Liverpool fans

[Sapperclaret73]

Seen them at the Turf a few times now over the years, never really been impressed by them and same again today. They’re supposed to have a good reputation, no at patch on Manchester United.

[Vintage Claret]

Hardly knew they were there until the the 94th/95th minute

[Bow]

I thought the same today.

They were quiet at Anfield when we played them under Kompany too

[Dark Cloud]

There were lots of them in The Bridge before the game, but not one was actually from Liverpool it appeared which seemed to play along with the narrative of plastic fans from random parts of the country latching onto and "supporting" the more successful teams. I was far from impressed tbf.

[warksclaret]

Liverpool have a national fan base from the days of Shankly, Paisley, Benitez, Keagan, Gerrard Rush, Fowler, Toshack, etc etc

[No Ney Never]

Only sing when they're winning.

[Dark Cloud]

Liverpool have a national fan base from the days of Shankly, Paisley, Benitez, Keagan, Gerrard Rush, Fowler, Toshack, etc etc

You mean people from all over the country who wanted to latch onto a winning, trophy collecting club, even though it had no relevance to them, their family or there geographic??

[warksclaret]

You mean people from all over the country who wanted to latch onto a winning, trophy collecting club, even though it had no relevance to them, their family or there geographic??

Agreed -though I have to be very careful as I have never lived north of Leicester but supported our club through good and bad times

[wilks_bfc]

Other than the 20min chant for Jota, you wouldn’t have known they were there for the the other 94 minutes

[Darnhill Claret]

What does it matter where fans of any team are from, or are we just envious that the 'bigger' clubs have more fans from outside their individual catchment areas.

[Dark Cloud]

Agreed -though I have to be very careful as I have never lived north of Leicester but supported our club through good and bad times

And there's the important bit Warks, "bad times". We've had plenty and so have most clubs. These people who claim to be "football fans" and have randomly latched onto the most successful teams in the country are basically parasites in my view. I have absolute respect for the fans of Sheffield Wednesday and Sheffield Utd currently, but zero respect for the plastics in The Bridge.

[Row x]

And there's the important bit Warks, "bad times". We've had plenty and so have most clubs. These people who claim to be "football fans" and have randomly latched onto the most successful teams in the country are basically parasites in my view. I have absolute respect for the fans of Sheffield Wednesday and Sheffield Utd currently, but zero respect for the plastics in The Bridge.

Do you think all Sheffield fans come from the town?
If one of them suddenly became successful, would all the non Sheffield based fans be plastics?

[JohnMac]

A lot of these 'plastics' travel week in week out to watch their team, adopted or not. Also they will have similar loyalty schemes to get tickets for away games meaning they will have watched their club for years.

I lived away from the area for over 46 years but watched games where and when I could. I don't have a 'Burnley accent' despite going to school here in the 1960's.

[Dark Cloud]

Do you think all Sheffield fans come from the town?
If one of them suddenly became successful, would all the non Sheffield based fans be plastics?

No, I don't think all Sheffield fans come from Sheffield and I'm well aware not all Burnley fans come from Burnley, but those fans of Sheffield, Burnley or whoever aren't following Burnley or latched onto Burnley because they're the most successful team in the country. How do all these people from all over the country become supporters of Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea etc?? It's simple. Because they chose to follow the most successful teams. The easy choice. Try following Accy Stanley!

[Goody1975]

A straw poll

If you meet a stranger and they say they follow one of the big sides, do you initially show them less respect than someone who follows a less fashionable/successful club?

Especially if that club is Manchester United or Liverpool.

I certainly do.

[JoeAM89]

Always the quietest fans at the Turf

[Dark Cloud]

A straw poll

If you meet a stranger and they say they follow one of the big sides, do you initially show them less respect than someone who follows a less fashionable/successful club?

Especially if that club is Manchester United or Liverpool.

I certainly do.

Yes! Although, if that person happens to hail from said area and actually had "history" or connections with said area/club then I'd cut them some slack, but generally speaking in answer to your question, I give them little respect because they are basically glory hunters in my eyes and not in any way real fans. Just hangers on.

