I get what you're saying Ostlan, and i agree that not everyone youngster watching football will have a et, or turn into compulsive gamblers. I just don't like the route the sport as a whole is taking, with betting booths at every game, sponsorship plastered at every ground, and what odds you can get on the game advertised before and during every live game. But, alas - football is a business, and every sponsor's money is the same, be it BetFred, Ladbrokes or the Church of England.
Maybe if these betting companies got more involved socially and in helping people who do have addictive tendencies or gambling problems then they may be looked on in a better light - but as you say SB, it's all a matter of business and money making these days and the real cost seems to be the true meaning of sport which is getting lost in the mire of it all.
This may be the straw that breaks the camel's back for me. I can't see anything left of the club that I love - we no longer play football to be proud of, have an atmosphere, look after our supporters, have any ambition, have one of the finest playing surfaces in the country - the list is endless. With the decision to take on this sponsor, we can also cross off being a family club, my ethics guide me not to associate with the club on the basis of this sponsor and I will not even be able to pull on a replica shirt as it's frankly an embarrassment. I have been wrestling with switching my allegiance to one of my 'second clubs' but I have so far found it's completely impossible to care too much about another club scoring a goal or not to get excited by Celina's talent and wonder strike (even though he is not our player). May need to try hypnotherapy or something.
I tend to only go to one or two a season at Portman Road as it's a 400 mile round trip so usually go to the Northern and Midland away games... but yes you could be right, maybe a high dose will do it.
I think we all need the shrinks chair following ITFC these days. Good post Hampy, my thoughts entirely, but for me it would be a hammer of a wrench to withdraw my support & interest totally. Tbh, I am not far off it. And I admit for health reasons I havn't trecked up to PR for a year now.
Welcome back Hampy, it's been a loongg time mate, hope you've been well Great to hear from you again.
A bit left field but Leeds have gone and changed their club badge... again... And it is, (as expected) bloody awful http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42803838
Petition to get it changed back to the old one is already at 25k... Over double the number who were supposedly 'consulted' during the process I expect it will be gone by the weekend and they'll spend a fortune drawing up another one & bring it in under the radar in the summer