If you lived in another area, whether it be through lack of choice, upgrade, for convenience, or any other reason, would you consider yourself a “Plastic" for sticking by your supported club forever more?
Now, I’m Spurs through & through, I originate from North London, spent most of my life in North London, my roots are still in North London & the majority of my family still live in North London. Not that this is particularly important, as we all follow our club for different reasons, mainly through territorial or ancestry reasons.
But, because of personal circumstances, i.e. work commitments and private commitments (girlfriend), I currently reside in Romford, Essex. The closest football clubs to my address are now Dagenham & Redbridge, AFC Hornchurch, Thurrock FC, Romford Town FC, Aveley FC, Thamesmead Town FC, Erith Town FC, West Ham & Waltham Forest FC.
Following a debate with West Ham fans (Mafia & myhammers) they have suggested that it makes you “Plastic" if you do not switch alliances to your new found (temporary) local team. I, however, believe the opposite of that. My belief, and the way I was educated into football, is if you are willing to switch alliances to other football clubs on the basis of what location your current address is, or through any other influence, then your credentials as a “loyal" football fan would be questionable, at best.
As such, I just wondered whether it was just myself who could not, and would not, ever switch clubs based purely on the postcode that my current home falls into. Or am I right in saying that the extreme majority of real football fans would never consider the prospect of changing teams (otherwise known as being a turncoat), as what myhammers & Mafia are suggesting?
Does anyone else share myhammers & Mafia’s theory or do you, like me, abide by the unwritten rule of never changing clubs?
No Wums.
Would you ever be a “turncoat”?
posted on 28/7/12
I love Tottenham Hotspur, could never support another.
posted on 28/7/12
chelsea_since,
I totally disagree. For me, i couldn't care less, in terms of the love for my club, if they did move to Heathrow. They would still be Tottenham Hotspur, they would still hold the history they have achieved (not much compared to some clubs, i know, but still) & the players who have graced the club, Lineker, Gazza, Hoddle, Ginola, Perryman, Mabbut etc. Admittedly, it would be far from ideal but i would never, ever, ever, stop supporting them because of where we call "home", and the point is exactly the same for wherever i may call my home.
posted on 28/7/12
If you can, try to imagine what it would be like for you guys if say Spurs were to move to Heathrow.
i could walk to games then ..
Agree 100% with what you say
posted on 28/7/12
Fairplay Chicken, obviously I respect your views regarding your own Club.
The only thing I would say is that as you know since Abramovich came along the charge is often levelled at Chelsea supporters that we are a "Souless Club" or that we have "Sold out our heritage in the pursuit of money and trophies" types of comments levelled at us, which I am sure you guys have heard of (or maybe even quoted on banterous occasions ).
At the moment I don't think that's correct because to me it's still the same Club at the same ground, the only difference is we are a little bit better than we used to be. I went when we were sh ite and skint so I think that I am entitled to enjoy it now circumstances have dictated that we are rich and good. To me though the charge of opposition fans would become totally true if we were to say move near to Cobham or whatever, just because finding a suitable venue and building out there and moving is the cheaper option than staying around SW6, and trying to find a suitable site big enough, which in shoebox London is very hard.
Maybe the reason for the problem is because I have been going there so long, which is why I would imagine the nouveau supporters that have jumped on the Chelsea bandwagon since we started winning things again in 1997, and even more so since Abramovich came along in 2003, might probably be quite happy to go. Not me though.
The sad irony for us is that if Brian Mears had been succesful in 1972 when Chelsea were intending to be the first Club in English Football to build an all-seater 60,000 stadium, (till it went pear-shaped and he got into financial difficulties) we wouldn't now be having the problems that we do. Obtaining planning permission was far easier back then than it is now, so that boat has well and truly been missed.
posted on 28/7/12
chelsea_since,
I haven't personally quoted any of those things you say have been aimed at Chelsea, however; with my football fan's banter hat on, i can understand why, and i would expect the same kind of stuff to be aimed at my club if we had the fortunes of having a billionaire take over & throw money at my club until it won everything. That being said, with my passionate loyal football fan's hat on, i wouldn't give 2 shats how we got to the top.
Dont get me wrong, i do take enormous pride that Tottenham Hotspur is run like clockwork, and we have maintained having a great squad, at half the cost of those we are in direct competition with, but i doubt any realistic fan would turn down the chance to have some of the trophies Chelsea has, and City are likely to get, from "selling their soul", as it were.
posted on 28/7/12
Chicken
Fair enough mate, but I do think that my Club would be massively selling out it's identity by going to Cobham.
A big part of what I have always perceived as the attractiveness of CFC is the geographical situation that the Club has always enjoyed (even when we were sh it in the 70's and 80's). It was for this reason that George Best unbelievably wanted to leave Man U after winning the European Cup and join Chelsea so that he could go drinking down the Kings Road with Osgood and the boys there at the time. To me location is a part of a Club's identity and heritage. I personally don't subscribe to the widely-held theory that we were "lucky" to hook Abramovich (although the timing of it was lucky). I firmly believe that our location was a big factor in attracting him (I think he has a place in Belgravia) and I don't think that somewhere out in Surrey would have the same wow factor.
I realise that you don't see it like that, and that's fair enough. That's the joys of sensible debate where we all see things differently.
posted on 28/7/12
chelsea_since,
Dont get me wrong, i would absolutely hate it if we were to up & leave from our roots - my comments are more to say that i wouldnt change any affiliation i have towards Tottenham Hotspur Football Club if we did. As long as we keep the same name, the same badge, the same colours & traditions, i would still follow them through thick & thin.
posted on 28/7/12
If they went out to Surrey etc. I would still look out for their results, obviously I wouldn't adopt another team or anything like that, but I think that I would actually stop going. It's the only thing that they could do to make me feel like that.
Have a look at my profile to see how committed I have been to the Club. I was even out in Munich for the game even though I couldn't get a ticket via my Season Ticket, I had to call in favours through my mates (including Tommy Langley) to be there.
The point that I am making is that if they have succeeded in alienating someone like me (like a move like that would) then they really must have done something very short-sighted and stupid.
Fortunately we have the CPO to keep the likes of Gorlay and Buck in check. So I can't envisage the day ever coming, when I would immediately lose interest in the Club
posted on 28/7/12
I think myhammers & Mafia are just trying to convince you to start supporting West Ham due to their poor attendance figures.
Personally I could never change club, not even if I moved to mars.
Otherwise I would be just the same as the glory hunters who switch when a new club is having success i.e. the new influx of Man City fans
posted on 30/7/12
This Username
I agree. Everything is wrong with Mafia & myhammers thought process. Not only would it be ridiculously plastic to change clubs due to your new home postcode, but why would you even want to recruit a life-long fan of another club to your own.
I wouldnt want any life long Arsenal, West Ham, Chelsea or any other non-Spurs fan to suddenly support Spurs. I know people switch when they're young - thats a different matter i suppose, but for anyone to switch late in life is a bit odd, and not something i would agree with.