Originally posted by Hornchurch Red:
<strong>No, I never said that, who ever told you that is a liar.
My arguement has always been, that I find it hard to understand, why someone with no connection to Manchester area, would support a team from the Manchester area. Never that I think they can't support them, just I find it hard to understand why?
People may have family from Manchester, if for example your Dad is a Manc, and has brought you up a Manchester United fan, I can totally understand, why you would support Manchester United, even if you were Born in Timbucktoo.
What I find is I was born into a red family, I was taken to the ground as a youngster, I didn't choose to support United, I didn't make a concious descision to support a winning team. If when we got relegated in the 1970's, we had sunk lower and had become a Burnley or Preston type club, I would still be a Manchester United fan. If United were down with the dead men for the last 20-30 years, this web site would not have a quarter of the members it does. I feel IMHO
I don't have a hatred of United fans born outside Manchester, I just find it hard to understand why someone would support a team, that has nothing to do with their community/culture. Manchester United need the daytrippers to swell the coffers, and I understand why Manchester Uniteds aggresive marketing is needed, but as I say why would someone from London (Just an example, not picking on anyone), would turn their back on their local community, and support a northern team. Whether that is Liverpool, Newcastle or Manchester United.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Glad to know that you don't hate supporters from outside Manchester.
Some people, like me, don't have any real local football connections so can't support a local team. They probably end up supporting a glamour club because of the press coverage. If a person gets 'the bug' they will stick with that team.
I was born in a place called Awali in Bahrain. My parents worked for the oil company. My father was from Nottingham, his parents Yorkshire and Scotland. My mother was born in Liverpool, her parents Ireland and Brighton. (Sounds like we're gypsies!). Neither of my parents were particularly interested in football. My mother hates the game and I don't know who my father supported.
There was a team in Awali but it would have been worse than the Dog and Duck. They played other Bahraini sides. I have no idea if there was a league, no-one ever mentioned it.
We were separate from the Bahrainis and grew up in an 'English-type' cultural setting. Amongst the children there was national (English, Scots, Irish, Australian etc)rather than regional or city identity.
Awali was my home until I was eleven. I went to England on holidays but never thought of it as home. I nominally supported United because my best friend did but I wasn't overly interested in fotball.
At eleven I went to a boarding school in Liverpool, there being no English speaking secondary schools in Bahrain and I don't speak Arabic. Being a nominal United supporter I got a lot of abuse but this made me more passionate about United. If I changed sides I would lose any credibility.
My parents split and my mother moved to Birkenhead. My local connections with England start from twelve. By that time I was well and truly committed to United emotionally. I went home and away after finishing school despite relegation and Liverpool's glory years.
I understand that having a connection with Manchester gives your support another dimension (yes, I am jealous) but there are many fans similar to me who had their loyalty tested in the early seventies. United's support hardly wavered. The club might have more than its share of bandwagon supporters (the price of success) but there are many who will stick through thick and thin regardless of how the team performs.
