Response About Forest 7 - Swindon 1

[Guest nickD]

"Fine - we lost, we were rubbish and will now get relegated. I just think it is sad that you all need to give the club a good kicking in one of its darkest hours. Next season there probably wont be a football club in Swindon (please don't say there isn't much of one now) and the football league will loose a piece of its history which I think is a real shame.

Not all clubs can be as "big" as Spurs or Liverpool (or as inbred as Bristol City or Oxford J ) but what is simply going to happen is football in England will end up with a small number of plastic clubs with identical stadiums with plastic fans paying ridiculous prices to see a team that is 100 miles away from where they live. They will never understand the joy of seeing their team win an LDV vans cup tie on a cold Tuesday night knowing you and 2000 other people are the only ones in the world who actually care, standing face to face with your local rivals who you detest more than anything else and scoring the winner or getting to go to a foreign country speaking to a person who barely speaks English but knows about your poxy football club. Watching the League Cup final on Sunday really peed me off - there was a group of fans in that stadium who were there to have the best day of their life - seeing their team from Wigan play in a cup final. At the other end of the stadium was a group of fans who would have traded that in for another 10 points in the premiership. Two years ago those same fans were laughing at who ever won that cup because it was the League Cup now they celebrate it like it is the world cup. As far as I am concerned Man Utd should not be in either cup competition because of the disrespect that they have shown to it.

On Saturday I will be going to see my team play. I will pay a bit more money to the club and hope that it stays alive for another season. I will have a few drinks with friends, say hello to people that I have go to know through the football and hopefully see my team win or draw. If they don't I will have still had a good afternoon out.How many of you actually have the opportunity to see your team play on Saturday? Many of you won't as it costs a fortune, there are no seats available due to hospitality or you live absolutely no where near to the city it is in. I know at the end of the day I would rather support a team like Swindon where as a fan I can be involved and support my team rather than being a fan of a team that may win a trophy once a season but never get to see."

This was in response to various emails flying around between my uni mates asking him what the score was on the weekend. Each of these mates support Liverpool, Man U or Arsenal, but most never see their team in question.

[Guest Hodges17]

Fair play to the lad. Swindon are hanging by a thread at the moment, sportingly and financially, but he's not going to turn into one of those knobheads who decide to watch a Premiershit team on Sky and claim to be a fan.

I actually hate fake Prem fans (Ie those who don't have any link to the City their club is in) more than I hate you lot...

[Port Said Red]

Fair play to the lad. Swindon are hanging by a thread at the moment, sportingly and financially, but he's not going to turn into one of those knobheads who decide to watch a Premiershit team on Sky and claim to be a fan.

I actually hate fake Prem fans (Ie those who don't have any link to the City their club is in) more than I hate you lot...

Agreed, I may sneer if I see a Blue and White quartered shirt, but my heart sinks when I see bristolian lads in their Manure or Arse gear

[Guest Hodges17]

Agreed, I may sneer if I see a Blue and White quartered shirt, but my heart sinks when I see bristolian lads in their Manure or Arse gear

Or, worse still, ###### Chelsea.

[sephjnr]

I actually hate fake Prem fans (Ie those who don't have any link to the City their club is in) more than I hate you lot...

So you're only a real fan if you're from the city or your parents are. Nice logic.

You're a 'real' fan if you do any of the following:

*go out of your way to go to matches as much as possible

*try to watch them every chance you get

*learn as much about the team as you can, and learn from as many people

*can explain why you love your team, even if it takes 2 or 3 sentences, other than "they're great"

*can explain how certain players work well / don't work well other than "he's great"/"he's crap."

[Bristol Boy]

"Fine - we lost, we were rubbish and will now get relegated.

Look on the bright side, ay!!

I just think it is sad that you all need to give the club a good kicking in one of its darkest hours. Next season there probably wont be a football club in Swindon (please don't say there isn't much of one now) and the football league will loose a piece of its history which I think is a real shame.

Relegation shouldn't mean your club going out of existence.Clubs like Wycombe have survived the drop.Your problems are probably more to do with bad management than anyone, including history conspiring against you.

Not all clubs can be as "big" as Spurs or Liverpool (or as inbred as Bristol City or Oxford J )

Right, you're having some now

but what is simply going to happen is football in England will end up with a small number of plastic clubs with identical stadiums with plastic fans paying ridiculous prices to see a team that is 100 miles away from where they live.

