Half inspired by the new direction in the "well i never" thread, half something i've always wondered. What makes us support a team, why is it impossible to change allegiance? It wasn't until 2007, the match against Chester City in the FA Cup to be precise, that something finally clicked and I began identifying myself as an Ipswich fan, not looked back ever since, despite living in Wales and barely being able to attend any matches, every Saturday i'm glued to Soccer Saturday nervously awaiting Ipswich reports. 5pm on Saturday usually sets up how I feel the rest of the weekend. What's my justification? "I was born there" and that is my only Justification, we've not really done anything of note except survive in the Championship since January 2007, (We didn't even play well in the Chester game) and yet I get increasingly involved in online discussions, become increasingly Blue. But, if my only Justification is "I was born there" why do I not support Ipswich Wanderers? 2 obvious reasons. 1. Ipswich Town are the bigger better team. Meaning... 2. News, Results etc. are more accessible. So here's my question to myself. What would happen if the unthinkable happened and Ipswich Town ceased to be/ became Marcus Evans Franchise Football Club? Lets tackle the franchising/rebranding first off. As a fan of Ipswich Town I would, of course, be horrified. But, while I would sign online petitions against it, it wouldn't make financial sense for me to come to the inevitable protest marches. The "Suffolk Punch" would be the bigger better team with the more accessible News, Results etc, than the new, fan-owned, Ipswich FC. It would still represent the area I was born. The team would have developed from the one we have now and it would still be the same owners. Why would I not support the Suffolk Punch? Even as I write that paragraph I feel the sense of guilt, the sense I would have betrayed by team. Though, on the other hand, the guilt I feel about not going to Rhydymwyn FC matches doesn't make me stand in a cold field every Saturday. Does that make me a bad fan? So what if, instead re-branding ME packed up and Ipswich Town couldn't survive bankruptcy and was wound up? Would I be able to sustain support of the new Fan owned Ipswich FC, playing in Non-league then? I don't honestly know. I would still unashamedly say I supported Ipswich, but I wouldn't have the benefit of the Local News stations/papers to keep track of the scores, I would have the barest coverage possible to follow on SS/FS, would that create the same Nervous excitement? The only real conclusion is what we already know, support of a football team is irrational - The reason I support Ipswich is because they are my team.
mike i'm similar in fact of i have no affiliation with Ipswich whatsoever. no family connections,no nothing. as a young boy i just decided they would be MY team. 30 and a bit years on still are. always will be despite all the **** i get too for supporting them and not being a glory hunter. i can't get to see them either anywhere near as much as id like so like you mike i too watch soccer saturday nervously waiting for updates. Ipswich forever.
