The "most important" fans of the club

[roonster09]

Local doesn’t mean stadium going, and non -Manchester often does. So I think the question about being from Manchester should be answered with different rationale.

Yeah that's true. I said stadium going fans, like others mentioned there are many season ticket holders from outside Manchester who puts in great effort to attend games.

Anyways not sure what was the context behind this thread, i hope it's not to create local fans vs foreign fans, that would be pathetic.

 

[wolvored]

I was born in Salford and lived in Salford for 45 years. I went regularly to Utd from 17 to 45 and had a season ticket from 93/4 to 04/05 as I moved to just outside Wolverhampton in 05. I have attended maybe a dozen games since and none since 19/20. So god knows what tier fan I am

 

[Rayman96]

I genuinely think the point he was making is the people who fought for the club and got involved in a “ding dong” and literally stopped a premier league game from happening were the locals who were furious over the way the club was treated. The point being the actual fans at games, boots on the ground are involved in the “ding dongs”. That is slang for fighting by the way.

So if you are:
1. Living in Manchester
2. Going to all the games
AND
3. Fighting rival fans every week and sometimes breaking into Old Trafford when you are a bit pissed off.

That makes you the Ultimate Utd fan.

Have I got that correct????

 

[TheReligion]

I am disappointed in this forum. The stance this forum takes on other matters is a breath of fresh air. I have always seen members come out in protest against elitism and xenophobia but I think in this particular matter, we are having a brain fart. I never thought I will read so many opinions on a single thread with which I disagree wholeheartedly.

No fan is more important than others. Period.

You are not more important purely because you live in close proximity to a global football club. You are not more special because you choose to spend on match tickets. You are in no position to lock others out of the “special fan” status because United is established in Manchester.

It is the same as protectionism. It is the same as saying that despite globalism, my people are more important so should get special status for jobs. My businesses are more important so should be getting subsidies. No one is allowed to compete with them because some time ago, our markets were closed and then it only belonged to us.

I mean I actually think there’s been some good posts here explaining different thoughts and opinions.

Its also worth noting that the OP is not a local/match going fan by the look of it.

To me it seems those pushing this and throwing the strongest opinions are those who aren’t local and don’t attend games.

 

[Red00012]

What kind of insecure child even thinks about shit like this?

My balls are bigger than yours type thing

 

[Spoony]

It's not exactly important in the general scheme of things is it?

 

[Rozay]

Yeah that's true. I said stadium going fans, like others mentioned there are many season ticket holders from outside Manchester who puts in great effort to attend games.

Anyways not sure what was the context behind this thread, i hope it's not to create local fans vs foreign fans, that would be pathetic.

I agree with this, although there’s no time like the present to create such a divide!

 

[Mockney]

Which part is whichy whashy?

That my dedication to watching our game today on TV is as significant an act of fandom than those who are there, or travelled to Barcelona and back on Thursday to sit in terrible seats and scream at the tiny men below them…. Of course there are levels of fan. What they are specifically might vary from person to person, but the idea that “hey, we’re all just as important as each other maaan” is nonsense…

Is a Barca fan who’s anti-Catalan Independence but has bought a couple of Messi shirts just as connected to the culture of the club?

In order to be as big and successful as it is Manchester United needs money and local support. Money is mainly down to international viewers and people that don't go to the stadium, local support is from locals.

So football is purely a business, and it’s only value is making money?

 

[The Cat]

I'm an armchair fan entirely these days and won't buy any merch while the Glazers own the club so I would agree match going fans are far more important than the likes of me.

 

[JPRouve]

That my dedication to watching our game today on TV is as significant an act of fandom than those who are there, or travelled to Barcelona and back on Thursday to sit in terrible seats and scream at the tiny men below them…. Of course there are levels of fan. What they are specifically might vary from person to person, but the idea that “hey, we’re all just as important as each other maaan” is nonsense…

Is a Barca fan who’s anti-Catalan Independence but has bought a couple of Messi shirts just as connected to the culture of the club?



So football is purely a business, and it’s only value is making money?