Hasn't seemed to work with MK Dons, although, their new stadium is under construction and I've seen up next to the A5 in MK.How's yours coming along

They will never understand the joy of seeing their team win an LDV vans cup tie on a cold Tuesday night knowing you and 2000 other people are the only ones in the world who actually care, standing face to face with your local rivals who you detest more than anything else and scoring the winner or getting to go to a foreign country speaking to a person who barely speaks English but knows about your poxy football club.

Watching the League Cup final on Sunday really peed me off - there was a group of fans in that stadium who were there to have the best day of their life - seeing their team from Wigan play in a cup final. At the other end of the stadium was a group of fans who would have traded that in for another 10 points in the premiership. Two years ago those same fans were laughing at who ever won that cup because it was the League Cup now they celebrate it like it is the world cup. As far as I am concerned Man Utd should not be in either cup competition because of the disrespect that they have shown to it.

Talk about Sour Grapes.Have you ever thought about the financial lifeline that playing Man Utd has given the likes of Exeter, Barnet & Nigel Cloughs Team?? It isn't Man Utds fault that people don't turn up at Swindon and it would really be interesting to do a "where are they now," based on fans who turned up at the County Ground when you were in the Prem.

On Saturday I will be going to see my team play. I will pay a bit more money to the club and hope that it stays alive for another season. I will have a few drinks with friends, say hello to people that I have go to know through the football and hopefully see my team win or draw. If they don't I will have still had a good afternoon out.How many of you actually have the opportunity to see your team play on Saturday? Many of you won't as it costs a fortune, there are no seats available due to hospitality or you live absolutely no where near to the city it is in. I know at the end of the day I would rather support a team like Swindon where as a fan I can be involved and support my team rather than being a fan of a team that may win a trophy once a season but never get to see."

Agree with that and that's why I travel thousands of miles a year to support City

This was in response to various emails flying around between my uni mates asking him what the score was on the weekend. Each of these mates support Liverpool, Man U or Arsenal, but most never see their team in question.

I've always had a distaste for people who:

a. Support clubs.........but never go!

b.Change Allegancies-I nearly punchd a bloke on holiday who was decked out in Newcastle kit because he "supported Leeds and they got relegated"

c.Born & Bred in Bristol, but support Chelsea etc.........I'll let off lads who's fathers/families have moved down are exiled Londoners

[Guest Hodges17]

So you're only a real fan if you're from the city or your parents are. Nice logic.

You're a 'real' fan if you do any of the following:

*go out of your way to go to matches as much as possible

*try to watch them every chance you get

*learn as much about the team as you can, and learn from as many people

*can explain why you love your team, even if it takes 2 or 3 sentences, other than "they're great"

*can explain how certain players work well / don't work well other than "he's great"/"he's crap."

Did I say real fans only come from the City or their parents are? Nope. I know a few sheedheads and a few Gasheads who went to uni here, and started following the teams etc. What about moving to a town, etc.

I dislike those who just choose a team down to fashion or success.

[Redtilldead]

"Fine - we lost, we were rubbish and will now get relegated. I just think it is sad that you all need to give the club a good kicking in one of its darkest hours. Next season there probably wont be a football club in Swindon (please don't say there isn't much of one now) and the football league will loose a piece of its history which I think is a real shame.

Not all clubs can be as "big" as Spurs or Liverpool (or as inbred as Bristol City or Oxford J ) but what is simply going to happen is football in England will end up with a small number of plastic clubs with identical stadiums with plastic fans paying ridiculous prices to see a team that is 100 miles away from where they live. They will never understand the joy of seeing their team win an LDV vans cup tie on a cold Tuesday night knowing you and 2000 other people are the only ones in the world who actually care, standing face to face with your local rivals who you detest more than anything else and scoring the winner or getting to go to a foreign country speaking to a person who barely speaks English but knows about your poxy football club. Watching the League Cup final on Sunday really peed me off - there was a group of fans in that stadium who were there to have the best day of their life - seeing their team from Wigan play in a cup final. At the other end of the stadium was a group of fans who would have traded that in for another 10 points in the premiership. Two years ago those same fans were laughing at who ever won that cup because it was the League Cup now they celebrate it like it is the world cup. As far as I am concerned Man Utd should not be in either cup competition because of the disrespect that they have shown to it.

