I watched us for 2 years at Loftus Road. It wasn't The Cottage, but at least it was Fulham. I know some fans who just found it too painful to watch the lads at The Loftodome, and refused to go. Some went to away matches, but not home matches.
Now I feel that I am a better 'fan' because I stuck with my team, and gave them my hard earned cash when they needed it most. I'm just interested as to who from here went, and who boycotted those matches.........and would you argue otherwise, that YOU were the more loyal fans?
I did but this is a pathetic pointless post :doh:
before my time,but does that make me any "less" of a fan?
I don't think so :dft012:
Quote from: JBH on September 22, 2010, 09:52:36 PM
I did but this is a pathetic pointless post :doh:
I don't know about pathetic, but I have to agree it is a bit of a pointless post as it is a time I have wanted to forget for a long time. Sitting in those urine infested seats trying to justify to myself why I had paid for season tickets was outrageous when moneywise I was extremely hard up. Not to mention the sh1t pub outside the ground. And then living under the fear that we would build a joint ground. Oh what a horror...It doesn't make me a better fan though, me thinks
hmm seems like cottage corner.
Quote from: JBH on September 22, 2010, 09:52:36 PM
I did but this is a pathetic pointless post :doh:
I'm sorry if it came over that way, and it's obviously only intended for fans that were around to make that decision back then. I was hoping to encourage a discussion about whether it was better to force change by boycotting, or tow the party line. Should we be blindly loyal, or is it better to stand outside and protest. What would make you stop supporting the team?
Never mind, I'll go back to reading the more 'insightful' posts that are simply updating this evening's scores, even though they are also on the T.V., the Radio, text updates etc. :dft012:
Heh, hum.
I was almost guilty of just reading the thread title (which has been played out ad nauseum on 'Cottage Corner' in their tireless and tiresome search for the only 3 'real' Fulham fans left alive!) Scrumpy but reading your post itself you raise an interesting question.
Its easy to say with hindsight but support rather than boycott was the best move in the end. As Tony Gilroy said the other day, there was a fair amount to like about the Loftadrome in terms of atmosphere and football watching experience. Ok the seats are packed in tighter than non-neanderthals can sit comfortably in but there were worse alternatives.
It was kind of like visiting your Dad in prison but it made you appreciate all you stood to lose.
Quote from: Scrumpy on September 22, 2010, 10:04:53 PM
Quote from: JBH on September 22, 2010, 09:52:36 PM
I did but this is a pathetic pointless post :doh:
I'm sorry if it came over that way, and it's obviously only intended for fans that were around to make that decision back then. I was hoping to encourage a discussion about whether it was better to force change by boycotting, or tow the party line. Should we be blindly loyal, or is it better to stand outside and protest. What would make you stop supporting the team?
Never mind, I'll go back to reading the more 'insightful' posts that are simply updating this evening's scores, even though they are also on the T.V., the Radio, text updates etc. :dft012:
Heh, hum.
Don't know whether I'd phrase it as being loyal or not being loyal, but I definitely think it's an interesting question.
As you say - be loyal cos it's
our club etc etc or do as the continentals do (e.g. boycott derby matches) and tell the club where to go when we as fans get a bad deal.
My own view is that we probably are
too loyal - why should I fork out £500 (to sit in the Hammy end) or £700 (to sit middle of Johnny Haynes stand) or £40 to see flippin' Spurs when I could have a good seat season ticket for a Champions League winning side like Lyon or Real Madrid for £100-200? Of course we do, and I'm sitting here typing in a £45 kit. I also paid £20 to see England after one of the most unenjoyable World Cups (from an England fans view) for ages.
Well worth a read:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2005/sep/02/sport.blueprintforabetterfootball (http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2005/sep/02/sport.blueprintforabetterfootball)
"He may look like an idiot and talk like an idiot but don't let that fool you. He really is an idiot" - Groucho Marx.
Football fans are idiots. Or, to rephrase that sentence using less incendiary language: when it comes to football, intelligent people act stupid. And yes, that probably includes you.Gah, what do I know - after the last few matches I feel a bit sick of football, I probably need a few weeks off. For what it's worth, the Loftus Road stuff was before my time. But I think I probably would have gone.