That's not what I said, I didn't address nor care about how much of a fan you are.

 

[Dan_F]

I am disappointed in this forum. The stance this forum takes on other matters is a breath of fresh air. I have always seen members come out in protest against elitism and xenophobia but I think in this particular matter, we are having a brain fart. I never thought I will read so many opinions on a single thread with which I disagree wholeheartedly.

No fan is more important than others. Period.

You are not more important purely because you live in close proximity to a global football club. You are not more special because you choose to spend on match tickets. You are in no position to lock others out of the “special fan” status because United is established in Manchester.

It is the same as protectionism. It is the same as saying that despite globalism, my people are more important so should get special status for jobs. My businesses are more important so should be getting subsidies. No one is allowed to compete with them because some time ago, our markets were closed and then it only belonged to us.

No one is being prevented from buying tickets, watching games, supporting the club. There is no “special fan” status. You’ve just made that up.

The only people that seem to be bothered by this is those that don’t go to games. In fact, it’s only a tiny percentage of non regular match going fans that seem to be bothered by this anyway. The majority seem to be quite open that they wouldn’t consider themselves as important to the club, myself included.

 

[TheReligion]

The club is based in Manchester. The stadium is in Manchester. The training ground is in Greater Manchester. The players live in the surrounding Greater Manchester area and any investment or significant change to any of these things will primarily affect the people who live in and near Manchester more than any of the rest of us. Football isn’t like American sporting franchises where picking the club up and moving it somewhere is no biggie. It’s embedded in the culture of the area… literally.

Furthermore regular match going fans (who may not exclusively be from Manchester, incidentally) who travel not just to OT every other weekend, but across the country ever other, to European and domestic cup comps in the week, and basically organise their entire life around physically following the club and supporting the players in person, are the life blood of the team, and football in general, and absolutely the most important fans.

It’s not some kind of weird inverse Daily Mail strawman where everyone in Manchester just plops out and is given a free seat at OT that some far more deserving foreigner would kill for! The idea local matchgoers are simply “lucky” be be born near, rather than it being part of their cultural heritage is such a weird, myopic way of looking at it.

I am none of these things btw (I’m I Londoner who goes to a decent but declining amount of games) but I think you’ve gotta be pretty insecure about your support to argue it’s not the case. No, we aren’t as important. It’s not your fault you live half the world away, but tough. You don’t get to play for Brazil either or be James Bond. Who cares? I’ve genuinely no idea why people are so weird about it!

It’s interesting that people can watch things like Welcome to Wrexham and see and even champion how important the football club is for the local community and then conclude that Manchester United is now so big that it need no longer apply AT ALL… Should all Mancunians support City then? Or just not have a club at all? It does genuinely feel like some online fans would rather the club lose its Manc/UK roots entirely so they’d feel better about/closer to it… which strikes me as a kind of weird form of cultural appropriation.

Non-locals can be brilliant fans, but we should surely always be respectful of the fact we support a club in Manchester:.. and those who aren’t (and there are loads online) are far more disrespectful than British fans who’re a bit sniffy at them IMO

That my dedication to watching our game today on TV is as significant an act of fandom than those who are there, or travelled to Barcelona and back on Thursday to sit in terrible seats and scream at the tiny men below them…. Of course there are levels of fan. What they are specifically might vary from person to person, but the idea that “hey, we’re all just as important as each other maaan” is nonsense…

Is a Barca fan who’s anti-Catalan Independence but has bought a couple of Messi shirts just as connected to the culture of the club?

I tend to agree with this.

 

[duffer]

No fan is more important than others. Period.

Of course some fans are more important than others.

How can you suggest the the fan who never goes to games but sometimes streams the big games is as important to the club as the person who goes to games home and away, who sings their heart out and who pumps thousands of pounds into the club?

 

[Shakesy]

Some fans are clearly more equal than others. Maybe the caf could have little badges next to posters' names that identify their tier of fandom? That way we would know whether their opinion carries more weight?

 

[clarkydaz]

Of course some fans are more important than others.

