Faversham

[Canterbury Blade]

I watched yesterday's match in a pub in the market town of Faversham, Kent, South East of England. In that boozer sat pre match, were at least 4 people wearing this years Man U shirts, one had a club crest tattoo and one even had Man U track suit bottoms on, despite it being Saturday night in a pub. One mentioned his one trip to Old Trafford as a birthday present to the others, their reaction clearly showing they hadn't ever been there. They were talking in very Southern accents and as if they were sat in a pub in Manchester, actually as if they were about to go to the ground and actually as if they were true supporters.

I came to realise this is what being a Man U supporter is and for the record I bet if we were playing Liverpool, Man City etc then it would be exactly the same. I wondered why and asked myself the following questions.

Why when Gillingham is only 15 miles away and even the London teams are only 45 miles away, is it acceptable to support a team from over 200 miles away.?

Why is such plastic charlatan behaviour of claiming to be a fan of a team you've not seen and from a town you've not been to increasingly acceptable in the South?

Why is it not culturally embarrassing to dress up in Man U club shop tat, wear it in a pub in Kent and be seen as a football fan?

As I had more ale I did start to pass comment referring to United (to challenge their arrogant assumption that there is only one United), mentioning to my mate about how I will be travelling to Wigan on Tuesday (to show how people living in Kent can get to the North even in the dark) and recalling how Old Trafford has changed since my previous trips (in fact as an away fan I've probably been more times than they had as home fans).

If I'd stayed longer the comments would have got more barbed, so I have to ask myself why did this Man U behaviour wind me up?

Blades, I am this morning proud to support a team that may not have won yesterday, may not have much footballing success and can't buy multi million pound players, But they are MY team, the geographically closest team to where I grew up, from a ground where I know how rank the Gents toilets used to be and where I can, despite not going to every game, proudly say I support MY team.

Up the Blades.

 

[HillmortonBlade]

Why when Gillingham is only 15 miles away and even the London teams are only 45 miles away, is it acceptable to support a team from over 200 miles away.?

I live in Rugby, with Coventry on my door step and Villa, Birmingham, West Brom and Walsall all within 45 miles. I support the Blades and wear my shirt with pride (yes, yes, even this seasons one).

Then again, it's the Blades, why wouldn't I?

 

[Rodley]

Never feel embarrassed, never feel ashamed, I'll always love dem Blades.

 

[Woodwardfan]

I was once in a pub in Harrogate watching a Man Utd game and there was a group of similar Mancs fans as those in the O.P., all very showy and loud. The game was close and when the Mancs scored a late winner, one of their group did a sliding celebration across the wooden floor. When he returned to his chair I removed his seat just as he was sitting down and he ended up on the floor. Thankfully he accepted it was a genuine mistake, though some thought not!! My age probably saved me a beating.

Afterwards I realised how stupid I had been, but as you say Canterbury, a few beers can lead to trouble and that is the moral of the stories.

Those distance Mancs are so proud of their choice of tagging on to success, it's infuriating. I don't mind Greater Manchester fans even if they don't go. I don't mind distance travelling fans who have season tickets that much either. It's the 5 million others that bug me, especially those who often say " I supported them even when they went down to the Second Division" or " I have supported them for 30 years".

Some say "my Dad brought me up to follow them" and I suppose that is a problem for my pal who was born in Barnard castle and whose own son is now a fanatic and his son's son is regularly on Facebook all decked up in this year's kit. It's hard for us long suffering, committed Blades; proper supporters who go to matches every year to even enter into conversations about football with these blokes, but it's something a bloke's got to do I'm afraid.

Over 8500 Blades there yesterday but as ever there will have been celebrations in bars all over the world when the Mancs got out of jail last night.

 

[Whiston Blade]

Funny how one of the biggest clubs in the world has supporters all over...

Don't see why we're so bothered, if the roles were reversed and we had the history Man Utd did then would we be slagging ourselves off about having fans here there and everywhere ?

 

[super_pig]

I watched yesterday's match in a pub in the market town of Faversham, Kent, South East of England. In that boozer sat pre match, were at least 4 people wearing this years Man U shirts, one had a club crest tattoo and one even had Man U track suit bottoms on, despite it being Saturday night in a pub. One mentioned his one trip to Old Trafford as a birthday present to the others, their reaction clearly showing they hadn't ever been there. They were talking in very Southern accents and as if they were sat in a pub in Manchester, actually as if they were about to go to the ground and actually as if they were true supporters.