...I am at a loss why this could be thought as a pointless post Jezamy Bates? Thought provoking and a subject of intelligent debate to the posters of this MB is the likely outcome as it is 99% of the time.
Regarding the boycott of the loftadrome, I did not go to any games until Mr Fayed had written that we would return to Craven Cottage, as soon as he did I started to go to that dump to watch Fulham.
I didn't feel I need to defend my position after being an attending Fulham fan since 1967, I genuinly beleive that we were being 'sold down the river' and to me Fulham is Craven Cottage, and Craven Cottage is Fulham...
Quote from: LBNo11 on September 22, 2010, 10:32:41 PM
...I am at a loss why this could be thought as a pointless post Jezamy Bates? Thought provoking and a subject of intelligent debate to the posters of this MB is the likely outcome as it is 99% of the time.
Regarding the boycott of the loftadrome, I did not go to any games until Mr Fayed had written that we would return to Craven Cottage, as soon as he did I started to go to that dump to watch Fulham.
I didn't feel I need to defend my position after being an attending Fulham fan since 1967, I genuinly beleive that we were being 'sold down the river' and to me Fulham is Craven Cottage, and Craven Cottage is Fulham...
Thanks LB. So you would only watch Fulham somewhere other than Craven Cottage if you had absolute assurances that we would return?
(I liked WNs analogy about visitting your Dad in prison, by the way.)
..."So you would only watch Fulham somewhere other than Craven Cottage if you had absolute assurances that we would return?"
Scrumpy, it is a dilemma that I faced once and hope not to ever again. Craven Cottage was modified as an all seater stadium to now hold 25,700(?) and only now are we starting to fill it regularly. With some sympathetic and clever architecture we may increase the capacity to over 30,000.
With a club of our resources, and very local competition for fans in all leagues, a larger stadium elsewhere could be the death knell for the club if we dropped out of the top-flight.
For those reasons, as well as the historical ones for me Fulham is Craven Cottage and Craven Cottage is Fulham...
To be honest I did go to Lofts Rd, but it was very handy for me as I was working in uxbridge Rd at the time, so as I left work on a saturday afternoon (3pm)I popped round the corner to see Fulham. I was very happy to return to the Cottage, and would rather not go back to those dark days. If anything it made me appreciate what we have at the Cottage even more.
Dude, you stuck by your team when they needed it and that is very much to be applauded,however we really cannot claim to have what could be called " glory hunting fans" as they all go down the road,if your a Fulham fan you are because you love the club
as I've said before I'm not from London so I have no affiliation to the area,so why am I here?
I was recommended by a Chelsea fan(condescending but still) and I fell in love with the team,the place,my fellow fans-the whole old school vibe,and if any idiot says we are not a passionate bunch they didn't hear the Hammersmith roar against Juve or Hamburg(stand up if you still believe :Sparkyticus: )
This is my club and god forbid we ever go down I'll still be here,Fulham is my team and that is indeed that.
Saying things about who is a real fan and who isn't is really dangerous,how about the guys in the States and our Aussies and others?????? my rule of thumb is this-if the club is truly in your heart,it matters to you as much as anything in your life does, well your family,your in-if you get to every game every season,if you get to one,if you tune in on the internet at stupid o'clock in the morning if this club matters to you,well for me,your as much as a supporter as any of us :59:
just my two pence :clap_hands: :clap_hands:
yep i went to laughtarse road to watch fulham...hated every nano-second of going to that plague riddled hole...but as i said...went to watch fulham fc
Not a pointless post at all (perhaps badly worded though Scrumpy). I went, but originally i did think about boycotting, and came really close to doing it. For me it's so much easier to get to Laugharse rd, only 20 minutes on the tube to Shite City, but i was over the moon to go back to CC. As it happens i got nicked at home to Newcastle for drinking in the stand, the old Bill tried to get me banned, but after numerous court appearances and probably many thousands of pounds it got thrown out of court as they didn't turn up one day and the judge got the hump.
