People who are crap at football

T

the_dormouse

Well-known member
Would you agree with me that people who were crap at football are more likely to be supporters of professional football.I myself never made a school team in my life yet have gone to the Boro most of my life.Yet most of the kids who were decent players never seemed to go to the match.
 
Most of the lads who were getting trials when I was in school have since gone on to get involved in drugs/big boozing.

I was the same as you, crap at football but still enjoyed playing it with mates, and continued to be absolutely obsessed by it.
 
the_dormouse said:
Would you agree with me that people who were crap at football are more likely to be supporters of professional football.I myself never made a school team in my life yet have gone to the Boro most of my life.Yet most of the kids who were decent players never seemed to go to the match.
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Agree with this as most people who play amateur football of a decent standard used to play Saturday afternoons (when typically the boro games were on @ 3pm) so never became fans who went to the games but instead watched teams on MoTD so favoured them.
TheYorkshireTerrier said:
Most of the lads who were getting trials when I was in school have since gone on to get involved in drugs/big boozing.
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Agree with this too, all part of the going out mentality of a sports team Rugby/Football/Cricket teams all the same
 
laughingboroboy said:
Agree with this as most people who play amateur football of a decent standard used to play Saturday afternoons (when typically the boro games were on @ 3pm) so never became fans who went to the games but instead watched teams on MoTD so favoured them.

Agree with this too, all part of the going out mentality of a sports team Rugby/Football/Cricket teams all the same
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There's probably something in this. My brother @Left_peg played to a much higher standard than I did, and so was / is always playing on a weekend and as such doesn't get to many Boro games as me, although as a child he was probably more passionate about the club than I was. Although when he does he tends to watch them differently pointing out things that I'd never notice.
 
Certainly in my case.

A former colleague who plays in the Northern League told me that he gave up being a fan as a teenager when semi-pro football took up his time, then he got a football scholarship in the USA which took him further from English football. He knew barely any current players, but balancing football and a full time job meant he didn't have the time.
 
I think for the better players, those who make it to a good standard end up playing on a Saturday, when the big games are on, so it's self-defeating to be a player and a supporter. Same with those who try and "make it", it becomes like a job, but when they fail (as over 99% do) then I suppose it can be a constant reminder of failure. I've played a bit of Saturday leage down South, but not a lot of Sunday league and no school football.

In my school, it was only really the hard/ rough lads who got into the team, it was clicky as, and at school, their interest in education was inversely proportional to their interest in drugs and booze.

Most of the footy fans I know now are quite bright, but most of the better players at school, or those in the school team certainly weren't (or they were in all the bottom sets etc).
 
rubbish as well ... tried like fck to get in any team possible, trained a lot but never made the connection between brain and foot on the pitch , was decent with the ball ... passing shooting , keepy up .... but no game sense at all ... brought on one game for the local boozer after 50 mins and subed 15 mins later ...
 
I played Saturday for a while but I had had a season ticket for 20 years at the time and ended up sacking it off and just playing Sunday so I could go to Boro games too.

But can see how it takes people away from Boro.
 
A lot of our fans were very good footballers. The junior game didn't used to be as organised as it is now, it was school football and not much else up to leaving school. Many of those that went on to play Saturday afternoon games at Northern League and Teesside League are long term fans, watching more as they became too old to play.
 
Maybe look at it another way then.

Is there a marked difference in the fan base of those who attended regularly and were the 'core' up to the early mid nineties, and the core of who attends now?

It just feel like a different demographic now, although I sit in the west upper so my overall view my be tainted some what.

Seems to be a lot more women (obviously) a lot more old codgers and a lot more young kids.
 
I was always better at 5s and 7s but have had great 'moments' in 11 aside football. Played for a fair few teams at home and on my travels but never really played more than 3/4 games on the bounce without hurting myself after my knee first went at 16. Been knees and hips since and most recently tore some ligaments and a tendon in my knee in a motorbike accident which put paid to any chance of playing properly again.

Still scored a few goals at charity games at the Riverside, played at some interesting stadiums over the years with some ex pros etc.

I'm an avid fan and big attender when I'm in the UK and watch every boro match from abroad.

My mate here played for Crewe and then a bit of non league when he was released, utd fan who fell into hooliganism but continued supporting them even when banned. Lives here now and I enjoy watching games with him as he sees things other lads don't.

I started very late mind, probably 10 before I kicked a ball and liked it. Was too busy reading books and swimming because my dad pushed me into it.
 
The demographic has changed with the cost of games rocketing and the game being more advertised (live TV) and a generally safer environment.

I've talked to quite a few lads and lasses at Northern League games who can't afford the Boro but can take their kids to a local game and the full family are in for between 10 and 15 quid, reasonably priced food and drink.
 
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