[Vegas Claret]

you only have to listen to people like Gareth from the Spirit of Shankly organisation to hear they are far from impressed with who gets tickets

[cricketfield73]

A straw poll

If you meet a stranger and they say they follow one of the big sides, do you initially show them less respect than someone who follows a less fashionable/successful club?

Especially if that club is Manchester United or Liverpool.

I certainly do.

100%.
If I'm ever away in holiday and see someone in a 'big 5' shirt then I just pay them no attention. See a bloke in a Port Vale shirt as I once did and you're pretty certain to be able to enjoy some proper football talk and a few beers with a genuine fan.

[It Is What It Is]

MOD: Appalling post removed and poster warned

[Somethingfishy]

A straw poll

If you meet a stranger and they say they follow one of the big sides, do you initially show them less respect than someone who follows a less fashionable/successful club?

Especially if that club is Manchester United or Liverpool.

I certainly do.

Yes. Most definitely.

I got talking to a guy on holiday and asked where he was from. He said Lincoln. "ahh an Imps fan then?"..expecting some banter about their cup game against us. "No" he said quite indignantly, "Liverpool". So i asked him if he had moved there or had family etc. He said he'd supported them since he was a kid because they were the best team. He'd watched them play about 4 times. The football chat came to an end there despite his attempts. I couldn't take him seriously.

[Claret86]

A straw poll

If you meet a stranger and they say they follow one of the big sides, do you initially show them less respect than someone who follows a less fashionable/successful club?

Especially if that club is Manchester United or Liverpool.

I certainly do.

100% I struggle to take them seriously. They might as well support Real Madrid.

[Commy]

A few years ago I bumped into someone with a Burnley shirt on at a fuel station in Taunton. He was from Exeter and had started supporting Burnley in the 60s because they were the top team at the time.

[cricketfield73]

Yes. Most definitely.

I got talking to a guy on holiday and asked where he was from. He said Lincoln. "ahh an Imps fan then?"..expecting some banter about their cup game against us. "No" he said quite indignantly, "Liverpool". So i asked him if he had moved there or had family etc. He said he'd supported them since he was a kid because they were the best team. He'd watched them play about 4 times. The football chat came to an end there despite his attempts. I couldn't take him seriously.

I definitely hear you on that. I was once in a bar in Spain and a guy came in wearing a Liverpool shirt and sat on the next table. I could tell from his accent that he was from round this way so for devilment I asked if he was from Liverpool. "Yes, I am. Well, just outside" he told me, "oh right, whereabouts is that?" I asked. "Rawtenstall" he said.

[Loyalclaret]

Families with shirts over their jumpers asking stewards outside the club shop where the James Hargreaves was at 1:40pm

[jrgbfc]

When we play down South there's always a few characters in the away end who look like they've never been to Burnley in their life. Probably started supporting us in the 60s because we were one of the best teams, or for some obscure reason.

[Tall Paul]

When we play down South there's always a few characters in the away end who look like they've never been to Burnley in their life. Probably started supporting us in the 60s because we were one of the best teams, or for some obscure reason.

What do people who have never been to Burnley in their life look like?

[Dyched]

When you watch your rather expensive team struggle to get past a plucky 10 man Burnley there’s not much to sing about. Especially when you realise it’s Sunday afternoon and ya mams at home preparing boiled rat for Sunday lunch.

[martin_p]

And there's the important bit Warks, "bad times". We've had plenty and so have most clubs. These people who claim to be "football fans" and have randomly latched onto the most successful teams in the country are basically parasites in my view. I have absolute respect for the fans of Sheffield Wednesday and Sheffield Utd currently, but zero respect for the plastics in The Bridge.

And in our bad times we attracted sub 5000 gates (some significantly below 5k). So there’s either approximately 13-14000 new fans born since the bad old days or we have a fair proportion of ‘parasites’ ourselves. People support football teams for all sorts of reasons, none are more valid than another. If people are paying their hard earned cash to watch their team then fair play to them I say.

[forzagranata]

There's a massive difference between the wonderful, exotic world of the non-local-born Burnley fan, with their always interesting stories as to how they became a Claret and the kind of plastic glory-hunters who support the likes of Liverpool.

