Being A Distant Fan
Is not Fun. At all.
Distant fans are, by my very own definition, those fans who only relate to the club through the matches they see on TV and news they read on the media. Their financial contribution to the club is but the limited purchasing of merchandise, e.g. buying the new jersey annually. Some of them don't even know what Highbury looks like. And I am one of them.
I have never been to Europe, let alone Highbury. My love for football started only ten years ago, thanks to my younger brother. The first match I watched on TV was Serie A's match featuring Juventus and the other side which I totally forgot. At that time in my country, Premiership was second to Serie A. Everyone was talking about del Piero and Super Pippo. The only English club actively reported on the news was obviously Man Utd. Those who dislike Serie A's slow game, they worshipped Cantona.
I am never shy to admit that I am one of those fans who have never seen the pre-Wenger Arsenal play. Although I follow Arsenal a year before Wenger arrived, I only get to watch Arsenal on TV regularly during Wenger's first double season. And I liked what I saw. Adams and co. impressed me with their toughness and Anelka was a great surprise to everyone.
It was such a coincidence that Arsenal won that famous double that year.
Fast forwards to 2006. Yet to attend any Arsenal match, I am still a fan who could only follow his team through TV and media. Yes I get involved in forums and I try to write my own blog but that's all.
People would think that this is such a cheap and easy way to follow a team. Monthly ESPN subscription is much much cheaper than match tickets. And when the team is losing or playing badly, you don't have to suffer the mocking from the opposition fans. While the fans have to brave the rain and travel across cities and countries to follow the team, we distant fans only need to have the remote control with us.
You know what? I agree! Indeed it is much easier to follow your team that way. But guess what?! It is not the most satisfying way. And it is not as if we would like to follow our team this way.
It hurts therefore when you got shot down by the fans who claim themselves to be the true fans with season tickets to show and impressive knowledge of Arsenal Football Club to prove and better still, they stay next to Highbury. I don't blame them. I think that is very human. You would feel that you have better right to have your say because you of all those sacrifices and geographical association. I can only regret that Singapore isn't located next to London.
Sometimes I began to wonder myself whether I have the right to critize the team when they play badly. I give nothing to the club so how could I critize the manager and how could I got angry with Cygan? But in the end I decide to carry on with writing my thought here because I care. I would still write about Arsenal and I would still support the club even if Wenger goes, TH goes, and we turn into midtable team.
And I grow to accept all these. It's not that bad anyway as there are some fans who welcome these distant fans as part of them. I would definitely like to meet up with them and walk alongside them to the new stadium. I had this crazy plan to book a plane ticket to London and try to attend one of the remaining games at Highbury but I guess I can never get a ticket.
I have said so much and yet, all those are not the major reasons why I say that being a distant fan sucks. The most important reason for that is the fact that we can never experience what you guys experienced when you saw in flesh the game in which the mighty Arsenal fought hard and prevailed against Juventus. Such a magical night. Or the night when they battled out the 0-0 draw with Real. And all the other historical nights Arsenal have had. TV can show you replays but it can never gives you the atmosphere even if you get yourselves the most advance and expensive TV set. We can shout like crazy in the pub or living room but the feeling is different. It is not even close.
I envy each and everyone of the gooners who have faithfully attend Arsenal's matches and sing on top of their lung week in week out. It makes me proud when I listen to the noise in the TV. I am dying to be part of those noise. Believe me you wouldn't want to be a distant fan.
Distant fans are, by my very own definition, those fans who only relate to the club through the matches they see on TV and news they read on the media. Their financial contribution to the club is but the limited purchasing of merchandise, e.g. buying the new jersey annually. Some of them don't even know what Highbury looks like. And I am one of them.
I have never been to Europe, let alone Highbury. My love for football started only ten years ago, thanks to my younger brother. The first match I watched on TV was Serie A's match featuring Juventus and the other side which I totally forgot. At that time in my country, Premiership was second to Serie A. Everyone was talking about del Piero and Super Pippo. The only English club actively reported on the news was obviously Man Utd. Those who dislike Serie A's slow game, they worshipped Cantona.
I am never shy to admit that I am one of those fans who have never seen the pre-Wenger Arsenal play. Although I follow Arsenal a year before Wenger arrived, I only get to watch Arsenal on TV regularly during Wenger's first double season. And I liked what I saw. Adams and co. impressed me with their toughness and Anelka was a great surprise to everyone.
It was such a coincidence that Arsenal won that famous double that year.
Fast forwards to 2006. Yet to attend any Arsenal match, I am still a fan who could only follow his team through TV and media. Yes I get involved in forums and I try to write my own blog but that's all.
People would think that this is such a cheap and easy way to follow a team. Monthly ESPN subscription is much much cheaper than match tickets. And when the team is losing or playing badly, you don't have to suffer the mocking from the opposition fans. While the fans have to brave the rain and travel across cities and countries to follow the team, we distant fans only need to have the remote control with us.
You know what? I agree! Indeed it is much easier to follow your team that way. But guess what?! It is not the most satisfying way. And it is not as if we would like to follow our team this way.
It hurts therefore when you got shot down by the fans who claim themselves to be the true fans with season tickets to show and impressive knowledge of Arsenal Football Club to prove and better still, they stay next to Highbury. I don't blame them. I think that is very human. You would feel that you have better right to have your say because you of all those sacrifices and geographical association. I can only regret that Singapore isn't located next to London.
Sometimes I began to wonder myself whether I have the right to critize the team when they play badly. I give nothing to the club so how could I critize the manager and how could I got angry with Cygan? But in the end I decide to carry on with writing my thought here because I care. I would still write about Arsenal and I would still support the club even if Wenger goes, TH goes, and we turn into midtable team.
And I grow to accept all these. It's not that bad anyway as there are some fans who welcome these distant fans as part of them. I would definitely like to meet up with them and walk alongside them to the new stadium. I had this crazy plan to book a plane ticket to London and try to attend one of the remaining games at Highbury but I guess I can never get a ticket.
I have said so much and yet, all those are not the major reasons why I say that being a distant fan sucks. The most important reason for that is the fact that we can never experience what you guys experienced when you saw in flesh the game in which the mighty Arsenal fought hard and prevailed against Juventus. Such a magical night. Or the night when they battled out the 0-0 draw with Real. And all the other historical nights Arsenal have had. TV can show you replays but it can never gives you the atmosphere even if you get yourselves the most advance and expensive TV set. We can shout like crazy in the pub or living room but the feeling is different. It is not even close.
I envy each and everyone of the gooners who have faithfully attend Arsenal's matches and sing on top of their lung week in week out. It makes me proud when I listen to the noise in the TV. I am dying to be part of those noise. Believe me you wouldn't want to be a distant fan.
posted by phoenix chix at 1:01 PM
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