How can you suggest the the fan who never goes to games but sometimes streams the big games is as important to the club as the person who goes to games home and away, who sings their heart out and who pumps thousands of pounds into the club?

its a bit like school sports day where everyone has to get a prize, and nobody loses

 

[Member 125398]

Match going fans create the club, all others enhance it.

 

[Rayman96]

No one is being prevented from buying tickets, watching games, supporting the club. There is no “special fan” status. You’ve just made that up.

The only people that seem to be bothered by this is those that don’t go to games. In fact, it’s only a tiny percentage of non regular match going fans that seem to be bothered by this anyway. The majority seem to be quite open that they wouldn’t consider themselves as important to the club, myself included.

Mate, are you reading this thread. People are literally ranking them.
We are behaving like a bunch of arseholes

 

[Chipper]

No one is being prevented from buying tickets, watching games, supporting the club. There is no “special fan” status. You’ve just made that up.

The only people that seem to be bothered by this is those that don’t go to games. In fact, it’s only a tiny percentage of non match going fans that seem to be bothered by this anyway. The majority seem to be quite open that they wouldn’t consider themselves as important to the club, myself included.

Yep, I'm from Stretford as in The Stretford End. Haven't been since 2007, don't buy merchandise.

United get no vocal support from me on a matchday, and not that much money from me. I do subscribe to Sky Sports and BT but that's split between all the clubs anyway. Not even all of it goes towards football in general as those TV stations also pay for the rights to show other sports.

I'm not particularly important and am under no illusions about that. Someone who goes to the match, even rarely is more important than me and those who buy merchandise/memorabilia too no matter where they live.

 

[arnie_ni]

I mean I actually think there’s been some good posts here explaining different thoughts and opinions.

Its also worth noting that the OP is not a local/match going fan by the look of it.

To me it seems those pushing this and throwing the strongest opinions are those who aren’t local and don’t attend games.

They've probably took offence to being called less of a fan. I'm not sure why it's even been brought up. Everyone is important.

Those that pack the stadium have to be the most important, but digging out the others is a bit shitty at the same time. We don't need a divide at the moment

 

[crossy1686]

Some absolute bullshit elitism going on in here. Match going fans are of course the most relevant fans in the regard that average local fan shouldn't be priced out of attending the game, but what about all the Irish lads that come over for every home game? Are they not important because they're 'international'? Or are they allowed because they 'get it' unlike those dirty foreign day trippers? Check your privilege folks, most of us are no more important than some bloke in Taiwan who goes to his local bar to watch the games at 2am.

 

[horsechoker]

I was born in Salford and lived in Salford for 45 years. I went regularly to Utd from 17 to 45 and had a season ticket from 93/4 to 04/05 as I moved to just outside Wolverhampton in 05. I have attended maybe a dozen games since and none since 19/20. So god knows what tier fan I am

Plastic glory hunter

 

[crossy1686]

Plastic glory hunter

I had a 12 hour break from this place last night so I'm firmly a plastic now also.

 

[duffer]

Some absolute bullshit elitism going on in here. Match going fans are of course the most relevant fans in the regard that average local fan shouldn't be priced out of attending the game, but what about all the Irish lads that come over for every home game? Are they not important because they're 'international'? Or are they allowed because they 'get it' unlike those dirty foreign day trippers? Check your privilege folks, most of us are no more important than some bloke in Taiwan who goes to his local bar to watch the games at 2am.

Nobody has said anyone is not important. Just less important.

 

[Wumminator]

I was born in Salford and lived in Salford for 45 years. I went regularly to Utd from 17 to 45 and had a season ticket from 93/4 to 04/05 as I moved to just outside Wolverhampton in 05. I have attended maybe a dozen games since and none since 19/20. So god knows what tier fan I am

You are scum. Plastic scum.

 

[sullydnl]

Collectively, but not individually.

Anyone with a season ticket is putting more into United's bank account than someone who subscribes to the TV channels we are shown on. Then many with season tickets will also subscribe anyway so they can watch away games, plus other football matches in general as they're big fans of the sport.

Yep.

