If your team disappeared?

With Portsmouth ( and a few others ) in terrible financial trouble, and it becoming more common these days ( not to mention my beloved Saints a few years back ), I just wondered how people would respond to such a tragedy.

I mean, if your team folded, after your initial mourning period of course, what team would you start to follow? What would your short-list be, and what do you ( did you ) look for in a club?

I know Jim has developed a passion for Go Ahead Eagles in Holland, but what about the rest of you?

we were 90 minutes from oblivion in 1987...if we had have gone and not been reborn I'd have done what I do know when we are away..travelled the world !! or more accurately the UK and Ireland

I would do what a friend of mine does; every 3 years he puts all of the team names for the top 4 english divisions into a hat and pulls 1 out. For 3 years he supports that team, whichever one it is, then in 3 years time he repeats the process.

I like that, Adam.
Cool idea. So he basically transfers on a free after completing a three year contract.
Does he buy the kit and stuff?
Perhaps all fans should do this. It would certainly keep clubs on their toes. Why should fans be any more loyal or committed than the players / managers.

ESSGEE wrote:

I like that, Adam.
Cool idea. So he basically transfers on a free after completing a three year contract.
Does he buy the kit and stuff?
Perhaps all fans should do this. It would certainly keep clubs on their toes. Why should fans be any more loyal or committed than the players / managers.

Can't believe you said that Steve. Although I love all football I cannot imagine supporting any other team in the same way. When we almost went out of existence in the 90's and lost our ground together with the manager and nearly all the players, I did wonder what actually it was I loved. All that was left was really the name and league registration. Players, managers and directors all come and go, the only thing that remains is the fan base and the history of the club. Essentially the fans are the club and it was only the efforts of the fans that we survived. Without the fans travelling to Gillingham 75 miles away to watch our home games we would have folded. Much as I feel for Portsmouth I haven't forgotten that they refused to let us use Fratton Park in our hour of need.

That's a fair / very good point, Gully.

The history is important. Infact, I think my attachment is largely to those heady days in the 80's at THE DELL. I loved that crappy little ground and the shallow nets. Spectators could get done for shirt pulling when players came up for corners!

I love some of the old kits, and I think often about the players that have made me smile over the years. I can't say that I have that attachment with any of the current players at SMS. But I do like Cortese ( THE GODFATHER ) and how he takes care of business.



I think if I was to follow another team, they would have to have the feel of Saints in the late 70's early 80's, be within reasonable travelling distance, and NOT HAVE A CHAVVY KIT!

Of the teams abroad ...

I have always liked Roma

ESSGEE wrote:

That's a fair / very good point, Gully.

The history is important. Infact, I think my attachment is largely to those heady days in the 80's at THE DELL. I loved that crappy little ground and the shallow nets. Spectators could get done for shirt pulling when players came up for corners!

I love some of the old kits, and I think often about the players that have made me smile over the years. I can't say that I have that attachment with any of the current players at SMS. But I do like Cortese ( THE GODFATHER ) and how he takes care of business.



I think if I was to follow another team, they would have to have the feel of Saints in the late 70's early 80's, be within reasonable travelling distance, and NOT HAVE A CHAVVY KIT!

Oh well that's sorted then Steve, from St Mary's just travel 70 miles to the East. The problem now is that there is a lot higher turnover and players don't stay long enough to form much of an attachment.

Hmmm ... not sure about that one Gully.

Have a bit of weird disliking for club names that have a 'y' or 'g' in them. I hate letter tails. Think it weakens a name. It's like a leak. The soft nature of them brings a yin element to the balance and think football teams should be all YANG!

Saints just about get away with the 'p' because it is a straight line, which makes it marginally tougher.



Which means, considering my warped criteria, BOURNEMOUTH would probably interest me.

Of Premiership teams, possibly FULHAM?

Couldn't possibly go for Oxford United. The 'X' is a big put off, not to mention that the ground only has three sides. Oh well, there you go, I did mention it.



Must give this some more thought, I think?

ESSGEE wrote:

Hmmm ... not sure about that one Gully.

Don't worry ESGEE we haven't got any vacancies at the moment.

