Following on from a debate with cutey yesterday it got me wondering, again, about why we do it. When I go to a game at the SoL and look around I see a sight that can be repeated throughout the world of football, especially in the Northeast at the SoL or St James Park. Men and woman, young, old and in between, black, white and all shades and mix. Protestant, Roman Catholic, Muslim , Hindu,Jew, Agnostic and could not give a ****. (maybe not at the old firm) We have people of questionable intelligence through to grade A university graduadets. Unemployed through to senior managers and leaders of the business community. Ugly bastards through to perfectly formed individuals like me. We laugh together and cry together, cheer together and boo together then after the game we go back to our own world and lives, some of us real saddos then log onto forums like this to continue the joy but more often to share the pain. Few of us support our team through choice, most got here because of family, location or luck, good or bad. I just became a Sunderland supporter and cant remember any thought going into it, cant remember a day in Thornley when I sat and thought, Sunderland, Newcastle, Middlesbrough, Hartlepool, now who should I support? Cutye was right in his argument, football is big business and we, the fans, are pushed further away, we are a commodity. We are used and the powers that be know that no matter how much they abuse us a significant number will still attend games and buy the shirts, not sure how long for mind. Pub TV and sky are becoming more popular and with increasing costs and decreasing incomes attendance will drop IMO. But all that said I will be there, along with a lot of you, for the big kick off in August, why? Well because its in my blood and if I cant make it, lots cant, I will be in a pub, on a dodgy internet stream or whatever way I can get my fix and cheer on my team. What a ****ing sad bunch we are, donât say its just me!
Lots of us don't have a choice, we are born to support a peticular team. I do wonder how others that do have a choice, choose a team. How does a person from say washington with family on both sides make a choice between safc or nufc.
I think Quinny has brought fans and club back together over the past 4 years and has brought back the caring club image in a way that many clubs just cant emulate in any way. Sadly, in doing so have we become less business-like in our approach on the field IMO? This is a huge summer for everyone associated at the club and although progress has been made since the 15 point season, for the money spent its not proportionate in its magnitude. There has to be a much better balance between the two going forward. For far less investment, clubs such as Everton have survived its entire history in the top flight and Stoke City and Fulham will have play in Europe next season. Neither of these 2 clubs can be classed as bigger, or have spent anywhere near the sums of money we have and yet both have enjoyed better times in the last 12 months. Short isn't going accept Quinn's defense of a failing set of results every Jan to April. The money spent this summer will have to well made and a stronger season shown for it. If we are to retain the family feel that Quinny has brought then results need to be better, or Short will bring in his own people and we will become a business only. As for why I go its far too lengthy a reply. Much simpler to answer this. Why wouldn't I go? I cant think of anything?
Chester le Street is split although that was bigger when the Keegan era spawned a big influx of glory hunting filth. It was never even a consideration of who to choose in my case. I hated the mags from the womb and its all in the genes. Intelligent, witty and bright parents have the kind of genes that give birth to red & white supporters. Total pig ignorant, uneducated incestuous twat parents lay eggs that hatch like lizards and snakes into filthy dirty black & white pigs. Simple?.
I have been best man for a red and white twice. A red and white was my best man. I have many good friends who are red and white. It's the all things black and white hating ignorant people like you I can't stand.
I was born in Blyth, my mams family were all mags, dad, brother etc, my dad was from sunderland, when i was young i got pillaried between the 2 something rotton, i even went to St james before i went to Roker (i think), got dragged there by my mag cousin, but i still choose Sunderland I think the harder my mams side tried to push me over to the darkside, the more i wanted to stay on the light side, and the light side is where i stayed. if all my mates were mags as well it may have been different, but they either were not interested in football, or they were Forrest supporters for some reason lol.
