Blues abroad needing to explain why they are Blues...

[kimonthemac_efc]

Those of you who haved lived or just travelled a lot abroad, I bet you have been through this. I have, MANY times. Here is the latest. I am currently in Budapest. Yesterday a TV guy came round, he was OK, asked where I'm from, but quickly asked about footy when I replied Liverpool. When I said I am an Evertonian he simply asked "Why?". He was not sarcastic, he just could not understand. I blasted some facts at him. First of all "90% of my family are Blues, Dad, Grandad, family thing". He backed off. But it pisses me off. Been thru this all over the world. Anyone else?

Aye, in Greece people just can't understand how I support Everton. No matter what I tell them they will start saying like just start supporting a top 6 team since Everton will get relegated. The fact that they think they no football while they have 0 football knowledge outside of the Greek league is annoying sometimes.

 

[BiggyRat]

Oz born to a Scouser (Toffee) Mum...simple really.

A fair few of the family back in Blighty have the red mist & whilst tolerated, don't get Christmas cards. My kids are Toffees too & they also enjoy telling people, especially British tourists, who are genuinely shocked.

I raised them well.

 

[Andy McGurk]

This sort of thing starts in school when you grow up miles away from Liverpool. Supporting Everton between 95 and 04 in school was an absolute nightmare, but unlike the Blackburn, Leeds and Newcastle fans, I stuck around when things when tats up. Which leaves everyone either RS or Manc RS. Also remarkable how many gave their reason for supporting them as "my family are from there", so Bourne, Lincolnshire is a hot bed of commuting scousers and mancs is it? For the record, I probably end up round 10 or 15 different house parties whose parents were reds, only 1 was actually from Liverpool.

Let's be honest, it's because they won on TV

My dad said loads of United fans appeared after Munich, appearing on the TV more due to that and also them winning the European cup. Add in the Bobby Charlton factor, now you have 2nd and 3rd generations glory hunters of that lot.

Then you got the RS only becoming relevant in the 70s, on the telly a lot and you've got 2nd and 3rd generation cultish RS kids.

Finally in the weird glory hunter chamber pot you've got Sky making out the Man U v Liverpool is this major historical event (purely because Man Utd won a few and the RS don't like being left out) so has been the stand out fixture of the season regardless of either of them being any good that season. Pumped out across the globe and now all of Asia owns one of or both of those shirts.

My nephew started getting into football 2 years ago, his dad (who is a horrific person but also hadn't lived there for 10 years) was an RS for no reason and his mum's boyfriend at the time was a Man U fan. So I made it my mission to make him a Peterborough United fan (not a blue, because he'll suffer too much) for at least he'll feel some actual connection to the club. Took him to 5 or 6 games, of which they won 4 of them. Unfortunately though thanks to the power of TV, youtube and ea24 he's now an avid City fan, at least not the other 2 but annoyingly predictable.

Maybe there is too much football on TV, and in 20 years time 95% of the world will only support 1 of 5 teams because TV companies only play their live games. I remember going to Turkey in 96 and seeing football shirts from multiple teams in Europe being worn, including an 94 NEC shirt, I even bought a besiktas top whilst there because Amokachi had joined that summer. I reckon if I went now it would be RS, both Manc clubs, El Classico clubs, Inter Miami and that Saudi club that Cristiano Ronaldo plays for.

I've just realised that because of this cold I have that I've started waffling, and talking all kinds of rubbish but can't stop typing so for those still reading I congratulate you, and you deserve something for your efforts for reading this drivel.

I can't think of something now but you'll get something.

What thread is this?

 

[Ged G]

This sort of thing starts in school when you grow up miles away from Liverpool. Supporting Everton between 95 and 04 in school was an absolute nightmare, but unlike the Blackburn, Leeds and Newcastle fans, I stuck around when things when tats up. Which leaves everyone either RS or Manc RS. Also remarkable how many gave their reason for supporting them as "my family are from there", so Bourne, Lincolnshire is a hot bed of commuting scousers and mancs is it? For the record, I probably end up round 10 or 15 different house parties whose parents were reds, only 1 was actually from Liverpool.