I came to realise this is what being a Man U supporter is and for the record I bet if we were playing Liverpool, Man City etc then it would be exactly the same. I wondered why and asked myself the following questions.

Why when Gillingham is only 15 miles away and even the London teams are only 45 miles away, is it acceptable to support a team from over 200 miles away.?

Why is such plastic charlatan behaviour of claiming to be a fan of a team you've not seen and from a town you've not been to increasingly acceptable in the South?

Why is it not culturally embarrassing to dress up in Man U club shop tat, wear it in a pub in Kent and be seen as a football fan?

As I had more ale I did start to pass comment referring to United (to challenge their arrogant assumption that there is only one United), mentioning to my mate about how I will be travelling to Wigan on Tuesday (to show how people living in Kent can get to the North even in the dark) and recalling how Old Trafford has changed since my previous trips (in fact as an away fan I've probably been more times than they had as home fans).

If I'd stayed longer the comments would have got more barbed, so I have to ask myself why did this Man U behaviour wind me up?

Blades, I am this morning proud to support a team that may not have won yesterday, may not have much footballing success and can't buy multi million pound players, But they are MY team, the geographically closest team to where I grew up, from a ground where I know how rank the Gents toilets used to be and where I can, despite not going to every game, proudly say I support MY team.

Up the Blades.

amen. good work mate

 

[Worksop II]

would we be slagging ourselves off about having fans here there and everywhere ?

We do have fans everywhere .... mind you there are some flakey fuckers

 

[super_pig]

Funny how one of the biggest clubs in the world has supporters all over...

Don't see why we're so bothered, if the roles were reversed and we had the history Man Utd did then would we be slagging ourselves off about having fans here there and everywhere ?

ahem. .we 'do' have the history of Man Utd.. ok we haven't been as successful but we have been around longer

 

[Keef Chedwyn]

It's easy to be a Man United fan. Any fucker can put a shirt on and reckon to support them and quite easily have the same conversation as them about their manager and players, we get it forced on us enough by the media!

You have to put a bit of time, effort and suffering into being a Blade and although we're not reyt good, it's something to be proud of.

 

[HillmortonBlade]

It's easy to be a Man United fan. Any fucker can put a shirt on and reckon to support them and quite easily have the same conversation as them about their manager and players, we get it forced on us enough by the media!

You have to put a bit of time, effort and suffering into being a Blade and although we're not reyt good, it's something to be proud of.

I've travelled all over the country and whenever I find myself in a football conversation (very often) I have always found that fans of other teams have a begrudging respect for us Blades.

Although it has to be said that the Coventry fans I work with are a little bit bitter

 

[Maidenhead]

It's easy to be a Man United fan. Any fucker can put a shirt on and reckon to support them and quite easily have the same conversation as them about their manager and players, we get it forced on us enough by the media!

You have to put a bit of time, effort and suffering into being a Blade and although we're not reyt good, it's something to be proud of.

When Jack Walker bought Blackburn a title you wouldn't believe the number of blue and white quartered shirts that appeared all around the Slough area in the following weeks!

 

[dublin 10 blade]

We have fans all over the world and the U.K. , just our supporters had to move for economic reasons ,
rather than our trophy laden history , and being brought up in S2 , seeing the ups and downs of our club.
Boxing Day , relegation to the 4th , champions next season , the rise of our club under sir Dave ,
our club is in a shit league ,we have been lumbered with some bang average players ( not withstanding yesterday's heroics) , I love my Blades. , from having my head rubbed by my dads Irish mates in the lady's bridge pub before a game , to seeing forest thrash us 6-1 in my first away game , my son is now a Blade even though he's been brought up in D10 , and is in contact with Blades in Sheffield on Facebook and Twitter.
Will never stop supporting our bang average team , just hope I'll be able to get champions league tickets in 5 years time .
UTB.

 

[Woodwardfan]

Funny how one of the biggest clubs in the world has supporters all over...

Don't see why we're so bothered, if the roles were reversed and we had the history Man Utd did then would we be slagging ourselves off about having fans here there and everywhere ?

You are so right and yet so wrong at the same time.

When say 100 or so fans turn up at Bramall Lane to support Crewe or Fleetwood etc. I must say I respect them and yet feel sorry for them at he same time.

When they turn us over I'm also pleased for them and hate them at the same time.

I never ever respect a British Mancs fan born outside Greater Manchester though. I know it's an old fashioned view but I'm a traditional football fan and stuck with it and I'm stuck with the Blades. Why shouldn't I be bitter?!