On Saturday I will be going to see my team play. I will pay a bit more money to the club and hope that it stays alive for another season. I will have a few drinks with friends, say hello to people that I have go to know through the football and hopefully see my team win or draw. If they don't I will have still had a good afternoon out.How many of you actually have the opportunity to see your team play on Saturday? Many of you won't as it costs a fortune, there are no seats available due to hospitality or you live absolutely no where near to the city it is in. I know at the end of the day I would rather support a team like Swindon where as a fan I can be involved and support my team rather than being a fan of a team that may win a trophy once a season but never get to see."

This was in response to various emails flying around between my uni mates asking him what the score was on the weekend. Each of these mates support Liverpool, Man U or Arsenal, but most never see their team in question.

Sorry mate, I'm a bit confused here, on your profile it says you have supported the City since the late 80s, or are you speaking on behalf of a friend.

Apart from that I totally agree wiith your post mate. Hang in there!!

[Guest nickD]

Sorry mate, I'm a bit confused here, on your profile it says you have supported the City since the late 80s, or are you speaking on behalf of a friend.

Apart from that I totally agree wiith your post mate. Hang in there!!

as stated at the bottom of my post - it was a response by my swindon supporting mate to the ribbing going round. Thought it was apt to post it here.

[sephjnr]

Did I say real fans only come from the City or their parents are? Nope. I know a few sheedheads and a few Gasheads who went to uni here, and started following the teams etc. What about moving to a town, etc.

I dislike those who just choose a team down to fashion or success.

Sheeeit, negro! That's all you had to say! The phrase "doesn't have links to a city" covers a lot of ground.

[Guest Hodges17]

Sheeeit, negro! That's all you had to say! The phrase "doesn't have links to a city" covers a lot of ground.

youre right, sorry mate!

[Redtilldead]

as stated at the bottom of my post - it was a response by my swindon supporting mate to the ribbing going round. Thought it was apt to post it here.

Aha yeah sorry mate, thought it was a good post though.

[RedTop]

"Fine - we lost, we were rubbish and will now get relegated. I just think it is sad that you all need to give the club a good kicking in one of its darkest hours. Next season there probably wont be a football club in Swindon (please don't say there isn't much of one now) and the football league will loose a piece of its history which I think is a real shame.

Not all clubs can be as "big" as Spurs or Liverpool (or as inbred as Bristol City or Oxford J ) but what is simply going to happen is football in England will end up with a small number of plastic clubs with identical stadiums with plastic fans paying ridiculous prices to see a team that is 100 miles away from where they live. They will never understand the joy of seeing their team win an LDV vans cup tie on a cold Tuesday night knowing you and 2000 other people are the only ones in the world who actually care, standing face to face with your local rivals who you detest more than anything else and scoring the winner or getting to go to a foreign country speaking to a person who barely speaks English but knows about your poxy football club. Watching the League Cup final on Sunday really peed me off - there was a group of fans in that stadium who were there to have the best day of their life - seeing their team from Wigan play in a cup final. At the other end of the stadium was a group of fans who would have traded that in for another 10 points in the premiership. Two years ago those same fans were laughing at who ever won that cup because it was the League Cup now they celebrate it like it is the world cup. As far as I am concerned Man Utd should not be in either cup competition because of the disrespect that they have shown to it.

On Saturday I will be going to see my team play. I will pay a bit more money to the club and hope that it stays alive for another season. I will have a few drinks with friends, say hello to people that I have go to know through the football and hopefully see my team win or draw. If they don't I will have still had a good afternoon out.How many of you actually have the opportunity to see your team play on Saturday? Many of you won't as it costs a fortune, there are no seats available due to hospitality or you live absolutely no where near to the city it is in. I know at the end of the day I would rather support a team like Swindon where as a fan I can be involved and support my team rather than being a fan of a team that may win a trophy once a season but never get to see."

This was in response to various emails flying around between my uni mates asking him what the score was on the weekend. Each of these mates support Liverpool, Man U or Arsenal, but most never see their team in question.

Plenty of excellent points made. However, after my recent posting on my views regarding Rotherham possibly going out of business, I dare not get involved in this one too.

Other than to say that I've no problem with giving Swindle a kicking when the club's in its darkest hour, obviously. Surely that's part of having "local rivals who you detest more than anything else", something the writer clearly endorses? Or does that bit only apply to clubs other than the pig-fondlers?

[gaz897]

boo hoo.

[Guest Cary Grant supported City]

"Fine - we lost, we were rubbish and will now get relegated. I just think it is sad that you all need to give the club a good kicking in one of its darkest hours. Next season there probably wont be a football club in Swindon (please don't say there isn't much of one now) and the football league will loose a piece of its history which I think is a real shame.