Gullseye wrote:

ESSGEE wrote:

I like that, Adam.
Cool idea. So he basically transfers on a free after completing a three year contract.
Does he buy the kit and stuff?
Perhaps all fans should do this. It would certainly keep clubs on their toes. Why should fans be any more loyal or committed than the players / managers.

Although I love all football I cannot imagine supporting any other team in the same way.

I think that's the reason for me that I've supported the same team for just over 20 years (man that's loyal, that's 2/3's of my lifetime!). I'm a fan of the local team, but i wouldn't call myself a supporter as i don't have the same passion for them. I feel it would be the same if my club went under and no longer existed; a little bit of me would always love them more than the new team i decided to follow.

That said I understand why my mate decides to do what he does; it spices it up a bit and gives you the highs and lows of supporting clubs in different situations......it's lovely to support a winning team all the time, but at somepoint I think you need to taste the dissappoinment of relegation to appreciate the winning........struggle with that one every year with the rugby union team I support!

A few years ago I was travelling back from an away game and had 606 on the radio. A Tranmere supporter came on and he was asked why he supported them. He said 'well I used to be a Liverpool fan but got so sick of them winning all the time I switched to Tranmere'. He's probably gone back to them now !

Yep, can relate to that, Gully.

When you're expecting to win all the time, victory must be pretty hollow, and defeat absolutely devastating.

Arsenal for me.
first game i ever saw was arsenal 1 v 0 bolton in 1978. frank stapleton in the last minute.
i then for the next five years saw about two games a season at highbury.

Strangely enough, you look a bit like a Gooner fan, JR.
Perhaps that should be the next thought ...
Who do people look like they support?
Or having met them, which team would you have guessed they followed?

your going a bit do deep into this now Steve

You're just worried you might be exposed for the CITY fan you really are!
You know you have a mint HW team in SKY BLUE tucked away, with KAZIMIERZ DEYNA scribbled on the back of your star striker!

Actually, having thought about it a tad longer, you do strike me as Spurs through and through.
It's probably the Lord Sugar vibe you've got goin' on.

I would have had Jim down as a Portsmouth fan, simply because he seems to get so much pleasure from telling me how much he hates Southampton.

I'd of had Stevie Moreton down as a QUEENS PARK RANGERS fan, because he's an enthusiast who won't settle for less if more can be had. Why go for a team with one or two names when you can have one with THREE!

I'd have Spudski down as a Saints fan!

Well, he's a surfy dude, so gotta support somebody on the coast, I'd reason.
Plus, he's a decent, likeable sort of chap!

DELL of the SOUTH wrote:

I would have had Jim down as a Portsmouth fan, simply because he seems to get so much pleasure from telling me how much he hates Southampton.

Hate that shower nearly as much as your lot Steve .Leeds are my no.one hate , always have been , closely followed by Spurs, Chelsea and Man U .The only south coast side I've any time for are The Cherries .

Can't believe you said that Steve. Although I love all football I cannot imagine supporting any other team in the same way. When we almost went out of existence in the 90's and lost our ground together with the manager and nearly all the players, I did wonder what actually it was I loved. All that was left was really the name and league registration. Players, managers and directors all come and go, the only thing that remains is the fan base and the history of the club. Essentially the fans are the club and it was only the efforts of the fans that we survived. Without the fans travelling to Gillingham 75 miles away to watch our home games we would have folded. Much as I feel for Portsmouth I haven't forgotten that they refused to let us use Fratton Park in our hour of need. [/quote]

TOP POST Steve

naturally jim would follow leeds if leicester ever disappeared

I support only one team - and always will - but have adopted many other teams over the years and have a soft spot for them. I keep an eye on them, look for their results - I've even been to watch some of them play

Don't most people have a favourite Italian, German, Dutch, Welsh team? I have a favourite London club - West Ham but I certainly don't support them.

A new team, Western Sydney Wanderers, have joined the A-League this season. They've become my second team to Wellington Phoenix. Strange how these things happen.

In non league - maidenhead utd
In scotland - dundee utd and berwick rangers

In germany nuremberg and furth

Italy ... ROMA
Scotland ... BERWICK RANGERS

DELL of the SOUTH wrote:

I'd have Spudski down as a Saints fan!