An individual regular matchgoing fan is more valuable to United than another fan who doesn't attend games, simply because one is contributing more than the other. I don't see how you could even make an argument otherwise.

But as a segment non-matchgoing fans gain importance because there's so many, many more of them that they drive the finances of the club. And that segment will also contribute a swathe of the fans at every game.

The key point from this forum's POV though is that being a more "valuable" fan doesn't mean you know any more about football, or that you're any less of a cnut. So it's pretty irrelevant.

 

[Mockney]

I am disappointed in this forum. The stance this forum takes on other matters is a breath of fresh air. I have always seen members come out in protest against elitism and xenophobia but I think in this particular matter, we are having a brain fart. I never thought I will read so many opinions on a single thread with which I disagree wholeheartedly.

No fan is more important than others. Period.

You are not more important purely because you live in close proximity to a global football club. You are not more special because you choose to spend on match tickets. You are in no position to lock others out of the “special fan” status because United is established in Manchester.

It is the same as protectionism. It is the same as saying that despite globalism, my people are more important so should get special status for jobs. My businesses are more important so should be getting subsidies. No one is allowed to compete with them because some time ago, our markets were closed and then it only belonged to us.

It is fecking insane to me that we’re now equating respecting the cultural heritage of a football club in somewhat, with outright xenophobia…

I’m fecking left wing and find it nuts, because you’re close to arguing that Manchester United should have next to no cultural identity incase it alienates a fan who was born 8,000 miles away in 2007!

Would you agree at least that people who live in Manchester should probably have more of a say on, say, the redevelopment of the facilities in the place they live, than someone who’s never set foot there? Or in the name of equality can I insist we install a giant statue of Noel Edmonds in your town square?

Again, the insecurity in people about this is mad… It is absolutely fine to not be the greatest and most important fan that ever lived! No one is saying you can’t be a pretty brilliant fan otherwise.

 

[tenpoless]

The ones who pay for clubs official merchandise, shirt, subscriptions or tickets as the money goes to the club. Geography is about pride and romance but the club is a business and the more paying customers the better, no doubt about it. Who pays and how much? who cares? theyre worth a shit ton once you multiply it with millions.

 

[crossy1686]

Nobody has said anyone is not important. Just less important.

Then everyone's important or they're not? You can't have various levels of 'important'.

How would you like to be in the 'important group C', your seats are located at the top of the East stand, while 'important group A' are seated pitch side on the North stand, don't worry though, you're both equally important.

There's no fan ranking, are there never should be.

 

[Wumminator]

Then everyone's important or they're not? You can't have various levels of 'important'.

How would you like to be in the 'important group C', your seats are located at the top of the East stand, while 'important group A' are seated pitch side on the North stand, don't worry though, you're both equally important.

There's no fan ranking, are there never should be.

There is literally a ranking system for where you get to sit in the stadium as a season ticket holder.

 

[Mockney]

There is literally a ranking system for where you get to sit in the stadium as a season ticket holder.

Why are people so fecking weird about this!

We’re genuinely getting close to someone arguing it’s tantamount to putting yellow stars on people

 

[TheReligion]

They've probably took offence to being called less of a fan. I'm not sure why it's even been brought up. Everyone is important.

Those that pack the stadium have to be the most important, but digging out the others is a bit shitty at the same time. We don't need a divide at the moment

I don’t think anyone as said they are less of a fan but there’s some clear explanations here as to why there’s a difference and in terms of the OP, and this thread, I think it’s been explained quite well as to why certain groups are more important compared to the other.

The key is how you contextualise importance and everyone will do that differently.

It does feel like those outside the local, match going, Mancunian category want to make the most noise about this though along with the outrage.

There really needs to be more self awareness and less insecurity though. As you say, not the time to be divided.

 

[djembatheking]

Match going fans are the 12th man. There are many times they have created an incredible atmosphere to keep the team going and spur the players on to a great comeback or hanging on for a result.

 

[Berbasbullet]

Fecking hell, match going fans are important, out of town fans are important. Match going fans who live in the area and go to every game are a little more important (for a whole host of reasons) It really doesn't matter no one is judging people who can't go.