We don't need an excuse to mock the Moonrakers!!

Likewise no one from Swindle mocked us when we lost to Swampsea!!.

I dislike those who just choose a team down to fashion or success.

Well that's never going to happen to either City or that team from Gloucestershire that pretends to be Bristolian!!.

[RED4LIFE]

In the words of the great Nelson Muntz........HA HA.

in all seriousness though, it would be a shame to see you guys go out of business, just not too much of a shame if you get relegated.

[Andy082005]

"Fine - we lost, we were rubbish and will now get relegated. I just think it is sad that you all need to give the club a good kicking in one of its darkest hours. Next season there probably wont be a football club in Swindon (please don't say there isn't much of one now) and the football league will loose a piece of its history which I think is a real shame.

Not all clubs can be as "big" as Spurs or Liverpool (or as inbred as Bristol City or Oxford J ) but what is simply going to happen is football in England will end up with a small number of plastic clubs with identical stadiums with plastic fans paying ridiculous prices to see a team that is 100 miles away from where they live. They will never understand the joy of seeing their team win an LDV vans cup tie on a cold Tuesday night knowing you and 2000 other people are the only ones in the world who actually care, standing face to face with your local rivals who you detest more than anything else and scoring the winner or getting to go to a foreign country speaking to a person who barely speaks English but knows about your poxy football club. Watching the League Cup final on Sunday really peed me off - there was a group of fans in that stadium who were there to have the best day of their life - seeing their team from Wigan play in a cup final. At the other end of the stadium was a group of fans who would have traded that in for another 10 points in the premiership. Two years ago those same fans were laughing at who ever won that cup because it was the League Cup now they celebrate it like it is the world cup. As far as I am concerned Man Utd should not be in either cup competition because of the disrespect that they have shown to it.

On Saturday I will be going to see my team play. I will pay a bit more money to the club and hope that it stays alive for another season. I will have a few drinks with friends, say hello to people that I have go to know through the football and hopefully see my team win or draw. If they don't I will have still had a good afternoon out.How many of you actually have the opportunity to see your team play on Saturday? Many of you won't as it costs a fortune, there are no seats available due to hospitality or you live absolutely no where near to the city it is in. I know at the end of the day I would rather support a team like Swindon where as a fan I can be involved and support my team rather than being a fan of a team that may win a trophy once a season but never get to see."

This was in response to various emails flying around between my uni mates asking him what the score was on the weekend. Each of these mates support Liverpool, Man U or Arsenal, but most never see their team in question.

Mate, so your telling me when we got thumped by the Taffs last year you lot wernt gloating? you didnt have a chuckle?.....honestly, I bet you were in stitches

As for this post, yeah its a good post....but as you said, were Bristol City mate. At least youve sampled Premiership football in the last 10 years or so!!! At least you experienced play off final victory in front of 35,000 Swindle fands and had the honour of playing teams like Man U, Arsenal and Liverpool....even if it was for one season

What have we had?? One poxy season in what was Division one, which ended with us coming bottom of the pile and losing...no no, getting thrashed by teams like Wolves, huddersfield, Bradford week in week out.

Your position at the moment is precarious.....and if you go down could land you in more strife.....but no more then what we will be in if we go down (which is still a possibility)

As for these "fickle" Man U fans....yes again, fair point I suppose....but you were getting sell out crowds when in the top league, now you get 6,000. Football is a fickle game, whether you support Man U, Chelsea, Darlington or Rochdale.

Keep the faith mate

[samo]

the old excuse from prem fans who are born and bred some where far far away from their chosen team of "my old man's from there" or "my family all come from there" doesn't wash with me.

my dad isn't originally from bristol and infact used to live on gillespie road and attend most of their home games. he started watching the city once he had moved here and, although he retains a strong fan of the london french he also supports city, not as his second team but HIS team too.

i'm up in leeds and although i don't fancy supporting my most local side (leeds united) i have been down to my girlfriends local side (york city) a few times and a looking to go to a few more games this season. i'm still die hard city, and would pick them over york head-to-head, but i think supporting a local side (especially one lower down the league/conference system) is no bad thing. i like going to football games, and if i'm in york i'll go to york city, if bristol i'll go to bristol city! plus i often urge on ipswich town, because i've lived with a die had ipswich fan (and local) for several years. again bristol city are MY team, but i'd look for ipswich town results over other teams in the paper come a sunday morning.

as for those who only watch their chosen team on telly, one friend of mine is a prime example. born and bred in clifton, a 'die hard' blackburn 'fan' till their relegation (games attended in this period = 0) he came up with the excuse of "they let us fans down" and promptly began supporting liverpool. i took him down the gate once and he claimed "how long is this flippin' match? i'm bored." about 60 mins in. some people have valid reasons for suppoprting other, often more glamourous teams, some are just d1(k$, which ever way you splice it.