Well, he's a surfy dude, so gotta support somebody on the coast, I'd reason.
Plus, he's a decent, likeable sort of chap!

You gotta have waves to surf on though...it's flat as a pancake on the south coast.

And what's with being a Roma fan...???

Tbh... I really do want 'modern' football to implode. If it meant all football league teams going bust then it wouldn't bother me. It needs to start again under a new umbrella imho. I have great memories of supporting my Club as a youth...but now...it hardly means anything.

I follow City and Lazio...and go to a few games per season.

I also have a soft spot for Willem II and B'russia M'gladbach.

I admire Ajax, Barcelona and Arsenal.

In saying all of that...the new rules being put into place re financing clubs is starting to take effect.

I know at my Club, they are focussing more on the Academy and have just forged links with Borussia Dortmund.

I would take more interest if Clubs relied more on their Academys and brought through players.

Agreed, Ian.

They can start by capping all footballers wages.

In no other profession, can professionals consistently get away with being so unprofessional. Useless bunch of talentless, idle flickers!

Don't get me started!

As for Roma, Ian - I just love the colour combination on the kit.

Really must get that team done!

spudski wrote:

DELL of the SOUTH wrote:

I'd have Spudski down as a Saints fan!

Well, he's a surfy dude, so gotta support somebody on the coast, I'd reason.
Plus, he's a decent, likeable sort of chap!

You gotta have waves to surf on though...it's flat as a pancake on the south coast.

It's definitely starting to feel that way, Ian.



They've built a reef at Boscombe, which is apparently meant to provide a reasonable surf for a certain number of months a year. Not sure how good it is, as it was pretty calm when we were down there watching an International Beach Tennis tournament in the summer.

Welcome back, by the way!

Cheers mate...

Proper footie this afternoon for me.

Yate Town 3 v Newport County 3 in FA CUP.

My lot Yate ( who i played for for years ) were 3-1 up with 2 mins to play... Doh!!!

Could of been in the first round of the FA CUP proper if we'd won.

Can't see us winning the replay...Great stuff though.

My team could dissappear Birmingham City!!! My other team has nearly dissapeared Kettering Town.

Since being a kid

I have a few favs here goes

Birmingham no1

Northampton no2

Kettering no3

Kaiserslauten no4

Rangers no5

Juventus no6

Meadowbank[Livingston] no7

Montrose no8

Walsall no9

Notts Forest no10.

Braziln Holland Argentina from the 70s pure class.

Spud good luck to Yate great result against table toppers mate.

Ute

They're gonna need it mate...lol Cheltenham away if they win... a Derby of sorts.

How come Montrose mate? That's my Scottish team...Mothers side of the family originally came from their.

They only went and won 3-1 last night at Newport

Woop woop... Can't believe the team i played for are now in the first round of the FA Cup... Brilliant.

Also went to watch the worst defensive performance i've ever seen... BCFC 3 v Burnley 4

Ralph will be a happy bunny...

I bet Ralph was smiling about that result.....we came back from 3-0 to earn a 3-3 with Millwall. We hammered them last season.

Montrose well I like that team because of the band with the same name and they also played in blue n white, stupid reasons really. Nothing to do with family ties.

Stupid reasons for liking the teams below:-

Birmingham no1 [been a blues fan since 72 first footy match]

Northampton no2[I was born there]

Kettering no3[Lived there as a kid until I was 7, also remeber going to see them with me dad many times]

Kaiserslauten no4[ Lived in Frankfurt in the mid 80s,just became my team of fancy]


Rangers no5[I am a catholic who supports a prody team, didnt mean a poo to me at 7. Im a blue nose its in the blood, I also hate green n white hoops,yuk!]

Juventus no6[Supported them in a 70's final and have always had a soft spot for Juve]


Meadowbank[Livingston] no7 [just a name thing and one of the earliest recollections of a Scotish team entering the lower tier of Scottish footy]


Montrose no8[its all in the name]

Walsall no9[Local underdogs I loved fellows park]

Notts Forest no10.[Because Trevor Francis went there and I loved Cloughie]

Brazil n Holland Argentina from the 70s pure class[ Imagine the fantasy team youd get from these three,magic when footy was good.]

Ute