[Row x]

No, I don't think all Sheffield fans come from Sheffield and I'm well aware not all Burnley fans come from Burnley, but those fans of Sheffield, Burnley or whoever aren't following Burnley or latched onto Burnley because they're the most successful team in the country. How do all these people from all over the country become supporters of Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea etc?? It's simple. Because they chose to follow the most successful teams. The easy choice. Try following Accy Stanley!

How do you know those fans only latched on because the team were successful? They could have generations of family who supported Liverpool
Those clubs you mention are big cities, where people move from all over the world...the same number dont move from Accrington

[Row x]

There's a massive difference between the wonderful, exotic world of the non-local-born Burnley fan, with their always interesting stories as to how they became a Claret and the kind of plastic glory-hunters who support the likes of Liverpool.

Have you spoken to these plastics, to see why they support Liverpool or other big clubs?....or just a guess?
I started supporting Burnley in the late 60's.....why?..because they were successful and I had family who supported them.....never lived, or worked in Burnley in my life....is that ok?

[Clovius Boofus]

The stuff that people obsess about on here.

[Row x]

Thinking deeper, perhaps history of supporting a team for years doesn't matter to clubs anymore

Somebody could have followed Burnley for 5 years, and still have the same "loyalty " bonus as someone who'd followed the club through thick and thin for 70 odd years.

[pureclaret]

What do people who have never been to Burnley in their life look like?

only 4 fingers and a thumb on each hand and dont talk with an accent exceedingly rare

[Dark Cloud]

Have you spoken to these plastics, to see why they support Liverpool or other big clubs?....or just a guess?
I started supporting Burnley in the late 60's.....why?..because they were successful and I had family who supported them.....never lived, or worked in Burnley in my life....is that ok?

Yep, that's fine!

[brunlea99]

To highlight the issues "smaller: clubs like ours have to face financially against the fanbase of the top six clubs, I can give you 2 examples.

About 15 years ago we were on holiday in Bangkok about a month before the season started. Liverpool were visiting to play a pre season friendly. For days before, almost every lead story on TV news was about the upcoming game. Hundreds of Thais on the streets in their Liverpool shirts. When the Liverpool team arrived at airport their was a crowd of 15,000 to greet them.

About 7 years ago we were visiting my wife's younger brother in Co Cork. Her nephew (about 12 then) was an avid United fan but had never seen them live. As a treat for him, his Dad got a ticket for him to watch Unt play a pre season friendly against Athletico Madrid at Croke Park in Dublin and I went along. The ground was about three quarters full of all Irish Utd fans. The vast majority were wearing the then current Utd top. It was surreal to see tens of thousands of them of all ages with their own names on the back of their shirts.

These teams make millions every year from overseas "supporters".

[CoolClaret]

If everyone just supported 6 or so clubs, then there wouldn't be a league system.

Personally, I think those who 'support' a club just because they are successful with zero real affinity to the area are incredibly lame, and for me, it says enough that I need to know about them - sheep.

[IanMcL]

No, I don't think all Sheffield fans come from Sheffield and I'm well aware not all Burnley fans come from Burnley, but those fans of Sheffield, Burnley or whoever aren't following Burnley or latched onto Burnley because they're the most successful team in the country. How do all these people from all over the country become supporters of Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea etc?? It's simple. Because they chose to follow the most successful teams. The easy choice. Try following Accy Stanley!

At the 2009 play off final, I was on a train from Salisburyto Waterloo. Clarets throughout the train. Not one Sheff U fan.

At Waterloo, packed station with many Clarets. No Sheffield.

[claretburns]

Thinking deeper, perhaps history of supporting a team for years doesn't matter to clubs anymore

Somebody could have followed Burnley for 5 years, and still have the same "loyalty " bonus as someone who'd followed the club through thick and thin for 70 odd years.

Clubs are actively seeking out the fans who will only attend once or twice in their life and treat the day as a tourist attraction as they'll be willing to spend more money on merchandise/stadium tours etc than the general local fans who has supported the team for years.

Give it a few years and the likes of Anfield, Old Trafford, The Emirates etc will only have 10% capacity of season ticket holders and the rest will be tourists paying a huge fee for a ticket and buying all the keyrings and fridge magnets in the club shop.

