Wanting to get back into club football...

Alchemy · 7 Jul 2006 at 14:37

Hi,

When I was younger I used to support Manchester United, and I can now admit it was purely down to the fact that they were the best at the time. I lost interest in watching football for a few years, but now I want to start supporting a team. I don't really want to support Man Utd, as I live in the South East of England (Bedfordshire to be more specific), and want to support a club closer to home. I'm just not sure becuase people usually support a club from a very young age, supporting a club now wouldn't feel "right" would it?

R0B75 · 7 Jul 2006 at 15:02

I'm guessing your local team would be Luton Town. If so (geography is a bit sketchy) that's a good place to start.

Red and White · 7 Jul 2006 at 15:12

go to a few different local games and find a team that fills you with passion.

its pointless just saying i support them cos i live nextdoor and never going to games and not really caring if they win or not.

personally i dont think you can do it, you know in your heart which team that you support and if you decide to change it mid way thru your life your not a real football supporter

Alchemy · 7 Jul 2006 at 15:37

Luton Town Football club is indeed very close to me, in fact it's only about a 15 minute walk away. I don't know why I've never really been interested in the club, I would rather follow a Premiership side.

Voltage · 7 Jul 2006 at 16:12

it will probably be a north london team then? Like Arsenal or Spurs.

R0B75 · 7 Jul 2006 at 16:13

Reading and Watford would be the next closest teams, both just promoted to the Prem.

Gilly · 7 Jul 2006 at 16:15

You're in just the right place to support manyoo

Really though, go see Luton play and see how you feel.

The_Biggles · 7 Jul 2006 at 16:48

Other options is not support anyone. Just go to games and enjoy it for that. That way you could go to any of the teams mentioned above and enjoy it just for the footy.

Watford is supposed to be very family orientated so that would be good if you have kids etc. Tickets for Arsenal / Tottenham arent always the easiest to get, though the new Emirates Stadium will help that.

rdfcpete · 7 Jul 2006 at 17:14

Alchemy said:
I would rather follow a Premiership side.

Not as much fun mate, honestly.
League/Lower League football is more of a rollercoaster imo. Certianly for me, we went from a non league nobody to a club who'd won 7 promotions in 12 years, and found ourselves playing QPR, Sheffield Wednesday and Barnsley, to then be made non league again just last season.
It was a hugely rapid change, I think I can safely say no Premiership club would give any supporter anywhere near that much excitement, pride and development of emotions.

To me, its closer to 'real' football. Grass roots at its best.
You can win the Champions League, Premiership, and F.A. Cup as many times as you want, but Winning League 2, A playoff final or even the Conference… There’s nothing that compares to that

>>Edit<< But just don't go to Luton

Ripper · 7 Jul 2006 at 17:16

rdfcpete said:
Not as much fun mate, honestly.
League/Lower League football is more of a rollercoaster imo. Certianly for me, we went from a non league nobody to a club who'd won 7 promotions in 12 years, and found ourselves playing QPR, Sheffield Wednesday and Barnsley, to then be made non league again just last season.
It was a hugely rapid change, I think I can safely say no Premiership club would give any supporter anywhere near that much excitement, pride and development of emotions.

To me, its closer to 'real' football. Grass roots at its best.
You can win the Champions League, Premiership, and F.A. Cup as many times as you want, but Winning League 2, A playoff final or even the Conference… There’s nothing that compares to that

>>Edit<< But just don't go to Luton

Thats your opinion ofcourse. I get totally enthralled watching man utd. That rapid change you talk about is (to me) the same as united dominating for years only for Chelsea to pop up and take our crown as the team to beat. Each to their own i guess.

Alchemy · 7 Jul 2006 at 22:09

Thanks for the replies, I have been quite interested in Arsenal for sometime, so I may look into watching them play. Anyone know what prices start at to see Arsenal?

Oh yeah, I read in the local paper today that Luton will be playing Lazio at the end of the month as a pre-season warm-up, sounds like one to see.

Red and White · 7 Jul 2006 at 22:15

Alchemy said:
Thanks for the replies, I have been quite interested in Arsenal for sometime, so I may look into watching them play. Anyone know what prices start at to see Arsenal?

Oh yeah, I read in the local paper today that Luton will be playing Lazio at the end of the month as a pre-season warm-up, sounds like one to see.

season tickets are unbelievably expensive, cheapest one is £880

sure you'll be able to get match tickets easy enough tho now they have this 60,000 seater stadium

Creature · 7 Jul 2006 at 23:29

Alchemy said:
Thanks for the replies, I have been quite interested in Arsenal for sometime, so I may look into watching them play. Anyone know what prices start at to see Arsenal?

Oh yeah, I read in the local paper today that Luton will be playing Lazio at the end of the month as a pre-season warm-up, sounds like one to see.

Seasons tickets at Arsenal start at ~£800 I think and go all the way to £1600-£1800. The most expensive in the Premiership.

TripleT · 8 Jul 2006 at 00:28

I'm quite a big United supporter and go to enough games to back that up (freebies though

) but I do still enjoy going down the local field and watching some proper amatures play (e.g Wigan Athletic

), I find it a lot more relaxing than being in Old Trafford

Give it a try, you have some proper laughs

Same for rugby union actually. I NEVER watch it on tv or anything but I do like to go down and watch my uncle play in the lower northern leagues (forgot which league).

BigRoger · 8 Jul 2006 at 03:03

i live in stoke but im the most passionate england fan you can meet.Ienjoy club football but you cant beat seeing england play live in a stadium,
P.S I also like too see liverpool

Weebull · 8 Jul 2006 at 08:16

Clerkin said:
sure you'll be able to get match tickets easy enough tho now they have this 60,000 seater stadium

Hah, good luck with that. Getting tickets will be easier, but not plain easy. There's still a season ticket waiting list, even with the new stadium, and I expect the big matches will still sell out long before they reach the general public.

I know it sounds hypocritical, coming from an Arsenal fan, but I'd suggest you go see Luton play over simply following a big prem team. I mean, you can quite easily do both, but the whole thing about a nearby team is that they're a part of your local community, and thus more likely to mean something to you personally. Get to know some people that already go to games, start following the stories, learn who all the players are, watch a few games and see who impresses you, begin to care about the results, you'll find it's all very addictive.

And Luton are only Championship anyway, that's hardly mediocre small fry.

Klytus · 8 Jul 2006 at 11:20

rdfcpete said:
Not as much fun mate, honestly.
League/Lower League football is more of a rollercoaster imo.... I think I can safely say no Premiership club would give any supporter anywhere near that much excitement, pride and development of emotions.

To me, its closer to 'real' football. Grass roots at its best.
You can win the Champions League, Premiership, and F.A. Cup as many times as you want, but Winning League 2, A playoff final or even the Conference… There’s nothing that compares to that

Quoted for truth
Go with Luton mate, they need your support/money FAR more than the Gooners do. You won't have to travel to home games and you won't have problems getting a ticket. You can always watch the premiership clubs down the pub.

Alchemy · 8 Jul 2006 at 15:29

Thanks again, I'm going to check out Luton for sure.