up until recently was Islington town hall, the town hall parades had greater significance - the fact there is a town hall parade shows the connection between club and community. If you are not linked to it it is lost on you.
When Arsenal moved to Highbury do you think that those fans who had supported us in Woolwich stopped their support as the club was no longer in their community ?
I already said my bit, I'm not going into it again. The proof is there for EVERYONE to see and make up their own minds, but I know who lost .. and it aint me ! Interesting post by Bergkamp Dutch Master. Football isn't my everything, far from it, probably why I am not too bothered about missing games. I go when I can, simple as that. I used to be a Garage DJ back in the 90s on the radio and I was a DJ on the club circuit. I also write/produce music. I stopped going regularly to football matches back then because I didn't have the time, juggling all of that AND playing football myself on Saturdays - and then there was the girlfriend. There were times though when Arsenal would lose and I would be in no state to see her, I'd cancel stuff and she'd get the arsehole, expectedly. My views on football have mellowed greatly, there are lots of things that occupy my time now and football has lost it's importance in my life somewhat - but the elation and disappointment football brings still remain.
Good point actually, but I would've expected through the generations for it to have watered down considerably though.
Why would it be watered down ? A bloke goes to watch Arsenal gets married has kids takes kids to watch Arsenal kids get married have kids take kids to watch the Arsenal etc etc. My daughter is an Arsenal fan because i took her to games.My grandchildren are Junior Gunners because of their mam & taid
Yeah but what about their mates they play with and the schools they go to and the kids there ?? Its not just family that can influence the team you support.
I doubt there were many if any Arsenal supporters at my daughter's school but she never changed her allegance because i took her to games.When they are old enough my grandchildren will be taken to games and i have no doubt they will be lifelong Arsenal fans.
The support for Arsenal would have been watered down in Woolwich by people moving away and not being replaced by the people moving into the area as the club no longer has physical ties to the area? By moving away from Woolwich, Arsenal's support in Woolwich would have dwindled by the migration away from the area.
I'm afraid that due to my continuing ill health i wont be going to the Citeh game. Hopefully my ticket will be sold on though
Last go! I am attempting (v poorly it seems) to explain why your support in Woolwich may have dwindled. I am arguing that your Woolwich support would have dwindled over time due to the original Woolwich Arsenal supporters moving from Woolwich and the people that moved into the area having no geographical reason to support Arsenal. It's not an important point!
