Cos Drogs I guess support is from the heart as well as the wallet, and some things do take precedence over support for your club, such as a parent's wishes. I was banned by my Mum and Dad from going to Stamford Bridge. They said it was too violent, they knew I was sensible but they weren't worried what I would do, it was the other buggers that scared them. I ignored them, but then I was a strong, tall young bloke, street wise Lambeth bear. Others like my Indonesian friend are young women who would not go against their father's wishes. By your criteria I'm afraid she could never call herself a true Chelsea fan, which I think is terribly unfair and would upset her. Bentley in Northern Thailand has the most accurate, up to date Chelsea statistical website I know, older than me he can detail players and teams hardly anyone else can. Yet I have a friend, my best friend if you like, who I discovered was a Chelsea fan back in 1978 and has supported them all his life. He comes from Finsbury, now in he lives in Essex and he has never seen Chelsea play at the Bridge (he has been to see them at Wembley). He is no glory hunter or plastic, and I'd bet anything he could not name you the Chelsea first eleven let alone the squad. I know why, it is his priorities, his family comes first, then his job, then his friends and Chelsea is somewhere down the list. He though could not ever imagine not always being a Chelsea fan. Your opinion, of course is valid and valued, and I am not seeking to change it. I understand why you say it. I'd say though I believe it is a minority one. Something we all agree is we do not like fair weather fans. I tolerate them, because at the end of the day most teams have them, we aren't going to get rid of them, they spend a lot of money and seem to be enjoying themselves, except when their chosen team goes down hill and they needs to change and find themselves with lots of merchandise they no longer want and have to spend lots more money to get the new stuff. Just as teams have youth academies for players teams should have Plastic Farms.....oh wait they do
Dfer, I completely understand there are exceptions to the rule and I think people have misunderstood me - I haven't once said that if you're from another country or city then you shouldn't support Chelsea, there is no problem with that at all. My main gripe is that the majority of the people who come from a different country, are fans of Chelsea because of how successful we have been in the last 10+ years. In my view that is glory hunting and getting up in the middle of the night twice a week doesn't change this.
We have the same problem at Arsenal, the fairweather fans who start whinging and calling for the manager's head if we don't win anything. As far as I'm concerned you can only ask for your team to do it's best, like you say not every team can win the league. It shouldn't therefore follow that the fans of the other teams start calling for the chop if their team don't win it. I also agree with you about the unexpected wins being sweet. We sometimes get the same people whinging that we've only won one-nil when we 'should' have battered teams. I've said it time and again, I couldn't care less if we win beautifully, ugly, comprehensively, narrowly, with style or with luck as long as we win. Sometimes the narrowly scraped victories when you play poorly can be even more rewarding than being out of sight by half-time. There are some fans who support the club and their are others who only support the concept of winning.
Likewise with yours and anyone elses, afterall they are all opinions and in the interest of debate it's good to hear people's stories. Agree with everything else you've said too and I don't want to sound like I'm criticising foreign football fans, becuase I'm definitely not as there are people all over this country who have done exactly the same.
I've been going to Chelsea since 76. My support peaked mid 80s home and away but I still go 15 or so times a season at home and a few away. Now I am a family man I go to fewer games; and it is an expensive day out; ticket, grub, booze, basically a oner. For those fans who find Chelsea expensive, knab the restricted view seats Matty Harding Block 16 on the wrapround by East Upper... a bargain at £23.50! I go there when I can, great view bar corner flag by East Stand/Shed Upper obscured. we sit there a lot these days, v United and West ham tomorrow. And newcastle on the 8th
Now that's really useful into re those tickets, worth looking into. Last time I went you queued up on the day, went through the turnstiles and watched the game. I shall be looking on here for info on the best way to purchase when it comes time. Atm I'm deciding whether to stay at home and watch the match tomorrow night (as don't think my son will be able to come over) or go to the pub now I have my car back on the road. I love the atmosphere of watching in the pub but as a single woman on match night it can be a bit of a pain, last time I had a bloody Man U supporter wouldn't leave me alone. I mean to say did he really think I would fancy a Man U supporter in his club shirt with sweaty armpits he didn't stand a chance
Keep an eye on the website. After the West Uppers sell out (£70-£82) then they put the restricted East Upps (£46.5) and Matty Harding Lower restricteds (£23.50). Try to get Block 16s seats 199 ish. If you get stuck with KKs right at the back of Block 12 say behind the goal, you get a letterbox view of the match but can move. The stewards get bored of telling you to move so you stand in the gangway or move round to Block 16 for a more restricted but less claustrophobic experience. That's what we will do tomorrow v West ham. We have five memberships and got five restricteds dotted around Harding Lower and still sat pretty close to each other in Block 16
i have supported chelsea long enough that i still have to some times pinch my self and i still think that finishing above arsenal equates a successful season