[Jimmymaccer]

In the JML, on the concourse before KO there appeared to be a mum, and two teenage kids, all in Liverpool shirts, scarves and hats. Personally wouldn’t have bothered me if they were sat next to me but was just surprised how they’d got the tickets, but more importantly how they’d managed to get in, without being challenged for their own sake/safety. Someone did get a steward, who seemed to get them and look after them / trying to see what to do with them. Not sure what happened as my own requirement for a beer took over as a priority!

[appleton]

I got a lift to the Turf from a Liverpool fan for the match. (I'm not very well at the moment.) We both enjoyed a pint in the bridge before the game and sat together in the JHU as he was able to get a ticket through the exchange after being allocated a clarets number by an understanding ticket office.
He has a strong Liverpool accent but a terrific understanding of the game. His comments were enjoyed by all the surrounding Burnley fans.
It made me wonder why those of us with advanced years can't always get along and enjoy a good game of football together?

[Row x]

I got a lift to the Turf from a Liverpool fan for the match. (I'm not very well at the moment.) We both enjoyed a pint in the bridge before the game and sat together in the JHU as he was able to get a ticket through the exchange after being allocated a clarets number by an understanding ticket office.
He has a strong Liverpool accent but a terrific understanding of the game. His comments were enjoyed by all the surrounding Burnley fans.
It made me wonder why those of us with advanced years can't always get along and enjoy a good game of football together?

I love that fans can get along, no problem and he could sit next to me
But I fail to grasp the understanding ticket office bit...why was he granted a clarets number?

[karatekid]

I watched the game in a bar in Tenerife. Not bragging. Anyway there were quite a few people in wearing Liverpool shirts and about 6 clarets in total. The Liverpool lot were very quiet during the game whilst we cheered every clearance and chance we had. Only one of the Liverpool lot had a scouse accent as far as I could hear during short conversations with them.
Anyway when they got awarded the peno they all jumped up and one guy said to another guy “ Who normally takes the penalties?”

Once MS had scored they celebrated like they had just won the champions league final. The guy with the scouse accent tapped me on the shoulder and said “ Never in doubt” with a huge hint of sarcasm and relief. Anyway a guy with a brand new ManUtd shirt on who came in towards the end of the game to watch the Derby said to me “You lot were really unlucky, that’s the second time in two games, I hate them scouse lot” in his easily identifiable broad Essex accent.

[timshorts]

And they are back in the news again, this time for abusing athletic Madrid manager and staff.....

[Row x]

I watched the game in a bar in Tenerife. Not bragging. Anyway there were quite a few people in wearing Liverpool shirts and about 6 clarets in total. The Liverpool lot were very quiet during the game whilst we cheered every clearance and chance we had. Only one of the Liverpool lot had a scouse accent as far as I could hear during short conversations with them.
Anyway when they got awarded the peno they all jumped up and one guy said to another guy “ Who normally takes the penalties?”

Once MS had scored they celebrated like they had just won the champions league final. The guy with the scouse accent tapped me on the shoulder and said “ Never in doubt” with a huge hint of sarcasm and relief. Anyway a guy with a brand new ManUtd shirt on who came in towards the end of the game to watch the Derby said to me “You lot were really unlucky, that’s the second time in two games, I hate them scouse lot” in his easily identifiable broad Essex accent.

On another thread I said i wasn't watching the game because the only option was a bar full of scousers, and your story backs up my decision
Last night I was in a bar, again abroad, when my wife, who knows nowt about football asked who the gooby ones were watching footie on the tv.... we left

[Sapperclaret73]

I got a lift to the Turf from a Liverpool fan for the match. (I'm not very well at the moment.) We both enjoyed a pint in the bridge before the game and sat together in the JHU as he was able to get a ticket through the exchange after being allocated a clarets number by an understanding ticket office.
He has a strong Liverpool accent but a terrific understanding of the game. His comments were enjoyed by all the surrounding Burnley fans.
It made me wonder why those of us with advanced years can't always get along and enjoy a good game of football together?

Firstly, I hope you’re on the mend.

Being able to sit with opposing fans like this is a good experience when done right. I have done it numerous times at City and UTD with no problems and handshakes at full time.

Sadly there’s too many like the “Everton type” do it and have no class.