I read Luke McLaughlin’s piece with considerable sympathy, although I still feel slightly uncomfortable about the stigma attached to supporting more than one club. It is a situation I know very well.
I was also at the Millwall versus Forest match that was overshadowed by trouble in the stands. It was the first game I attended. Most of my family support Millwall, and they are still my main club. However, after watching them fall through the divisions and compete in the third tier, I became attracted to the greater quality shown elsewhere, as well as being influenced by friends who followed Tottenham and Arsenal. They will probably never appreciate why I have affection for both teams.
My relatives in Germany then gave me a Freiburg shirt, so they became the side I follow there. Later, receiving a Champions League ticket for a match at Celtic Park added another club to my list, leaving me with plenty of results to check. Now that I live in the Borders, I am hoping to watch Gala Fairydean Rovers this season. It seems I will soon have one more team to follow.
Even now, when someone asks which club I support, I hesitate awkwardly before replying, “Millwall, but…”. Perhaps the truth is that I simply love football!
Michael Opitz
Kelso, Roxburghshire
During his lifetime, a man might change his wife because of personal decisions or circumstances beyond his control. His political beliefs may shift in response to poor government or changes in his financial position. He might also alter or abandon his religious beliefs. Yet changing football allegiance is treated as unforgivable, especially when motivated by the pursuit of success, and anyone who does so risks being permanently labelled an inauthentic supporter.
Neil Bage
Bourne, Lincolnshire
If Luke McLaughlin would like to support another team, then I wish him well. I often wish I were able to do the same. Nevertheless, echoing the final words attributed to Queen Mary I, when I die, my heart will still be found covered in blue and white hoops. QPR were more than simply our local club. Attending games with my father gave us time together that was separate from the demands of our family and his congregation.
Despite the club’s uneven record over the past five decades, I have remained loyal. Owners, managers and players all eventually move on. Promotions and relegations come and go, while cup success continues to avoid us. The supporters, however, endure. The longer we remain—and the more disappointment we experience—the more we recognise that our dedication forms a central part of the club’s identity. We preserve its history while helping to create fresh memories. Supporters keep the club alive, and in return it continues to offer us hope. I understand why Luke may find that commitment too demanding. I will give him a wave when we meet Millwall next week.
Ariel J Friedlander
Modena, Italy
What do you feel about this post?
Like
Love
Happy
Haha
Sad
