Supporting multiple teams: Wrong?

[just some bloke]

So a recent conversation I had shed light on the whole concept of 'plastics', who have only supported such and such a team in recent years or whatever, rather than for their whole life

These days, I posit this is an outdated concept, since many people move around and have good reasons for switching allegiances to different clubs. I think it's similar in some ways to how marriage has changed as an institution. Many marriages don't last forever, and it's entirely credible for people to be on their second or even third marriage.

My own journey of supporting football clubs has gone roughly like this:

1981 FA Cup Final Replay onwards - was mad about everything Tottenham. Idolized Glenn Hoddle and Ossie Ardiles and a succession of 1980s Spurs legends

1987 or so onwards - my mother took me to watch Wycombe Wanderers, the 'family' club since we're originally from HW. Followed them through the non-league / league Martin O'Neill years, watching them 10-15 times a season

1990-92 - brief interlude following Reading quite closely, since I lived in Reading

1992-95 - at University following Cardiff City. The 1993 Welsh Cup semi final versus Wrexham still the best game I've ever seen

2001-2006 - in Japan, a season ticket holder with Urawa Red Diamonds. Fairly hardcore, going to over half of away games. Then I had kids and stopped going. I barely even look out for their results any more.

2012 - now live in Boston and have become aware of a new team called Boston Victory who play in some feeder league to the MLS. Do I start supporting them?


So that's six teams I've potentially been through. Am I just a philandering team-whore or just a product of a new age? Anyone else been through a similar journey?

[Wax Jacket]

also have a history of watching a lot of teams - Salisbury, Colwyn Bay, WW, Reading

Don't think I'll ever not be a Reading fan now but if in future I live in, let's say, Cambridge and my kids want to watch live football I'd certainly take them. I do sometimes wonder about the people who commute huge distances, past lots of other football clubs, to watch a team at the other end of the country

[cmonurz]

It’s not so much about whether or not you passionately support a team as how passionately you watch football, imho. The ‘Reading till I die’ RFC fans of 20 to 30 years will go week in, week out, sing their hearts out and travel hundreds of miles just to see Reading play football. If they we born in Brentford, they’d do the same, but they would follow Brentford.

There’s nothing ‘wrong’ with supporting two teams, but being portable in that respect suggests you are a different type of football fan.

And I’m certainly in the latter category. ‘Supported’ Liverpool as a boy, and travelled up to Anfield 4 or 5 times a season. A mate took me to a Reading game when I was 15, the team was local, the atmosphere was great, and I was hooked. But as much as I still go to the odd game, and always follow Reading’s scores when I’m not there, if I moved to another part of the country I could easily settle into following the local side. I enjoy football, but I don’t live and breathe it, and as such I don’t think RFC has much of a hold on me.

[just some bloke]

also have a history of watching a lot of teams - Salisbury, Colwyn Bay, WW, Reading

Don't think I'll ever not be a Reading fan now but if in future I live in, let's say, Cambridge and my kids want to watch live football I'd certainly take them. I do sometimes wonder about the people who commute huge distances, past lots of other football clubs, to watch a team at the other end of the country

WW is Wycombe or Wolves?

[manny96]

Nah, it's fine as long as they're also shit.

[Snowball]

I have always supported Welsh Rugby and everything Welsh, but England Soccer

That started in 66 with the World Cup.

Home team is Newport County and I've always supported them, raised a lot of money for them, started "Amber Army", had a short-story comp to raise money for them, walked Newport-Chepstow and back to raise wages, walked Newport-Merthyr, and when they had their first game in exile at Moreton-in-the-Marsh I relay ran with four others Newport to Moreton.

Always look for the result.

First Mrs was from Carlisle so we'd always go to watch them whenever we could. Then NCAFC signed Willie Brown from Carlisle. Perfick!!

Second Mrs and son supported Arsenal and I've supported them ever since.


Not sure how I'd feel if Newport/Reading/Arsenal met. Think now it'd be Reading I'd support

[just some bloke]

It’s not so much about whether or not you passionately support a team as how passionately you watch football, imho. The ‘Reading till I die’ RFC fans of 20 to 30 years will go week in, week out, sing their hearts out and travel hundreds of miles just to see Reading play football. If they we born in Brentford, they’d do the same, but they would follow Brentford.

There’s nothing ‘wrong’ with supporting two teams, but being portable in that respect suggests you are a different type of football fan.

And I’m certainly in the latter category. ‘Supported’ Liverpool as a boy, and travelled up to Anfield 4 or 5 times a season. A mate took me to a Reading game when I was 15, the team was local, the atmosphere was great, and I was hooked. But as much as I still go to the odd game, and always follow Reading’s scores when I’m not there, if I moved to another part of the country I could easily settle into following the local side. I enjoy football, but I don’t live and breathe it, and as such I don’t think RFC has much of a hold on me.