 

[Bladesway]

I watched yesterday's match in a pub in the market town of Faversham, Kent, South East of England. In that boozer sat pre match, were at least 4 people wearing this years Man U shirts, one had a club crest tattoo and one even had Man U track suit bottoms on, despite it being Saturday night in a pub. One mentioned his one trip to Old Trafford as a birthday present to the others, their reaction clearly showing they hadn't ever been there. They were talking in very Southern accents and as if they were sat in a pub in Manchester, actually as if they were about to go to the ground and actually as if they were true supporters.

I came to realise this is what being a Man U supporter is and for the record I bet if we were playing Liverpool, Man City etc then it would be exactly the same. I wondered why and asked myself the following questions.

Why when Gillingham is only 15 miles away and even the London teams are only 45 miles away, is it acceptable to support a team from over 200 miles away.?

Why is such plastic charlatan behaviour of claiming to be a fan of a team you've not seen and from a town you've not been to increasingly acceptable in the South?

Why is it not culturally embarrassing to dress up in Man U club shop tat, wear it in a pub in Kent and be seen as a football fan?

As I had more ale I did start to pass comment referring to United (to challenge their arrogant assumption that there is only one United), mentioning to my mate about how I will be travelling to Wigan on Tuesday (to show how people living in Kent can get to the North even in the dark) and recalling how Old Trafford has changed since my previous trips (in fact as an away fan I've probably been more times than they had as home fans).

If I'd stayed longer the comments would have got more barbed, so I have to ask myself why did this Man U behaviour wind me up?

Blades, I am this morning proud to support a team that may not have won yesterday, may not have much footballing success and can't buy multi million pound players, But they are MY team, the geographically closest team to where I grew up, from a ground where I know how rank the Gents toilets used to be and where I can, despite not going to every game, proudly say I support MY team.

Up the Blades.

Yes but they are one of the biggest teams in the world. In the same way you can't see a news article in Africa without some kid in a Real or Barca shirt turning up in the background.

Be proud of what we are but I don't resent other for their own fame. It is none of my business.

 

[Boxer Blade]

On holiday once and sat next to a bloke and started talking as always asked who he supported (he was from Essex) and sounded like it, man u he said, who often have you been I asked sarcastically, oh I've never been but I once drovepast old Trafford, now that was a new one and it must have shown because he sort of grinned and then apologised! It is a definite pet hate of mine these 'fans' who attach themselves and like Woodward says I always respect supporters of smaller teams.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

Funny how one of the biggest clubs in the world has supporters all over...

Don't see why we're so bothered, if the roles were reversed and we had the history Man Utd did then would we be slagging ourselves off about having fans here there and everywhere ?

We'd all be complaining about our foreign players not giving a fuck after a performance like that.

 

[Ballinpigpubs13]

Once worked for a reight tosser from Ripley in Derbyshire. And even though he had numerous clubs closer like Derby, Forest, County and Mansfield he (supports ?) Man utd. Think the bellend had been to Old Trafford once. The village idiot said he watched em on telly every week though.

 

[Finn Keane o' Balmaqueen]

The work of the corporate giants, is very successful.

Those who live distances from the football club "they support" are buying into a brand.
The BIGGER the success the brand managers want, so the Empire they create grows further and wider.
The BIGGER the audience, then more businesses jump on the band-wagon.

There is no difference between a "fan" walking around wearing a Barcelona / Manchester United / Real Madrid / Liverpool and now Manchester City shirt in whatever city/country.

Don't forget, even we had a shot at that once. We failed.

 

[Bladesman]

It's not the random fans around the world that would annoy me if I were a Man U fan. It's the prawn sandwich brigade that show up at Old Trafford and they clearly annoy regular proper fans. As it was highlighted by one fan in Roy's blog before the match.

That fan was were clearly annoyed going to the match and being surrounded by people not singing or showing any interest in the match.

 

[Fulwood Blade]

I enjoyed my day at Old Trafford.

I was quite amazed at how "different level" the Manchester United brand was and everything that surrounds it.



Just two things that stood out:

The "new" corners to the ground housed 5 levels of corporate hospitality.

Outside there was "burger village" opposite hotel football - it wasn't just a couple of little burger vans dragged there by a lone 4x4, just numerous big portable eateries serving all sorts of stuff to eat - and that was just one corner of the surrounding area.

Jealous? - not in the least - it was just interesting to see a club at that level and it helps to put see how the Premier league has extended the reach of football.

