I Was A Teenage Spurs Fan (28/3)

Post by **gooner.ed** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 11:04 am

usual thread starter... i thought the idea was that kids followed in the path of their parents. praise be to this dad for letting his offspring do the right thing, and then actually seeing they knew best!

MK Gould · Post by **MK Gould** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 12:17 pm

I've never been christened. But if someone asked me for my religion, I'd say CofE (or I would have done until I married a Catholic). And, up until I was 9/10, if someone had asked me what team I supported then I'd have said....Spurs! Its just that most people where I came from (Harlow) did support them. They were like the default setting! I never bought any of their merchandise (although my parents did buy me a blue and white jacket once - without badge!), and I never went to any of their games. And, I wasn't interested enough in football at the time to have cheered them on "The Big Match" or MOTD. But its something I'm not proud of, and only close friends knew of this guilty secret until now. There. I too have come clean and feel much better for it.....!!! Anyone else???

Rilo II · Post by **Rilo II** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 12:25 pm

I find the idea of choosing who to support really weird. Especially going through such a long list of clubs when making the decision. I don't see how anyone could feel passionately about a club they have chosen to support.

I like a few other sports, in recent years I have got into baseball in a big way. But there is no one team who I support because it would feel false if I was to just choose one. I don't think you could force the love you have for your club, I think it should just be a natural thing

MK Gould · Post by **MK Gould** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 1:32 pm

Its not so strange. I imagine that Richard, like me, didn't have the influence of a football loving family member and therefore had to choose a club. In my case it happened so long ago that I can't even remember how I chose Arsenal. Shit....maybe Arsenal chose me! I don't think I sat with the league table on my lap and pin in hand if thats what you think! The fact is though that my love of Arsenal has been tried and tested and found to be true. I, along with my kids, enjoy watching the local teams, Northampton Town & MK Dons, and can enjoy their success. But we only feel true pain for the gooners, and that I guess is the measure of the bond!!

Post by **SPUDMASHER** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 2:04 pm

Okay...I'm going to come out of the closet and make an admission of my own. Firstly I was NEVER a Spurs fan but I am the only member of my family that isn't! My dad was a season ticket holder and my uncle even played for their 'A' team (thank god he never made it, can you imagine the embarrassment?). As a kid I was only allowed to go to football to watch them. My first trip to Highbury was not even to see my beloved Arsenal. It was an FA Cup semi-final between the Spuds and Wolves
I wouldn't say that I hate them as I think hate is a very strong word reserved for only a few e.g. P Kenyon . I laugh when they lose or when things go wrong. I delight in winding up their fickle fans but I would not want to see them relegated for more than a year. We need them as an outlet for our humour and I personally would like to see them compete a bit more than they do. Rivalry is healthy and we don't currently consider them rivals, just neighbours.
So there you go, I'm a gooner by choice rather than default, and a bloody proud one at that.

P.S. Just in case my mum ever shows you the photo of me with Villa and Ardiles I would like to point out that I am not smiling. I was forced to do it!

Post by **gooner.ed** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 11:04 pm

blimey. with all these shock revelations, this forum is turning into the jerry springer show

so take care of yourselves... and each other.

(cue fight & security beefheads stage right)

Post by **DB10GOONER** » Thu Mar 29, 2007 12:10 pm

I've never laughed so much at a thread. It IS like the Jerry Springer show!!!!

What next? Is GoonerEd going to come out as a cross-dressing, French-Canadian Lesbian? God, I hope so!

Seriously, though; I say welcome aboard. You are now Gooners and we will forgive your past crimes against humanity.

As far as "choosing" a club? I don't see the problem. I grew up in Australia and my old man pushed me towards the Gunners because it was the 70's, we were Irish, Chippy Brady, O'Leary, Rice, Stapo, etc etc you get where I'm going here...

I was Four years old when we did the double and 12 for the 1979 FA cup win and I guess it just kept seeping in. Also, I farcking LOVED the Cannon (I have it tattood on my right shoulder) and the distinct look of the jersey (everyone had boring all-blue, all-white or all-red jerseys back then - we had WHITE sleeves for Christ's sake!!!!

) So it was Arsenal for me. Forever and farcking ever. I then dutifully made my mom a Gooner and raised my three younger brothers into the faith.

"Many of us will come by strange dark roads to our faith, but once we arrive alive with belief in our hearts, that's all that matters."

You can quote me there kiddies...

Back to confessions; I once DIDN'T puke my guts up when Tottingshizer beat us.

Please, sweet Jesus, please forgive me...

eton_gooners · Post by **eton_gooners** » Fri Mar 30, 2007 9:11 am

I'm not hiding behind this eton_gooners monicker because of my shame - honestly - but I am the Richard responsible.

There is no logical reason why I chose Spurs. Without the influence of a Father I was in the fortunate position if having a choice. But ultimately, we all have a choice. In a town like Peterborough the coaches line up at 8am on a Saturday to take fans to footie - in Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds. But hang on - The Posh are playing in Plymouth?

But I know ADULTS who swap sides. My brother has variously followed Villa, Arsenal and Chelsea - where he is now. How does that work?

