Jake Humphry on supporting your local team

[P/T Indie]

A good article about what it means to support your local team in his case Norwich

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/jakehumphrey/2009/05/glory_hunting_is_not_for_me.html

[RedRedWine1]

Is this the same Jake Humphrey born in Peterborough?

Whilst I applaud our support, I wonder how Lancaster City fans see it? I'd guess that a large numbers of our support were born/raised/schooled and possibly even once supported Lancaster (no name and shame). I bet they consider the large swell in numbers over the last decade as a case of 'glory hunting'.

Suppose I can't talk, being born in Staffs!

[Duffman]

I wonder if many fans have switched to the Shrimps due to the farce that is Lancaster City. Not the fans or the players but on the financial side and owners coming and going.

As for the article it's a good read. I myself can't imagine supporting another team. All my family support Man Utd so I have a soft spot for them but the Shrimps will always come first.

[durhamshrimp]

Durham have won automatic promotion two seasons runnning but I still support Morecambe. I don't actually know anyone who supports Durham City, everyone is either Newcastle or Sunderland.

[Aal]

When I moved to the area from Scotland 20 years ago, both local sides were dire, and yet even then there was something for me that made Morecambe the team that I chose to support even though I lived (and still do) in Lancaster.

It's been terrific seeing the dreams coming true at Christie Park...

[RedRedWine1]

Durham have won automatic promotion two seasons runnning but I still support Morecambe.

That's not really the question put forward though is it? In both the article and the replies thus far we're talking about people born and raised in a certain area, that make a decision to support one local team over another, or a side that is not local at all. Unless you were born and/or bred in Durham, in which case you have a have made a valuable contribution to a topic.

[MorecambeMickey]

in which case you have a have made a valuable contribution to a topic

Yes, indeed. Well done you. Isn't it fun being patronized?

[Plain Peter]

What about poor old Bare Dolly and the Poulton Prawn.
Remember when they landed on planet SV?
Local Lancaster lads, born and bred.
Supported both their local teams, blue or red, it didn't make much difference.
More often than not in exile they never forgot their roots.
But like most folk with dual loyalties the aforementioned duo were slightly more blue than red.
Not being backward at coming forward they set out their 60/40 stall from the start on SV.
Welcomed by some, derided and goaded by others, they were given a rough ride.
While they RIP now I know they still look in on SV from time to time.

[Keith]

But like most folk with dual loyalties the aforementioned duo were slightly more blue than red.

most???

I know they still look in on SV from time to time.

I'm glad they do, it took so long to house train them, I wouldn't want that to have all gone to waste!!

[Wild Bill]

I wonder if many fans have switched to the Shrimps due to the farce that is Lancaster City.

I cant see many real City fans becoming regulars at Christie because they have got fed up watching low level footie. I for one would never go and watch Lancaster even if the tables were to change.

True many of our fans were born and bred in Lancaster but they have decided to follow their local team of any significance.

I was born in Morecambe but bought up in Caton. Lancaster City are a lot closer to Caton Utd than they are to us these days!

[Crimson Crust]

What about poor old Bare Dolly and the Poulton Prawn.
Remember when they landed on planet SV?
Local Lancaster lads, born and bred.
Supported both their local teams, blue or red, it didn't make much difference.
More often than not in exile they never forgot their roots.
But like most folk with dual loyalties the aforementioned duo were slightly more blue than red.
Not being backward at coming forward they set out their 60/40 stall from the start on SV.
Welcomed by some, derided and goaded by others, they were given a rough ride.
While they RIP now I know they still look in on SV from time to time.

Is Peter 100% well RED?...or, at times a little blue.

[durhamshrimp]

Durham have won automatic promotion two seasons runnning but I still support Morecambe.

That's not really the question put forward though is it? In both the article and the replies thus far we're talking about people born and raised in a certain area, that make a decision to support one local team over another, or a side that is not local at all. Unless you were born and/or bred in Durham, in which case you have a have made a valuable contribution to a topic.

I was born and bred in Durham.

[Duffman]

I wonder if many fans have switched to the Shrimps due to the farce that is Lancaster City.

I cant see many real City fans becoming regulars at Christie because they have got fed up watching low level footie. I for one would never go and watch Lancaster even if the tables were to change.

True many of our fans were born and bred in Lancaster but they have decided to follow their local team of any significance.

I was born in Morecambe but bought up in Caton. Lancaster City are a lot closer to Caton Utd than they are to us these days!

Feel free to use all the quote Wild Bill. When I said farce I was referring to the financial side and the coming and going of owners with false promises.

[Plain Peter]

But like most folk with dual loyalties the aforementioned duo were slightly more blue than red.

most???

Smart arse. I dropped a comma. Here's a few to put me in credit ,,,,,,,,,,,,,.

[Plain Peter]

True many of our fans were born and bred in Lancaster but they have decided to follow their local team of any significance.

And some still watch both teams with pretty much equal loyalty.
Last season, for example, I was on the tube to Barnet, and sat in front of me was a bloke who I used to regularly see at Giant Axe, but had never spotted before at Crusty.
Unless you are one of these people, or see them at either venue then you don't know they exist.

As for 'following their local team of any significance' is concerned, it's a funny old game.
Mad Cyril, for example, is a Dolly through and through. He lives near Blackpool and has never lived in Lancaster. Themaclad lives near Pilling, and has never lived in Lancaster. There are others.

[slackAlice]

It all depends what you mean by 'supporting' I suppose ? I think what annoys most fans of any team is the so called plastic fans who believe supporting is wearing the latest replica shirt and watching their chosen team on the box.

Its interesting that Jake states the he wishes "it was trendier to support your local team". It shouldn't be about trends - there are many reasons why we support the team or teams we do.
The whole landscape of football has changed beyond anything we experienced 30 or 40 years ago - then you could pretty much really support any team in the country if you turned up early enough on matchday. I grew up in Caton but had an uncle who was a mad Liverpool fan and so when I was old enough he took me to the matches and you kind of 'fall in love with' that team and I don't think you ever fall out. But ...importantly you can develop strong feelings for other teams ...the majority of Morecambe fans I have met have 2nd teams.
I respect any real fans choice of team and feel pity for your atypical 'plastic fan' who'll never experience that strong emotional attachment to any team. That feeling you get when YOUR team comes out of the tunnel. I mean try to imagine a young lad or lass who was born and lives within a couple of miles of Anfield / Old Trafford wants to get to the match but without the means to do it ???

Now I take my lad to watch Morecambe [aged 8] and he's getting the habit after his 3rd season and I'd love him to carry on really supporting HIS team every Saturday ; because it'll give him a life long interest.

[Christies Child]

Whilst I was buying my ticket for tonights 'do' in the club shop yesterday, an elderly lady came in decked out in Shrimps shirt aand other garb in support of her club.

Overheard her say that she'd driven from her home in South Wales to watch 'her' team in its final game of the season and was going to drive back home after the game. By the sounds of it, she does this on a regular basis.

What an outstanding effort by this lady who is probably in her early 60's and costly too! Especially when we recall the tens of thousands who went to Wembley proclaiming to be Shrimp fans but can't be bothered to come down to Christie even though they live in the town.

For me this lady whoever she is deserves to be 'Supporter of the Year'.