Who are the real fans?

wallmth said:
Yeah the type that get mixed up between Frazer and Francis and can’t talk about AFCB without mentioning Harry Redknap .
Still I prefer it now to when the entire town didn’t give a sh*t other than the 5 thousand odd hardcore .
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I was referring more to followers of other clubs, usually the big ones.
 
wallmth said:
Yeah the type that get mixed up between Frazer and Francis and can’t talk about AFCB without mentioning Harry Redknap .
Still I prefer it now to when the entire town didn’t give a sh*t other than the 5 thousand odd hardcore .
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Yeah. Ups and downs to it.

Used to feel akin to saying you follow Poole Pirates, or wearing an afcb shirt similar to one of the Pirates sh1t Royal blue coats.

If having small talk when football came up, when you said afcb was your team 9 times out of 10 other person would say something like 'bournemouth have always been my 2nd team/keep an eye on tgeir results... what division are they in now?' or 'which PL club do you support?'.
 
DJ said:
Nah, too many hangers on for that one. Needs to be those who attended the Boscombe Opera House
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As a kid was taken to a Pantomime there, think then amongst its many names over the years, it was the Hippodrome.

The Royal Ballrooms was another name that brings back memories.

A group of us used to go there regularly on New Year’s Eve.

Was also at that meeting, which was packed.
 
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fritter said:
www.theguardian.com

The cultural division of football fans only serves those who wish to exploit it | Jonathan Liew

The battle between ‘true fans’ and ‘plastics’ weakens the ties between supporters and their inclination to unite and organise
www.theguardian.com www.theguardian.com

This is a really interesting piece. It shows how things are changing and the way that I believe our owners aspire to.

The final paragraphs sum it up for me.

(PS I haven't put 'non' as I think it relates directly to AFCB.

'In a way these are wider existential questions, striking at the heart of what a football club is, and who it serves. How do you balance the idea that a football club is for everyone against the idea that it is a thing with roots, bound to a locality and a community? How do you balance a fandom expressed through longstanding ritual against a fandom expressed by getting up at 3am to watch Jonny Evans on a tiny screen? How do we reject the false oppositions between “local working class” and “wealthy tourist”, between “true fans” and “plastics”?

A fanbase splinters along multiple planes. But when it does, the only people who really benefit are those with an interest in exploiting it.'
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Really worthwhile article Fritter- thanks for sharing. I guess the commercialisation (I like the phrase commodification) of football is bound to follow its global appeal- and I think its global appeal is down to the relative simplicity of the game (f#ck VAR), some pretty good marketing and/but maybe above all the passion of the fans heard in the stadiums- without us the TV offering and therefore commercial success of the game would be really sterile. I've got no problem with visiting fans from overseas or wherever but clubs while welcoming all have got to stay loyal to their historic fans and rooted to their past- I think they call it their heritage assets?- because surely that's part of what new fans- local or not, young or old, find attractive and compelling about the club. How folk in the States can be "fans" of a franchise team that could call anywhere home from year to year is beyond me. Then you're just supporting a brand which is a pretty ethereal thing to pin your flag to. And talking of heritage assets- any update on resurrecting Nonny's vid before kick off? I still really miss it and think our pre-match preps are much the poorer without it.
 
As one of the resident "newbies", I have come to realize that I really don't share with all of you the history or culture of being a fan. Which is why I was thrilled to find this site, so that I could get insights and historical perspectives.

English football culture cannot be matched by any of the major North American sports, in my view. Particularly the grass roots nature. Sure, we have rabid fans, and I was a Blue Jays season ticket holder for a few years so you do make a commitment, but it's not the same. Canadians can point to hockey as its national sport (shared with lacrosse) but even there, it has been diluted (I feel) by the sheer volume of sports alternatives available to us.

Goldblatt's book Game of our Lives was a real eye-opener for me on the meshing of football and English culture.
 
I am a high points holder and like many unable to obtain a season ticket. Going on to the ticketing site today, and hour after being notified by the club's website, the only tickets available were in the NS and ES. Having always enjoyed the Ted Mac and having been going there for years, I'm now only able to purchase expensive hospitality options. Not one seat available.
I'm lucky because I can at least go into the dwindling number of seats available but deeply resent my club narrowing my options and squeezing out true, loyal, longstanding supporters in favour of sterile, inactive, uninvested "fans". 10 minutes late in, down for next bevvy well before half time. Some don't even come back into the stand for the second half. I've seen it first hand.
I can't change it, but I genuinely hate this forced migration to policies based on pure filthy luchre undermining atmosphere, heart and spirit of our club.
 
Simple, the fans are the ones that go to the games and who travel around the country to support their team. Exceptions for people who have been in that category but can’t attend anymore due to health/geography etc. If you are a twenty something who claims to support Manchester United but only ever watches on TV, then you are a follower and not a supporter/fan.
 
Surely a real fan is the type of person who, when stood with a group of friends is asked by a Frenchman who he supports.
Bournemouth he says proudly.
And do you follow a premier league team ? says the Frenchman.
Well I might look out for Tottenhams results if I remember I suppose.
Said Boscombe fan is then told by a friend that his premier league team is obviously Bournemouth.
Ah yeah, of course.
Then retires to the bar to contemplate his obviously deteriorating mental abilities!!
 
I have to say I am a complete football snob and I just don't have anything in common, or any respect really, for people who support one of the big teams when they aren't from there.

Obviously I can get on with them on other topics but I just won't engage with them on the topic of football - not interested in what they've got to say. There's people I've worked with for years who have no idea I watch football.
 
SlowDownDerek said:
I have to say I am a complete football snob and I just don't have anything in common, or any respect really, for people who support one of the big teams when they aren't from there.

Obviously I can get on with them on other topics but I just won't engage with them on the topic of football - not interested in what they've got to say. There's people I've worked with for years who have no idea I watch football.
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What if they are supporting the team their dad did? I must say it should be a legacy of any Bournemouth fan to spawn more cherries no matter where you live
 
I've been a fan since I first went to a game at 5 years old, used to get thrown over the turnstile of the 'new stand' by my Dad.

Was down the BH9 crew end of the pitch and just loved it.

Moved to the other side of the globe, but have watched or listened to every game from the lower levels of League 2 all the way to where we are now.

Appreciate that those who go have more of a say on things, but I've done all I can to support and follow my club.

If you live on the other side of the globe, you can't attend games.

AFC Bournemouth will forever be a passion for me, no matter what.
 
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