Let's be honest, it's because they won on TV

My dad said loads of United fans appeared after Munich, appearing on the TV more due to that and also them winning the European cup. Add in the Bobby Charlton factor, now you have 2nd and 3rd generations glory hunters of that lot.

Then you got the RS only becoming relevant in the 70s, on the telly a lot and you've got 2nd and 3rd generation cultish RS kids.

Finally in the weird glory hunter chamber pot you've got Sky making out the Man U v Liverpool is this major historical event (purely because Man Utd won a few and the RS don't like being left out) so has been the stand out fixture of the season regardless of either of them being any good that season. Pumped out across the globe and now all of Asia owns one of or both of those shirts.

My nephew started getting into football 2 years ago, his dad (who is a horrific person but also hadn't lived there for 10 years) was an RS for no reason and his mum's boyfriend at the time was a Man U fan. So I made it my mission to make him a Peterborough United fan (not a blue, because he'll suffer too much) for at least he'll feel some actual connection to the club. Took him to 5 or 6 games, of which they won 4 of them. Unfortunately though thanks to the power of TV, youtube and ea24 he's now an avid City fan, at least not the other 2 but annoyingly predictable.

Maybe there is too much football on TV, and in 20 years time 95% of the world will only support 1 of 5 teams because TV companies only play their live games. I remember going to Turkey in 96 and seeing football shirts from multiple teams in Europe being worn, including an 94 NEC shirt, I even bought a besiktas top whilst there because Amokachi had joined that summer. I reckon if I went now it would be RS, both Manc clubs, El Classico clubs, Inter Miami and that Saudi club that Cristiano Ronaldo plays for.

I've just realised that because of this cold I have that I've started waffling, and talking all kinds of rubbish but can't stop typing so for those still reading I congratulate you, and you deserve something for your efforts for reading this drivel.

I can't think of something now but you'll get something.

What thread is this?

"... it's because they won on TV"
Great line that succinctly sums it up

 

[Jimmy Grimble]

"... it's because they won on TV"
Great line that succinctly sums it up

If you stand back from it, they watch talented footballers while we watch very mediocre players. They have the excitement of competing at the top of the league, fighting for cups and playing in Europe. We battle relegation. In the transfer window, they are linked to the best talents. We get excited about players who looked promising a few years ago. It's a no brainer if you have no ties to the club and you want footie to be a positive in your life. For those of us who chose or were chosen, all we've got is hope for a better future and memories of the glory days

 

[Ged G]

If you stand back from it, they watch talented footballers while we watch very mediocre players. They have the excitement of competing at the top of the league, fighting for cups and playing in Europe. We battle relegation. In the transfer window, they are linked to the best talents. We get excited about players who looked promising a few years ago. It's a no brainer if you have no ties to the club and you want footie to be a positive in your life. For those of us who chose or were chosen, all we've got is hope for a better future and memories of the glory days

Not disagreeing at all with that mate. The thing for me is this, many of those people move from just wanting to have fun, positivity, being part of success, etc (I can understand that), to becoming fountains of all knowledge about LFC and EFC. And worse, some become Everton haters without having any basis for it. I have met loads like that during my many years abroad. I could list 100s of gems I have heard, but here are just one... "Rooney was a product of MU's academy".

 

[Bishop Thumpety-Thump]

I think it was Eric Idle (from Monty Python) interviewing Roger McGough, but it was in The Rutles (Beatles spoof)

Slightly off topic but The Rutles provided my favourite musical joke. The French Beach Boys, Les Garçons de la Plage.

 

[degsy]

It's shiz and getting shizzer

 

[davies1878]

It was more prevalent 10-15 years ago but feel most know Everton now and ask, espec if there none Liverpool fans they seem to dislike them

 

[Ged G]

It was more prevalent 10-15 years ago but feel most know Everton now and ask, espec if there none Liverpool fans they seem to dislike them

That is also true. I have been in pubs around the world and when locals found out I was an Evertonian became friendly as they hated the RS.

