The Long Journey Of Local Football Fans On A Matchday

[Crista Carrera]

Forget about the players, coaches or even board members. The football supporter is the most required feature of every single club.

For the past year and a half, lots of fans were not able to watch their team directly. As stadiums slowly reopened their doors, it is a relevant reminder about the force that the common fan still has. You might have got used to the artificial sounds beamed into an empty arena. But you cannot mistake or exchange the sound of football fans in stadiums. Each moan is increased. Every song instantly taken up by thousands of enthusiastic people hungry for a goal. The fan has the power to spur their team on to even greater heights. A raucous atmosphere can frighten even the ideal teams worldwide. The owner of AC Milan will no doubt look out with pride at the sight of huge banners and flags waving during the game. Even as the game becomes hugely commercialised, the relationship between owners, footballers and football fans worldwide remains such an important component of the game right now.

Football has become a truly global sport in the modern age. The top football teams will have millions of supporters from every area of the planet. Entities like the owner of Man City will spend tremendous transfers on players from different nations. Advertisers will spend great sums as the live match is aired to millions of homes around the world. In lots of ways, clubs have become international brands which depend as much on global football fans as their local fanbase. But many people will travel great distances to watch a local match played out on the weekend. Irrespective of streaming platforms and various other interactive features, nothing beats visiting a match personally. The crowd makes up all manner of fun and noisy chants to support their team. You will observe every single slide tackle and shot live. You will see each and every piece of the action happen direct in front of you.

There is no straight forward definition of a football fan in the present day. 30 years earlier, you would usually have a few thousand people travel up to see their team from the terraces. Just two of the four stands would probably be open. You might see muddy pitches, nameless jerseys and tackles that would immediately get a player sent off ten times over by contemporary expectations. Naturally, the sport has progressed ever since. Football teams are large brands constructed on tv rights, sponsorship deals and mega-stores. For people going to a match, there are a few crucial rites to do. Get a pint or a pie two or three hours before kick-off. Wear your jerseys and wave your flags. Never be found dead in a half-and-half scarf. As everybody from the fan of Hartlepool to the owner of Liverpool FC appreciates, make as much noise as you are able to!