[leadman]

I'm getting a bit peed off with football in general, i think you can mirror our prem with the italian serie a, a division full of foreign players now outside juve,millan and a couple of others, there all skint, including fiorintina going bust and starting 3 divisions lower, i think there back now but all the same.

we have football overkill on tv, i cant sit and watch prem football 3 or 4 days a week, add the cups and Europe, its just too much.

you look at old clubs who have been around for years, swindon, stockport and rotherham all teetering on financial ruin, prem clubs don't look down any more, its european players, i think some lower league clubs did put silly prices on certain players, i don't think this the case now but old habits die hard.

i realy do think football is becoming more boring by the day, infact, the only realy good game ive seen for ages was england v argentina, if this game was a world cup game I'm sure it would not have been so entertaining, just about sums it up.

i don't care who the club is(even cardiff), i don't want to see them go bust, remember how close we came in 82, i know how i felt, terrible, its not sumut you can change your football team isit, if the club dies then so does your real love of football.

[bucksred]

Agreed, I may sneer if I see a Blue and White quartered shirt, but my heart sinks when I see bristolian lads in their Manure or Arse gear

Its kack, two teams in one City and they still support Prem cr@p

[Guest alex1089]

I love and support City. I was born and bred in Bristol and I also suppoer Spurs and see then once or twice a season because tickets are sold out in just about every game. I supported Spurs because my dad supported and watched them play alot when he was a kid, anything wrong with that?

[Atticus]

So you're only a real fan if you're from the city or your parents are. Nice logic.

You're a 'real' fan if you do any of the following:

*go out of your way to go to matches as much as possible

*try to watch them every chance you get

*learn as much about the team as you can, and learn from as many people

*can explain why you love your team, even if it takes 2 or 3 sentences, other than "they're great"

*can explain how certain players work well / don't work well other than "he's great"/"he's crap."

But then what you have got to ask yourself is..........

Why did you start supporting this team in the first place???? if its not near you or no family supports them?

Generally it happens with a person picking a prem team out of the hat I mean you don't see many people who live in the middle of nowhere decideing to Support Oxford for no reason do you.

Which is why i believe is one of the many reasons that we have so many pansy pre madonnas in the premiership (ie C.Ronaldo) and such a terrible state of affairs in the lower leagues

[leadman]

I love and support City. I was born and bred in Bristol and I also suppoer Spurs and see then once or twice a season because tickets are sold out in just about every game. I supported Spurs because my dad supported and watched them play alot when he was a kid, anything wrong with that?

your heart can only lie with one team.

its ok to like another team but there no room in fans hearts for 2.

[Guest alex1089]

Well I love two teams and don't believe in the stuff your going on about mate, I love and support Bristol City and Spurs, thats my opinion mate.

[Atticus]

so you love them both equally?? I am another that finds that hard to comprehend.

[Maesknoll Red]

Well I love two teams and don't believe in the stuff your going on about mate, I love and support Bristol City and Spurs, thats my opinion mate.

So if City were playing Spurs, out of interest, who would you be rooting for?

[Guest alex1089]

City, not because of love but because they are my local side mate.

[sephjnr]

But then what you have got to ask yourself is..........

Why did you start supporting this team in the first place???? if its not near you or no family supports them?

Generally it happens with a person picking a prem team out of the hat I mean you don't see many people who live in the middle of nowhere decideing to Support Oxford for no reason do you.

Which is why i believe is one of the many reasons that we have so many pansy pre madonnas in the premiership (ie C.Ronaldo) and such a terrible state of affairs in the lower leagues

You can't hold that against people though. It doesn't matter how you *become* a fan, it's how you *stay* a fan.

[Guest Cary Grant supported City]

So if City were playing Spurs, out of interest, who would you be rooting for?

(the winner!).