Sounds pretty sensible. A lot of it is about maybe who your kids end up supporting. If you lived in Bristol say and your kids became City or Rovers fans, you'd want to encourage that, surely, rather than insisting you all get in the car every couple of weeks and expensively drive them to the Madjeski to watch a team they have no local affiliation to.

[Snowball]

There’s nothing ‘wrong’ with supporting two teams, but being portable in that respect suggests you are a different type of football fan.

Not sure I agree. I simply couldn't afford to travel down to Newport from Newbury,
started watching RFC, liked their ethos, grew to love the club. If I had the money
now, I think I'd choose to follow RFC everywhere.

It's an accident of birth (or where your Dad goes to work) what team is your local.
so it's not really different if in later life the accident is where you end up as an adult.

[cmonurz]

Sounds pretty sensible. A lot of it is about maybe who your kids end up supporting. If you lived in Bristol say and your kids became City or Rovers fans, you'd want to encourage that, surely, rather than insisting you all get in the car every couple of weeks and expensively drive them to the Madjeski to watch a team they have no local affiliation to.

Exactly that. My Dad was a United fan, only ever visited Old Trafford a handful of times, but we started going to Reading games together and he enjoyed it immensely – fell for the Madejski under floodlights, our first game together was the Man City home game in 06/07. These days he’s texting me at 4.46 every weekend about Reading’s result of league position, and was ten times more vocal than me at the playoff final. Andy Griffin’s ears must have been burning.

[Maguire]

Grew up supporting Leeds as my mum and grandpa were season ticket holders there for many many years and my Dad didn't have a team. Followed Reading on the side as it was my (shit) home town club but it started to change in the early 90s when i actually wanted to go and watch games and Reading was obviously the choice.

tbh I don't think you can support more than one team properly. I live in Reading, have a ST, know the team inside out, know the strengths and weaknesses of every player, know loads of other Reading fans so to stack this up against Leeds [where I don't live, don't have a ST, don't know all the players, don't know loads of Leeds fans etc] is a bit of a no-brainer really.

Can't see myself ever supporting anyone else now but if I had the misfortune of children and they wanted to see [a different] local football then i'd take them, sure.

[TBM]

The way i see it is you support one team but can "follow" others.........for example i support Reading, know everything about the players [as Mags says] and know the fixtures, the league table, the backroom staff etc BUT i also watch Arsenal and Brentford due to family which has, over the years, turned me in to a follower of said teams.

[muddyfeet]

I pretend to support Arsenal

but its too hard to actually start to care about any other team imo

[No Fixed Abode]

Cmonurz supports two teams, as does Schards.

[Stuka]

Completely understandable to watch your local team if you find yourself living somewhere different from, for example Reading. Although I've only ever supported the Royals, I've been to Stevenage loads of times and lately go to the odd Arsenal game. When my girlfriend lived in Peckham I went to the odd Millwall fixture as it happens.

[Ian Royal]

Reading is the only club I've ever really supported. I have passing interests in and like plenty of other clubs. But Reading is the only one I care a great deal about and that has any genuine longevity to it.

[ZacNaloen]

Support Reading, keep an eye on Arsenal due to family ties. Mostly to take the piss out of my arsenal supporting relations though tbh.

[Toon Toon Blue army]

I think in England Reading are the only club I would actually pay money to see because they are my club. When I have lived away from Reading I have never had the urge to watch the local team although I will take an interest in how they are doing. I just couldn't justify spending money to see a team I don't really care about because I don't think I could get involved with the match properly.

However, if I lived abroad I could see myself adopting a second team to support because I wouldn't be able to watch Reading at all and it wouldn't feel wrong because Reading are unlikely to ever play them.

[Maguire]

Cmonurz supports two teams, as does Schards.

As do you

[Mike Hunt]

Cmonurz supports two teams, as does Schards.

As does Kes

[Stuka]

I think in England Reading are the only club I would actually pay money to see because they are my club. When I have lived away from Reading I have never had the urge to watch the local team although I will take an interest in how they are doing. I just couldn't justify spending money to see a team I don't really care about because I don't think I could get involved with the match properly.

However, if I lived abroad I could see myself adopting a second team to support because I wouldn't be able to watch Reading at all and it wouldn't feel wrong because Reading are unlikely to ever play them.

For me it's a case of watching football for football's sake and although a match not featuring Reading will never have the same engagement or intensity for me, I can just go and check another team out quite happily if I feel inclined.