 

[Billy Dean]

They looked cool in the sticker album. They played in blue which suited me cos I was a lad.

Part of the reason I started supporting them was the 85-86 white bib kit, then the next kit that had the diamonds and the blue triangle on the corner of the shorts

 

[Billy Dean]

I get asked a lot. The last time some Germans asked me and I told them from 1984-1987 we were the best team in England. They didn't believe me haha. They were like "no, Liverpool were the best team in that time". One of them got his phone out and started googling.

Generally when I tell people I support Everton they ask me why I don't support Liverpool because they're from the same place and much better

 

[Billy Dean]

This sort of thing starts in school when you grow up miles away from Liverpool. Supporting Everton between 95 and 04 in school was an absolute nightmare, but unlike the Blackburn, Leeds and Newcastle fans, I stuck around when things when tats up. Which leaves everyone either RS or Manc RS. Also remarkable how many gave their reason for supporting them as "my family are from there", so Bourne, Lincolnshire is a hot bed of commuting scousers and mancs is it? For the record, I probably end up round 10 or 15 different house parties whose parents were reds, only 1 was actually from Liverpool.

Let's be honest, it's because they won on TV

My dad said loads of United fans appeared after Munich, appearing on the TV more due to that and also them winning the European cup. Add in the Bobby Charlton factor, now you have 2nd and 3rd generations glory hunters of that lot.

Then you got the RS only becoming relevant in the 70s, on the telly a lot and you've got 2nd and 3rd generation cultish RS kids.

Finally in the weird glory hunter chamber pot you've got Sky making out the Man U v Liverpool is this major historical event (purely because Man Utd won a few and the RS don't like being left out) so has been the stand out fixture of the season regardless of either of them being any good that season. Pumped out across the globe and now all of Asia owns one of or both of those shirts.

My nephew started getting into football 2 years ago, his dad (who is a horrific person but also hadn't lived there for 10 years) was an RS for no reason and his mum's boyfriend at the time was a Man U fan. So I made it my mission to make him a Peterborough United fan (not a blue, because he'll suffer too much) for at least he'll feel some actual connection to the club. Took him to 5 or 6 games, of which they won 4 of them. Unfortunately though thanks to the power of TV, youtube and ea24 he's now an avid City fan, at least not the other 2 but annoyingly predictable.

Maybe there is too much football on TV, and in 20 years time 95% of the world will only support 1 of 5 teams because TV companies only play their live games. I remember going to Turkey in 96 and seeing football shirts from multiple teams in Europe being worn, including an 94 NEC shirt, I even bought a besiktas top whilst there because Amokachi had joined that summer. I reckon if I went now it would be RS, both Manc clubs, El Classico clubs, Inter Miami and that Saudi club that Cristiano Ronaldo plays for.

I've just realised that because of this cold I have that I've started waffling, and talking all kinds of rubbish but can't stop typing so for those still reading I congratulate you, and you deserve something for your efforts for reading this drivel.

I can't think of something now but you'll get something.

What thread is this?

Was similar for me in secondary school from 1992-98. Was mostly Man U and Liverpool fans with a fair bit of Spurs and Arsenal thrown in. Mercilessly ribbed for 6 years, apart from that brief spell in 95-96 when we were half decent. Was even getting owned by a couple of Coventry and Sheff Weds supporting mates back then too, although revenge on them has been sweet in the last 20-odd years

 

[Ged G]

I get asked a lot. The last time some Germans asked me and I told them from 1984-1987 we were the best team in England. They didn't believe me haha. They were like "no, Liverpool were the best team in that time". One of them got his phone out and started googling.

Generally when I tell people I support Everton they ask me why I don't support Liverpool because they're from the same place and much better

That is it... THAT is it. But it is often an age thing, almost all clubs abroad have similar scenarios, 1 city, 2 clubs, etc. The older folks understand...

 

[wm02]

Years ago, I was talking with a co-worker who is a big Man United fan and mentioned that I was an Everton fan. Her immediate response was: “Eww gross…I’m so sorry I’m so sorry.”

Makes me chuckle every time I think back to it