Let's say, in a hypothetical situation, Sunderland AFC eventually folded, and the club ceased to exist. For us mags, let's say our club folded. With your club vanished from existence, but the EPL continuing on as normal, do you think you could find it in you to eventually start supporting the rival team? I.e. mags support Sunderland and mackems support Newcastle? Over many years, with the rivalry eventually falling into obscurity, do you think you could find yourself changing sides purely to support a large team which still represents the North East? PS: I don't mean immediately. It could even be as far as 10 or 20 years into the future, when the emotions of rivalry have almost completely faded away against a club which no longer existed. Could anyone find themselves edging towards the opposing camp just for the sake of representing and supporting the last major North East football team?
From the ashes would rise; a phoenix! Or I’d just support Man Utd. They win a lot and I'm getting used to that recently
I think it would happen within a single generation. If a mag eventually becomes the Dad of a kid he can hardly bring the kid up to support a team which doesn't exist, can he? All of the new generation would grow up to support the last team left, whilst obviously a few smaller numbers would support smaller teams like Gateshead and other local sides.
Never, I'd probably start supporting City (I like the way they play football and I like most of their players), or Swansea/Cardiff if they get established in the Prem. I'd also keep supporting Pterborough (my second team atm).
I support Blyth Spartans too anyway, so I'd just carry on doing that I suppose. But I'd also support whatever team was started as a replacement for Newcastle. I could never, ever support Sunderland!
My father was from a generation that did support each of the local clubs. My dad before he died told me of the days when he would go to Roker park one week and St James the next. He even admitted to going to Ayresome park on the odd occasion. I am sure there must have been rivalry back then but not to the degree it is now. I am a sunderland supporter through and through but I have no real hatred towards the Mags. Whether I really want them to do well I am not sure but I suspect that is jealousy as opposed to hatred. I would be delighted if they were premier league runners up as long as we won the league. Could I ever support them. I would find it hard but over time probably yes as I would rather be loyal to my NE roots than support a NW or SE team. As for Middlesbrough, well thats a different matter altogether
Never in frozen hells chance of me supporting the mags. EVER. Rather I would be a ginger haired, 'effeminate' French farmer, with halletosis, genital warts and sexual desires of an animal sort. I'd even make it a condition of my will that my daughter couldnt become one either, to save her any unitended humiliation of being labelled one. SAFC would live on in my heart until I was no more. Still, with personal guaranteed debts to Ashley for some 170m (he has loaned you this not given you it to erase accounting book debt), I reckon your lot are closer to this than ever we are. If anything happened to Agent Ashley your clubs debts would be called in at a stroke by the parent company. Now wouldnt that be a hoot.
If SAFC folded; would it really change anything for thier supporters? The pubs might be busier but...
Dunno, relegation can cause teams to go bust. You lot'll have to watch out when you're playing Coventry, Barnsley, Millwall etc. next season.
