It's a sign of the changed - and still changing - dynamic between a club and its supporter

Back in the day, a local club had local people playing for it, earning not too much more than the people in the stands. They were the best-at-football of "us", and "we" supported our champions - in the old-fashioned sense of that word. Along with that came tribalism which became hooliganism and all the rest of it.

These days it's quite rare for a local player to play for a local club, and football's all about entertaining the middle-classes (no, please let's not get into a class debate, but you know what I mean). A lot of fans who go genuinely prefer to sit down, and it's more about getting a good view of what's going on than getting behind your team and doing your part - however little tangible difference it actually makes to the players - to help your team play at their best.

The connection between players and community, partly based on them actually being "from us", partly based on us supporting them loudly in defeat or victory, has gone. The club has excellent community schemes but it's not the same - it's glossy, professional, spun, modern; not the same as seeing the bloke at the neighbouring school or even your own go out there to test himself against the best and shouting for him win or lose, play well or badly.

It's no good crying about this, football as it used to be has gone for good and what is left is what there is.

Posted By: Old Man on January 25th 2015 at 15:36:30

Message Thread

Booing your own players (NCFC) - Cordelia Stitts, Jan 25, 15:08:31
- In late 70s and 80s it was chants of "what a load of rubbish".. (NCFC) - Dandy Highburyman, Jan 25, 15:41:11
- It's got worse in recent years because the gap between the common man and the professional (NCFC) - Brandonio, Jan 25, 15:13:36
  - do you think it's a supporter's right to be entertained by the team they support? (n/m) (NCFC) - Cordelia Stitts, Jan 25, 15:14:54
    - I think we deserve a certain level of performance, especially these days (NCFC) - Brandonio, Jan 25, 15:19:58
      - It's certainly not the worst crime (NCFC) - Cordelia Stitts, Jan 25, 15:24:14
        
        It's a sign of the changed - and still changing - dynamic between a club and its supporter (NCFC) - Old Man, Jan 25, 15:36:30
      - I booed at Fulham in 05. I booed at Barnet in 97ish. (NCFC) - norway, Jan 25, 15:21:14
        
        I think I was at Barnet. (NCFC) - avenging canary, Jan 25, 15:32:41
- Not new. (NCFC) - avenging canary, Jan 25, 15:11:53
  - as many as yesterday when Whitts and Hooper came off? (n/m) (NCFC) - Cordelia Stitts, Jan 25, 15:12:26

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