[Reg Hill]

I'm slightly envious of one-club fans - here's why. I was brought up in Coventry in the 60s and supporting the local side was natural. I went regularly with my Dad (an exiled Blade) and never thought for a moment I'd ever support any other team. I still followed them through the 70s and 80s (I could bore for England about the '87 Cup Final) even though I'd moved away and settled in Bristol in the late 70s. Bristol City meant little to me. I went to a few games but it never felt right. Then everything changed.

Along came two sons, so where to take them to watch pro football was the question. Coventry? Spend hours on the M5 just to indulge my passion and inflict my alliegances on them. Or 10 minutes down the road to Ashton Gate to watch THEIR local team? Had to be the right thing. Regular visits to the Gate has produced 2 well-adjusted City fans, despite the rarity of on-field success. Of that I'm very proud. But here's the sting - I became even more hooked on the red-shirted City than they are. I can't explain why, it just happened. Now the odd visit to watch the Sky Blues seems strange and oddly unengaging. I haven't been to the new ground which will probably make it all seem even more remote. But City v Forest on Saturday - can't wait.

I can't rationally justify the change of alliegance, but please do not condemn it too lightly.

[Guest Mikenoski]

A lad I work with claims to support Southend and West Ham with equal passion.

I rib him about it all the time. He never used to mention Southend until they got promoted last season and now he bangs on about them most days. Surely true fans cant divide their loyalties?

[Guest Somercity2]

A lad I work with claims to support Southend and West Ham with equal passion.

I rib him about it all the time. He never used to mention Southend until they got promoted last season and now he bangs on about them most days. Surely true fans cant divide their loyalties?

I moved to Scotland and worked in Edinburgh for a few years -Whilst there I used to support The Jam Tarts but it could never be with the same passion as My beloved BCFC.

I enjoyed watching Hearts but they were never equal.

[Guest stoksiecityfan]

I remember a long time ago in the pouring rain and in the open at Wrexham, getting beat 2 nil we were bottom of the 4th div, just scraped going under looked around at the 3 to 4 hundred fans that were there from bristol and said to my mate crap initt? he nodded and replyed coming next week without a thought i said yep.....

swindle fans stick with it it will get better city fans support other teams I have no problem with that I LOVE the game but end of the day I am a CITY fan thats all that counts

[rumbellow]

I'm sorry for this, But, I have no sympathy whatsoever for Swindon.

Every season for the past 5 or 6 years, They have had at least 2 winding up orders per season (tax, VAT etc.etc.)and they pass the hat around, Break their piggy banks open and then cough up at the last possible moment.

And then the week after they have paid the bill in copper coins they go out and sign players (usually ex big name, High earners) to help get them out of relegation trouble, This has been a train wreck waiting to happen and I don't think the Swindon fans need our sympathy and they certainly don't need to feel sorry for themselves, They need to question why this state of affairs is allowed to go on season after season.

I'm sorry if this appears harsh, But, Bills first, Wages 2nd and signing overpaid journeymen last and if that means relegation tough.

[WTFiGO!?!]

(or as inbred as Bristol City or Oxford J )

Could not be arsed to continue reading your dribble from this point onwards.

I'd like to remind you of the painfully unlucky draw from the lottery of life that you received that you're from (never be a City) Swindle.

No sympathy for that 'hell of a beating' your boys' took either, to quote THAT crazed (Polish?) commentator.

I'll politely ask you to return to your insignificant little forum and not to come on here and antagonize me again.

[sephjnr]

So you're only a real fan if you're from the city or your parents are. Nice logic.

You're a 'real' fan if you do any of the following:

*go out of your way to go to matches as much as possible

Absolute balls. So paraplegics (sp?) cant support football teams? Don't be stupid. If you want to go, do what you can to get to games. Your statement assumes that paraplegics can do nothing to attend if they wanted to. Ask the people under the small shelter to the right-front of the Atyeo for further details.

*try to watch them every chance you get

Maybe, but not definatly - if you were back in Bris for a weekend and you got the chance of seeing City or getting sex off an old fancy-friend which would you do? phone ahead for a date on the Saturday night. Forward planning~

*learn as much about the team as you can, and learn from as many people

Interest follows the love you have for your team, I think? Indeed. Without one you can't have the other.

*can explain why you love your team, even if it takes 2 or 3 sentences, other than "they're great"

Not a chance I could. Defo can't put all those feelings into words and can't justify the imput of love that I put in, to the output City give back. "They're my local team, and they've been trying to get promoted for 8 years with increasingly shoddy management. But they've got their hearts in the right place even if their heads ain't." (time to type: 17 seconds)

*can explain how certain players work well / don't work well other than "he's great"/"he's crap."