And no i dont count myself as a better fan for going, i actually admire the people who did stay away as a form of protest, i dont think i could have brought myself to go to a half empty Scumford Bridge if that was the way it turned out. I do actually count myself as a crap supporter now, cant believe i done all the sh1t stuff, but now think of the lack of money and stay away.
Sorry but a post about loyalty IS pathetic. If you live miles away and have a job that makes you work Saturdays etc etc. Am I a better fan because I travelled from Scotland on a Friday Night to Brighton and then back up to Fulham to watch Rochdale. I bet there were fans who didn't turn up who lived around the corner.
So there are many reasons I refused to go to Loftus Road having had a season ticket for for twenty years, failed relationships because of my obsession, failed jobs because I wanted to watch Fulham instead of work.
No people who went to Loftus ROad are no better and no worse than those who didn't. A fan is a fan is a fan. An American fan who has never watched a live game is as important as a fan than anybody else. Loyalty posts ARE simply divisive. Although I defend your right to make it. :005:
I agree 100% Sorry Scrumpy, I don't want to cause any offence, but this sort of thread is one of the prime reasons I left the OFAL (apart from being banned, of course!). Seriously, there was always loads of threads saying people couldn't say they were real supporters unless they had been at a certain game, been supporting for a certain amount of time etc etc etc. No one can tell me I don't love this daft club, and I would NEVER EVER presume to do the same. All the best to you, Scrumpy.
Quote from: manxman on September 22, 2010, 09:57:47 PM
hmm seems like cottage corner.
Plus one. Lighthouse, you put it so much better than I did! :54:
Quote from: Lighthouse on September 23, 2010, 12:05:51 AM
Sorry but a post about loyalty IS pathetic. If you live miles away and have a job that makes you work Saturdays etc etc. Am I a better fan because I travelled from Scotland on a Friday Night to Brighton and then back up to Fulham to watch Rochdale. I bet there were fans who didn't turn up who lived around the corner.
So there are many reasons I refused to go to Loftus Road having had a season ticket for for twenty years, failed relationships because of my obsession, failed jobs because I wanted to watch Fulham instead of work.
No people who went to Loftus ROad are no better and no worse than those who didn't. A fan is a fan is a fan. An American fan who has never watched a live game is as important as a fan than anybody else. Loyalty posts ARE simply divisive. Although I defend your right to make it. :005:
Quote from: Lighthouse on September 23, 2010, 12:05:51 AM
An American fan who has never watched a live game is as important as a fan than anybody else.
I've watched a 'Live game' on TV...in HD! The Cottage 'looked' magnificent! :doh:
I know, I know :yellow:
Part of the reason my signature mentions "Following" is because I wasn't born Fulham and I can't attend games...I chose Fulham. The way I figure it though, is if I'm still around after 5 years, then I think I could justifiably be called a Supporter.
Quote from: Lighthouse on September 23, 2010, 12:05:51 AM
Sorry but a post about loyalty IS pathetic. If you live miles away and have a job that makes you work Saturdays etc etc. Am I a better fan because I travelled from Scotland on a Friday Night to Brighton and then back up to Fulham to watch Rochdale. I bet there were fans who didn't turn up who lived around the corner.
So there are many reasons I refused to go to Loftus Road having had a season ticket for for twenty years, failed relationships because of my obsession, failed jobs because I wanted to watch Fulham instead of work.
No people who went to Loftus ROad are no better and no worse than those who didn't. A fan is a fan is a fan. An American fan who has never watched a live game is as important as a fan than anybody else. Loyalty posts ARE simply divisive. Although I defend your right to make it. :005:
I'm with yer on the lost jobs Lighthouse, Fulham have cost me a few jobs, especially a very very cushy number at Ryder truck Rental. Good money and it was job and knock and it was a disaster if i went over 5 hours. Sorry i was collecting paper from reclycling bins in a hiab truck. But i'd come back and they'd say Spence can you collect a truck from Watford? Fulham? Heathrow? It'd take me an hour and a half,but i'd get 4 hours overtime at a minimum at £26 an hour, and that would happen at least three days a week. Anyhow long story short,I skived off early and knocked a few jobs to go toLiverpool when we lost 3-1??? Peschy wonder goal, the new Qpha boss who i trained up,then fell out with found out and sacked me. By the way anyone know Mark Osbourne TA, thought he was billy big bollacks, till he got called up for Iraq, then bottled it.Still at Ryders Park Royal i believe. WAs sitting opposite me at Qpha away and wouldn't even look in my direction.