I had a ghastly navy/white sports bag - that was the extent of my support for 'them over there'. I have since visted WHL twice and am pleased to able to confirm that I have only ever stood in the away end.

Secretly I've liked Arsenal since Anfield 1989 too. But its only now I've felt the burning desrire to purge my inner Spurs demons.

Thank you all for your kind words.

MK Gould · Post by **MK Gould** » Fri Mar 30, 2007 11:47 am

Rilo II wrote:I find the idea of choosing who to support really weird. Especially going through such a long list of clubs when making the decision. I don't see how anyone could feel passionately about a club they have chosen to support.

I like a few other sports, in recent years I have got into baseball in a big way. But there is no one team who I support because it would feel false if I was to just choose one. I don't think you could force the love you have for your club, I think it should just be a natural thing

Ok, so you don't choose your parents, but you do choose your partner and often even end up loving them (apologies for my repeated use of analogies - or maybe thats similies - English was never a strong point at school). Does that mean you don't feel passion for them? Hope not, or maybe you're in the wrong relationship! Is choosing Arsenal so different? Also, I've never watched a football/cricket/baseball/rugby etc match without wanting one of the teams to win. Sometimes something will happen during the game which shifts my "support" but I'm physically unable to be a neutral. And passion should be measured by how you feel when they lose, not when they win!

Post by **DB10GOONER** » Fri Mar 30, 2007 12:43 pm

Quote; "But I know ADULTS who swap sides. My brother has variously followed Villa, Arsenal and Chelsea - where he is now. How does that work?"

Adults "club hopping" is another matter all together. I mean, it is the Western Free World we live in and they are entitled to do this, BUT they are NOT entitled to any respect for doing it. Jumping around, trying to latch onto a successful (Villa??!!

) club for bragging rights is just totally wanky. So, while we welcome your good self, your brother is, unfortunately, of a wanky nature...

I believe a club is for life, but I still welcome convertees. Jaysus, I feel like the Catholic Church! Only I don't condone Kiddie Fiddling.

Rilo II · Post by **Rilo II** » Fri Mar 30, 2007 1:20 pm

MK Gould wrote:
Rilo II wrote:I find the idea of choosing who to support really weird. Especially going through such a long list of clubs when making the decision. I don't see how anyone could feel passionately about a club they have chosen to support.

I like a few other sports, in recent years I have got into baseball in a big way. But there is no one team who I support because it would feel false if I was to just choose one. I don't think you could force the love you have for your club, I think it should just be a natural thing
Ok, so you don't choose your parents, but you do choose your partner and often even end up loving them (apologies for my repeated use of analogies - or maybe thats similies - English was never a strong point at school). Does that mean you don't feel passion for them? Hope not, or maybe you're in the wrong relationship! Is choosing Arsenal so different? Also, I've never watched a football/cricket/baseball/rugby etc match without wanting one of the teams to win. Sometimes something will happen during the game which shifts my "support" but I'm physically unable to be a neutral. And passion should be measured by how you feel when they lose, not when they win!

You do choose your partner, but loving someone is a natural thing that progresses over time. It's not like you walk upto someone and say "right I choose you, I love you now" (well I don't anyway).
It's a similar thing with a football club. I could understand if over a period of time you grow to love a team, but I don't see how you could feel that passionatly if you have just chosen one team out of a list of many possibilities.

don't get me wrong, it's great that he has chosen arsenal. I just find it strange that you can just decide on a club just like that.

Post by **DB10GOONER** » Fri Mar 30, 2007 1:31 pm

His love will grow for the club over time...

gunner67 · Post by **gunner67** » Fri Mar 30, 2007 1:32 pm

We all supported Chelsea back in the early 70s. I mean everyone, my brothers, school friends - everyone.
Then one day my big brother started supporting Arsenal and being the dutiful younger brother that I am, so did I. First Gunners match I saw was the 78 cup final.
However like Mk Gould,as I'm not far from MilkandBeans I also support MK Dons. Being from the East Coast of Scotland I also follow Dunfermline Athletic.

MK Gould · Post by **MK Gould** » Fri Mar 30, 2007 1:42 pm

But no-one chooses a team, and then buys a season ticket and gets a cannon tattoo (old, not cartoon style!) on their upper arm the following day! It starts off with just a little bit of flirting, maybe the odd fumbling. But then you realise that you can't stand being apart and want to make things more permanent. Oh, shit. I'm confused now, what were we talking about. Oh yes, I know plenty of people who were born Arsenal fans who haven't gone through the pain I've gone through (mid week trips to Sheffield and the like) and are no way as passionate as I am about the Gooners. I actually think that you are MORE likely to be passionate about the club if you've chosen to support them than if you are in an arranged marriage (sorry - there I go again!)!!!

Post by **Dicko** » Sat Mar 31, 2007 10:35 pm

Today at Anfield I heard the chant "I'm Arsenal til I die" Now in the 17 years of attending Arsenal matches I do not recall ever hearing our fans sing this. Of course that Sheffield Wednesday band forever play it for England and more or less every other team has sung it. I always thought it a bit of a pointless chant really because who the hell is going to change their allegiance

to a football club or nationality.

It depends whether or not you actually made those trips to Shite Hart Lane............................................................