UTB

 

[crucialkneeligaman]

I was once in a pub in Harrogate watching a Man Utd game and there was a group of similar Mancs fans as those in the O.P., all very showy and loud. The game was close and when the Mancs scored a late winner, one of their group did a sliding celebration across the wooden floor. When he returned to his chair I removed his seat just as he was sitting down and he ended up on the floor. Thankfully he accepted it was a genuine mistake, though some thought not!! My age probably saved me a beating.

Afterwards I realised how stupid I had been, but as you say Canterbury, a few beers can lead to trouble and that is the moral of the stories.

Those distance Mancs are so proud of their choice of tagging on to success, it's infuriating. I don't mind Greater Manchester fans even if they don't go. I don't mind distance travelling fans who have season tickets that much either. It's the 5 million others that bug me, especially those who often say " I supported them even when they went down to the Second Division" or " I have supported them for 30 years".

Some say "my Dad brought me up to follow them" and I suppose that is a problem for my pal who was born in Barnard castle and whose own son is now a fanatic and his son's son is regularly on Facebook all decked up in this year's kit. It's hard for us long suffering, committed Blades; proper supporters who go to matches every year to even enter into conversations about football with these blokes, but it's something a bloke's got to do I'm afraid.

Over 8500 Blades there yesterday but as ever there will have been celebrations in bars all over the world when the Mancs got out of jail last night.

Changing a bit Woody, the old "I started supporting them because of the Munich air disaster " is being heard less and less. All amounts to same thing. Glory hunters, and will never be seen as true supporters by me. To be fair, Man U attire has always been seen all over for donkeys years. but you hardly ever saw Chelsea, ManC etc stuff, now you see it all the time, more glory hunters. There is a blade supporting family that live near me, and yet you still see their kids wearing Liverpool shirts every now and again

 

[crucialkneeligaman]

Funny how one of the biggest clubs in the world has supporters all over...

Don't see why we're so bothered, if the roles were reversed and we had the history Man Utd did then would we be slagging ourselves off about having fans here there and everywhere ?

Because a lot of us hate glory hunters S12.

 

[Worksop II]

Don't forget, even we had a shot at that once.

I remember the Travel Agents ensconsed at the back of the Lane Shop

 

[Finn Keane o' Balmaqueen]

For a while on Saturday 9th January 2016, Sheffield United were part of the circus.

If anyone thinks BT were there to broadcast a potential "Cup Shock"....

 

[Woodwardfan]

I enjoyed my day at Old Trafford.

I was quite amazed at how "different level" the Manchester United brand was and everything that surrounds it.



Just two things that stood out:

The "new" corners to the ground housed 5 levels of corporate hospitality.

Outside there was "burger village" opposite hotel football - it wasn't just a couple of little burger vans dragged there by a lone 4x4, just numerous big portable eateries serving all sorts of stuff to eat - and that was just one corner of the surrounding area.

Jealous? - not in the least - it was just interesting to see a club at that level and it helps to put see how the Premier league has extended the reach of football.

UTB

I happen to know an ex-Man Utd player who hosts in the hospitality suites every home game.

He gets £540 and covers about 4 tables of 8/10 guests.

He's a bit of a drinker and loves his match days - booze, meal, convivial company and full match to watch all plus £540!

 

[Canterbury Blade]

I happen to know an ex-Man Utd player who hosts in the hospitality suites every home game.

He gets £540 and covers about 4 tables of 8/10 guests.

He's a bit of a drinker and loves his match days - booze, meal, convivial company and full match to watch all plus £540!

And to think he was only managing us in recent years.... From England captain to match day host via ten pints a day and a managerial stint at BDTBL...

 

[Woodwardfan]

And to think he was only managing us in recent years.... From England captain to match day host via ten pints a day and a managerial stint at BDTBL...

Not him actually.

 

[Caseh]

I don't see why it matters? Why does location have anything to do with what football team a person supports? And what right does anyone else have to judge them for it? There are many reasons people grow up supporting different teams. My brother follows Everton ffs!

 

[HillmortonBlade]

I don't see why it matters? Why does location have anything to do with what football team a person supports? And what right does anyone else have to judge them for it? There are many reasons people grow up supporting different teams. My brother follows Everton ffs!

HB Jnr, season ticket holder, born in Coventry. Me, season ticket sat beside the aforementioned, born in Belfast. No intention of giving up our Big Bladey Bladeyness tags.

 

[Finn Keane o' Balmaqueen]

WWF.

Is it George Best?