Steve, like it or not, you're a Fulham supporter!!
Quote from: Steve_orino on September 23, 2010, 12:22:53 AM
Quote from: Lighthouse on September 23, 2010, 12:05:51 AM
An American fan who has never watched a live game is as important as a fan than anybody else.
I've watched a 'Live game' on TV...in HD! The Cottage 'looked' magnificent! :doh:
I know, I know :yellow:
Part of the reason my signature mentions "Following" is because I wasn't born Fulham and I can't attend games...I chose Fulham. The way I figure it though, is if I'm still around after 5 years, then I think I could justifiably be called a Supporter.
I must admit I went to Loftus Road 2 or 3 times in the 70s. When Luton were in the lower divisions and playing up north or out in the West Country, I'd go to the smoke or to Ipswich to watch top flight football. I saw at least one match at every First Division ground there EXCEPT for the dog track. I also saw a match at The Old Den [still have nightmares about that one], and at the Cottage. I can't remember whether the trip to the river was for a Luton away or just to see the place.
While most of the matches I watched in London were in the Norf London Library [easy half empty tube from Cockfosters both going and coming], I quite enjoyed Loftus Road. Of course, this was almost 40 years ago. As I remember, during my ONLY season as a Luton supporter in the top flight, the only London trip I took was to see The Hatters at WHL.
And, like Mr. Orino, I'm a real Fulham supporter and a club member, who only saw Fulham @ Loftus on the telly. Glad we're home now, and I'll be making a pilgrimage one fine day.
I went there to see the mighty whites...
Having been in my blood since 1974 its not something you can give up just like that, and to be honest the thought of not going never really entered my mind. I had to go.
The whole loyalty thing is weird for me.
Football is a hobby. A leisure pursuit. A diversion from life's problems - heath, family, finances etc.
It's not real life.
I go to football because I like to and Fulham's my club. I forget my problems at football. I reckon it's good for me to do so. So when the club moved to Loftus Road I kept going because the alternative was not to. Others opinions are and were of no relevance to my decision.
I shared the very real doubts and fears as to what MAF's plans for the club were. I was inclined to trust him but was by no means sure that that was the right call.
A permanent ground share at Loftus Road would have been massively detrimental to the club but that was never the stated intention. And had it happened my choice would have been to accept it or stop watching Fulham. I'm glad I wasn't faced with that choice.
I went to Subbuteo Stadium and also back in the days when we only got 4000 or so at the Cottage, but I don't think that makes me any more loyal than someone who has just started supporting the club but goes to every game they can.
Yes I was there, though whether that makes me a better fan is open to debate. At that time, I was working on the Information Booth, which they transfered to Loftus Road. It did'nt work oit so they scrapped it. As for pubs in the area, we, along with many others, joined the local residents club and got cheap beer and somewhere to sit.
I went to Loftus road including our first heady days in Europe, bet some have forgotten that and the huge trophy that now sits hidden behind an egg cup in the trophy cabinet, I am sorry I don't see the fact I went makes me a better fan than those who chose to stay away, the real test was when we plummeted down the divisions in the late 60's , the people who stuck with the club through that era to my mind are the true fans, I had so called true fan friends who went off to watch Brighton as they were on an up, yet today they still see themselves as loyal fans. God forbid but I wonder how many "fans" would stay with us if we did a "Charlton
Now here's a thing, a man who sits a few seats away from me at The Cottage, is a serial football fan. He has been to every ground in England/Wales (iam not sure about Scotland, he has on him a written progtamme of which game he is attending and has season tickets for various teams. He wears a Fulham cap and scarf so you would think his main loyalty is to FFC but little things he has said, lead me to suspect he is a Chelsea fan. He did follow us at Loftus Road and he is always at each Fulham home game. My point is, that this is a man whose hobby is watching football matches, is he any more a better fan than someone who admires us from afar? no I dont think so. Mind you, it must cost him a bob or two,
Loyalty to Fulham is more a sense of being "committed to the cause" than attending games.