Not really as I don't get to see the team and don't see any highlights etc. But yes fundamentaly I understand the genereal happenings I spose. Try harder

---------------------

I don't think you need pre-requisites to support a team. I was originally a Man U fan. I hate this now and I havent admitted to it in a long time but the old man supported them and got me a shirt etc and it was natural to follow his lead. Thankfully I grew a brain and noticed the local team and promptly fell in love but the point remains it was only after I saw the effect city had on me that I realised what it was to truely follow your team (not just see them on TV occasionally), but if I hadn't had that chance to follow city (and I stuck with ShytNyted) would it have made me any less of a football fan? certainly not. But the more you know, the better you are. That doesn't work in reverse, but some people think it does.

[Rich-TWSC-]

I'm sorry for this, But, I have no sympathy whatsoever for Swindon.

Every season for the past 5 or 6 years, They have had at least 2 winding up orders per season (tax, VAT etc.etc.)and they pass the hat around, Break their piggy banks open and then cough up at the last possible moment.

And then the week after they have paid the bill in copper coins they go out and sign players (usually ex big name, High earners) to help get them out of relegation trouble, This has been a train wreck waiting to happen and I don't think the Swindon fans need our sympathy and they certainly don't need to feel sorry for themselves, They need to question why this state of affairs is allowed to go on season after season.

I'm sorry if this appears harsh, But, Bills first, Wages 2nd and signing overpaid journeymen last and if that means relegation tough.

1.) You're quite clearly not sorry, are you?

2.) I think your statement appears to me as very two dimensional - I think there's more to it and it reads as far too idealistic. I appreciate what you are saying but the results on the pitch can effect financies... To get the best results you have to take risks. Swindon have an extremely appauling financial record since the relegation from the Premiership, we never recovered - This happens. Bristol City made big risks in the last few seasons, some have worked/some haven't. That's football.

For the record if Bristol City ever faced the the possibility of closure, again, I would happily donate some money... I have for Rotherham recently and would do for even Oxford United... I believe it is football etiquette to help teams out.

There are very good points in the original post, some along the lines of the bitter... But that's because he saw 7 goals conceded. I too get very annoyed when my friends, who haven't been as far north as Hereford in their life and have no family links yet support Newcastle, Liverpool and Manchester United and mock lower league clubs... Annoying, but that's football banter. Not enough people support Swindon in the local area - I've known more City fans in my life than Swindon - And THAT is what I think is killing the club I support.

I agree with Bristol Boy in the sense that the presence of teams such as Manchester United basically keep clubs alive through cup draws but I think this is leaned more towards the FA Cup, saying this the exploits of Doncaster this season, I'm sure, certainly helped them financially - But I totally agree with the Swindon fan when he is saying that the double standards of teams like MU seem to change when they can't perform in the League, Europe or FA Cup - The League Cup is very much a last resort for them.

[rumbellow]

1.) You're quite clearly not sorry, are you?

2.) I think your statement appears to me as very two dimensional - I think there's more to it and it reads as far too idealistic. I appreciate what you are saying but the results on the pitch can effect financies... To get the best results you have to take risks. Swindon have an extremely appauling financial record since the relegation from the Premiership, we never recovered - This happens. Bristol City made big risks in the last few seasons, some have worked/some haven't. That's football.

For the record if Bristol City ever faced the the possibility of closure, again, I would happily donate some money... I have for Rotherham recently and would do for even Oxford United... I believe it is football etiquette to help teams out.

There are very good points in the original post, some along the lines of the bitter... But that's because he saw 7 goals conceded. I too get very annoyed when my friends, who haven't been as far north as Hereford in their life and have no family links yet support Newcastle, Liverpool and Manchester United and mock lower league clubs... Annoying, but that's football banter. Not enough people support Swindon in the local area - I've known more City fans in my life than Swindon - And THAT is what I think is killing the club I support.

I agree with Bristol Boy in the sense that the presence of teams such as Manchester United basically keep clubs alive through cup draws but I think this is leaned more towards the FA Cup, saying this the exploits of Doncaster this season, I'm sure, certainly helped them financially - But I totally agree with the Swindon fan when he is saying that the double standards of teams like MU seem to change when they can't perform in the League, Europe or FA Cup - The League Cup is very much a last resort for them.