 

[duffer]

Then everyone's important or they're not? You can't have various levels of 'important'.

Of course you can. Of course there are levels.

Casimro is more important to the Man United team than Scot Mctominay. They're both important but one obviously more so.

My little toe is important to me but not as important as my big toe.

The fan who travels home and away, pours thousands into the club and sings all game is more important to Manchester United than some dude who illegally streams the odd game.

Why does it have to be binary?

 

[VP89]

Of course some fans are more important than others.

How can you suggest the the fan who never goes to games but sometimes streams the big games is as important to the club as the person who goes to games home and away, who sings their heart out and who pumps thousands of pounds into the club?

Because its circumstantial too. Fans that go to the stadiums often are in a convenient position to do so.

Also where does this put fans such as myself? I'm on a waiting list for a season ticket. I'm not as important because Im not at the stadium even though I'm trying to be?

Match going fans are representations of the fan base but I don't think we should entertain this idea of prioritising the value within the fan base. You would find fans in Asia who live and breathe United and youl find fans in Manchester who don't represent the club values but go to games for convenience and tradition of going over the years, but not much else.

There are loads of people with season tickets who sell their tickets on too. The amount of times I've seen a tourist next to me at OT, I've lost count. I don't have a problem with it but let's not pretend that the fans with season tickets are all triaged as higher rank than anyone else.

 

[Rayman96]

It is fecking insane to me that we’re now equating respecting the cultural heritage of a football club in somewhat, with outright xenophobia…

I’m fecking left wing and find it nuts, because you’re close to arguing that Manchester United should have next to no cultural identity incase it alienates a fan who was born 8,000 miles away in 2007!

Would you agree at least that people who live in Manchester should probably have more of a say on, say, the redevelopment of the facilities in the place they live, than someone who’s never set foot there? Or in the name of equality can I insist we install a giant statue of Noel Edmonds in your town square?

Again, the insecurity in people about this is mad… It is absolutely fine to not be the greatest and most important fan that ever lived! No one is saying you can’t be a pretty brilliant fan otherwise.

Why would ANY fan have any say on the redevelopment of the facilities unless they literally lived next door and it was somehow affecting them personally.

Why would the redevelopment of Carrington or Old Trafford be a factor for someone who lives more than a mile away?

 

[TheReligion]

Because its circumstantial too. Fans that go to the stadiums often are in a convenient position to do so.

Also where does this put fans such as myself? I'm on a waiting list for a season ticket. I'm not as important because Im not at the stadium even though I'm trying to be?

Match going fans are representations of the fan base but I don't think we should entertain this idea of prioritising the value within the fan base. You would find fans in Asia who live and breathe United and youl find fans in Manchester who don't represent the club values but go to games for convenience and tradition.

You again miss the point. No one is saying you aren’t important but surely, as @duffer has pointed out, you can accept there’s levels. The same goes for the wider connection to the club.

 

[clarkydaz]

Why would ANY fan have any say on the redevelopment of the facilities unless they literally lived next door and it was somehow affecting them personally.

Why would the redevelopment of Carrington or Old Trafford be a factor for someone who lives more than a mile away?

i literally had a questionaiire from the club earlier this season as a ST holder about thoughts/ideas for a new stadium

 

[duffer]

Also where does this put fans such as myself? I'm on a waiting list for a season ticket. I'm not as important because Im not at the stadium even though I'm trying to be?

You are less important to the club than those who got tickets before you and more important than those behind you in the queue (or not in the queue at all).

You're all still important, just not equally.

 

[TheReligion]

Why would ANY fan have any say on the redevelopment of the facilities unless they literally lived next door and it was somehow affecting them personally.

Why would the redevelopment of Carrington or Old Trafford be a factor for someone who lives more than a mile away?

Well for a number of reasons?

Jobs, other development that piggybacks off it, roads, infrastructure, transport, hospitality, tourism..

You can go quite wide with it but ultimately it will impact from the centre outwards in terms of how any changes are felt.