Do I count myself more loyal than those of you in Oz, the US, Sweden, Belgium etc. just by virtue of the fact that I am able to go to the Cottage and the odd away game? Of course not. More fortunate, perhaps (depending on the result!), but not necessarily more loyal.
Quote from: Peabody on September 23, 2010, 12:04:05 PM
Now here's a thing, a man who sits a few seats away from me at The Cottage, is a serial football fan. He has been to every ground in England/Wales (iam not sure about Scotland, he has on him a written progtamme of which game he is attending and has season tickets for various teams. He wears a Fulham cap and scarf so you would think his main loyalty is to FFC but little things he has said, lead me to suspect he is a the dark side fan. He did follow us at Loftus Road and he is always at each Fulham home game. My point is, that this is a man whose hobby is watching football matches, is he any more a better fan than someone who admires us from afar? no I dont think so. Mind you, it must cost him a bob or two,
Mr Peabody,
I have read about a few people having been to every team in the league, not sure about the Wales bit though. I am actually curious about this hobby. Does this guy include the Welsh league as well or only Cardiff, Swansea and the odd Wrexham year (i.e. Welsh in the English league system)?
I am also curious as to what they do when a team build a new stadium (Emirates, Britannia etc). Do they go back? Obviously whatever Conference team that comes up provides a tad of a new challenge, but if this was your life's obsession you would be running out of targets at some point, and what do you do then? Go to Germany every weekend etc.?
Sounds like an extremely fun thing to do, but I take the gentleman in question has no family or life outside of football (and there is nothing wrong with that by the way)
Finn I think this guy only concentrates on English football, including Cardiff, Swansea and Wrexham. It is amazing to see his programme for the season.
Quote from: Terry Tibbs on September 23, 2010, 12:19:36 AM
I agree 100% Sorry Scrumpy, I don't want to cause any offence, but this sort of thread is one of the prime reasons I left the OFAL (apart from being banned, of course!). Seriously, there was always loads of threads saying people couldn't say they were real supporters unless they had been at a certain game, been supporting for a certain amount of time etc etc etc. No one can tell me I don't love this daft club, and I would NEVER EVER presume to do the same. All the best to you, Scrumpy.
Quote from: manxman on September 22, 2010, 09:57:47 PM
hmm seems like cottage corner.
Fair comment Terry, and no offence taken. I left the Offal for similar reasons. I was just trying to point out the 2 sides to this particular argument, and my specific views.
Some very interesting comments from all the usual suspects.
Good on you, Scrumpy. Reading my post to you again, I think it was very ham-fisted. Thanks for reading between the lines and being so cool. Yeah, I think it's great on here....the OFAL is a car crash. Too bad, but that's how it is when they let the muppets rule. I must admit, I never went to the toy stadium when we moved there. Seeing us in the early 80s (with that sh!tbag Stainrod playing for them) was enough. I'm 6ft 3, and my legs are still recovering. All the best geezer. :54:
Quote from: Scrumpy on September 23, 2010, 01:24:23 PM
Quote from: Terry Tibbs on September 23, 2010, 12:19:36 AM
I agree 100% Sorry Scrumpy, I don't want to cause any offence, but this sort of thread is one of the prime reasons I left the OFAL (apart from being banned, of course!). Seriously, there was always loads of threads saying people couldn't say they were real supporters unless they had been at a certain game, been supporting for a certain amount of time etc etc etc. No one can tell me I don't love this daft club, and I would NEVER EVER presume to do the same. All the best to you, Scrumpy.
Quote from: manxman on September 22, 2010, 09:57:47 PM
hmm seems like cottage corner.
Fair comment Terry, and no offence taken. I left the Offal for similar reasons. I was just trying to point out the 2 sides to this particular argument, and my specific views.
Some very interesting comments from all the usual suspects.
