As we're unlikely to see terraces again at football, this is the virtual equivalent where you can chat to your hearts content about all football matters and, obviously, Arsenal in particular. This forum encourages all Gooners to visit and contribute so please keep it respectful, clean and topical.
g88ner wrote:There are endless reasons that prevent passionate fans from watching their club live.
If you're deeply passionate about your club, then what gives anyone the right to label you as a "real" fan or not?? - it's not exactly something you can measure, is it?
It's a personal thing, and if your football club is in your soul, and you deeply care about them, then that's enough for me - regardless of whether you're a season ticket holder, Diamond Club member, father of 3 who can't afford to get to games, or even a fan living in Timbuktu.
I think it's a different emotional connection. When you are there live with thousands of your own supporters enjoying/being miserable its different than watching it on the tv. If there was no difference then why do people pay what they do to watch it live especially in this day and age of illegal streams and live sky games.
I don't get to as many games as I would like due to financial reasons but when I do I feel more, I'm not sure what the best way to put this is, emotional as you get swept up in the communal joy/angst.
For example being there for A. Hole's first return gave me an experience that was better than watching it on tv.
Great post.
it's like the United supporters which live in the US. They don't understand our history, our roots, the Manc sense of humour like we do because they haven't lived in Manchester or experienced the banter.
there's nothing like being at the match for me, I'd go week-in, week-out if I could afford it.
What a dumb fucking post . Since I'm not from London I don't get the Arsenal? I didn't know much when I first started supporting but I learned because I am really passionate about the club. If somebody cares about a club there is enough info on the Internet to learn about the history of the club. I can only make it out to one game a year because the flghts are really expensive, does that make me less inclined to know the people there and "experience the banter?" Fuck no it doesn't.
I know plenty of people here at my local supporters club that probably know more history than a lot of people that go to the matches. Some of them haven't been able to make it over for a game, but don't miss a match on tv. does that mean they are less of a fan? No way
I know an older guy who was born and raised in North London but hasn't been to Highbury or the Arsenal on a regular basis since the early 90s. He bleeds Arsenal and was on the pitch at White Hart Lane in 1971 but becuase he has moved away from London he doesn't attend games anymore but know for a fact he feels the pain when we lose and is overjoyed when we win.
He doesn't go to the games but is more a fan to me than some of those sitting in Club Level.
I understand maybe Irish fans who adopt a team from over here because of strong Irish links with teams like Arsenal, Man Utd and Cetic and the football in their leagues is equivalent to our non league. What I dont understand is people who live in London and decide to support Man Utd....what attachment do they have to Manchester and seeing as theres a considerable number of southern teams to support here (succesful ones as well if thats your thing) I dont understand the logic of supporting Man Utd if you were born and raised in the south.
I used to go home and away virtually every game from 87 (when i started work and could afford to go) to the late 90's now i have a wife and family i cant afford to go away and get to roughly 6 or 7 home games a season. Wish i could go more but im grateful of having Sky these days
flash gunner wrote:I think this is a dig at BG.....
I used to go home and away virtually every game from 87 (when i started work and could afford to go) to the late 90's now i have a wife and family i cant afford to go away and get to roughly 6 or 7 home games a season. Wish i could go more but im grateful of having Sky these days
4-5 games a season for me which costs a lot since i have to book flights hotel trains etc.
a wife ,kids and morgage means thats about all i can afford and no i dont ever think myself less of a supporter because of it.
flash gunner wrote:I think this is a dig at BG.....
I used to go home and away virtually every game from 87 (when i started work and could afford to go) to the late 90's now i have a wife and family i cant afford to go away and get to roughly 6 or 7 home games a season. Wish i could go more but im grateful of having Sky these days
4-5 games a season for me which costs a lot since i have to book flights hotel trains etc.
a wife ,kids and morgage means thats about all i can afford and no i dont ever think myself less of a supporter because of it.
xDAVEYx wrote:hate, them, especially if they get all mouthy when their adopted team-they've-never-seen score.
Same here mate, totally agree. It's all very well being the "big man" on an internet forum but try putting that energy into actually making an effort to follow your team home & away. There are too many mouthy people who watch their illegal streams week-in, week-out but have never seen their team actually play live. I find this baffling.
i like being the big man on internet forums
seriously though, i make it to every match I can, especially aways
i've been supporting Arsenal since the early 90's, when match highlights began to be broadcast sporadically here in the States. most of my mates at the time supported Liverpool or ManU, but because they were all glory-hunting c*nts. i was drawn to the brand new Premier League because it was more exciting play than the Italian football that my father loved. and it was the play of a certain bloke by the name of Ian Wright that made me start supporting this club. the more i looked into the Arsenal, the more and more i felt drawn to it...
i live in the San Francisco area... 5,400 miles away from London. we are 8 hours behind, and most times my best mate & i watch the matches live, whether its on cable tv, via satellite or on an "illegal" stream (those mid-day kickoffs are the worse... 4:45am our time, and even then pints are consumed). he's a die-hard supporter... moreso than me. he has yet to miss a single Arsenal match since mid-last season (i know he'll see this as he is a regular visitor on this forum). we've also learned about the club's history from the writings of Hornby & Jon Spurling. does this make those of us who have been unable to make the pilgrimage to London any less of a supporter?
i've only been to London once (back in 1996, on vacation during the Euros), and made my way to Highbury alone as a teenager.. although i was not able to tour the grounds or watch a match, seeing the majestic art deco walls of that beautiful ground was more than enough for me to feel a connection with my club.
and don't get me wrong. i have nothing but admiration for those on this forum who saw greats like George & Radford play live... those who have supported the longer than i've been alive. those who remember times when the sport was just that, and not a business... i also admire those who can go to the Grove week in & week out, stand up and cheer on the club amidst fear that the gestapo will tell them to sit down and be quiet… but just because i can't be there inside the grounds with them does not make the defeats any less painful, the victories any less joyous... or the frustrations any less stressful.
i'll just end my long rant with this: my woman knows very well to know the score of the Arsenal match every week to know what mood i will be in for the next few days after...
. Since I'm not from London I don't get the Arsenal? I didn't know much when I first started supporting but I learned because I am really passionate about the club. If somebody cares about a club there is enough info on the Internet to learn about the history of the club. I can only make it out to one game a year because the flghts are really expensive, does that make me less inclined to know the people there and "experience the banter?" Fuck no it doesn't.