Actually I am sorry, I don't particulary want to see anyone go out of business. But, Last season twice tax and vat payments went down to the wire and within a few days you were recruiting players, The same happend just before last seasons deadline, When if memory serves you signed 4 players.

Surely this cannot be right, That is my opinion.

[Guest Harvey9]

First team is City, always is and always will be. I do follow Spurs to some extent as my Grandad played for them and he used to take me to White Hart Lane as a child. Now he is dead my nan likes to watch them so i watch them with her so i can spend some time with her as i don't see her much

[Chivs]

I'm slightly envious of one-club fans - here's why. I was brought up in Coventry in the 60s and supporting the local side was natural. I went regularly with my Dad (an exiled Blade) and never thought for a moment I'd ever support any other team. I still followed them through the 70s and 80s (I could bore for England about the '87 Cup Final) even though I'd moved away and settled in Bristol in the late 70s. Bristol City meant little to me. I went to a few games but it never felt right. Then everything changed.

Along came two sons, so where to take them to watch pro football was the question. Coventry? Spend hours on the M5 just to indulge my passion and inflict my alliegances on them. Or 10 minutes down the road to Ashton Gate to watch THEIR local team? Had to be the right thing. Regular visits to the Gate has produced 2 well-adjusted City fans, despite the rarity of on-field success. Of that I'm very proud. But here's the sting - I became even more hooked on the red-shirted City than they are. I can't explain why, it just happened. Now the odd visit to watch the Sky Blues seems strange and oddly unengaging. I haven't been to the new ground which will probably make it all seem even more remote. But City v Forest on Saturday - can't wait.

I can't rationally justify the change of alliegance, but please do not condemn it too lightly.

That's a superb post. As you probably know, a particular night at Coventry is an emotional event for City. Who did you support that night?

It doesn't really matter as you have clearly moved over to the lighter side now

[sephjnr]

Seph, I think you're being a bit pedantic.

Yes do what you can to go to games, I was only trying to highlight the fact that a lot of people are unable to go to games, but that doesn't make them any less of a fan than the people there every week.

"Ask the people under the small shelter to the right-front of the Atyeo for further details." I'm not saying I'm paraplegic! How would I be typing foo!

Forward planning was never my fortay.

You can have interest with out love being involved.

Try harder to watch highlights? Make the BBC put them on just for me? Or make myself be made of money to make the trip down to Bristol each weekend?

To think that there are better and worse football fans is a new concept to me and not one of any interest. If you think you are better person than me because you know more about BCFC, well done, I'll clap my hands for you.

1. YOU brought the disability issue into play, not me. You assumed that paraplegics can't follow football, but I assume that at least one person under the wheelchair shelter qualifies. Not knowing for sure, but I'm not judging the quality of life these people have because I wouldn't know. And neither do you, evidently, but you're happy to make blanket statements like "how would I be typing, foo'?" and treating them with the condescending sympathy reserved for a 2-week-old puppy that's shat on carpet. The wheelchair/disabled fanbase that DO attend games when they can are a shining testament to the desire to improve theirselves. They should be congratulated, not pitied.

2. I'm not saying I'm better than you. I'm saying that whatever you're doing, you can do better IF YOU WANT TO. I'm not made of money either, but I try to get to as many away games as I can, having paid through the nose for a Season Ticket which I'm proud to be able to attain. The only person in this discussion saying that things can't be done is you.

3. Read the first thing before the 'list': "ANY OF THE FOLLOWING". There's the 'pedantry' you ignored.

[Chappers]

How about blaming the main architect of the problems, ITV Digital. They reneged on an agreement, and yet the two main executives responsible just walked away with fat bonusses, and are still earning big Bucks. The Premiership did not give a toss and continued wasting money on overpaid prima-donnas, and the Press just gave a limited amount of sympathy. And the Government did not care, not enough votes in it, nor a good enough photo-shoot for that grinning jackass Blair. It has taken a couple of years for the fall-out to kick in, but it is beginning to, and expect more Clubs to have difficulties in the coming years.

After 82, I have sympathy for all fans whose Clubs are in this position.

[sephjnr]

Fine, then. You just "are" a real fan. Just expect to fall under the same scrutiny as the "fake" fans of premier teams etc. that you're willing to dish out. You shouldn't have to prove yourself and neither should the people you think are "only supporting them to be popular."

As I said earlier, becoming a fan is less important than staying a fan.