The life of a football fan

I remeber going down stans with my uncle (who was a villian) and elder brother, in the days of spunky seaman no less, i was 8 or 9 i think, never looked back
KRO

Before I start, i'd just like to pick a bone with your comment "a real bluenose who goes to games". I for one cannot get the time or funds to get down the Blues all the time. I probably go to 4 or 5 games a season, however I buy myself and my sons the shirt / kits every season.

I spend the a massive portion of my spare time browsing the web for Blues news, contributing to Blues forums, talking to the radio etc. When we win i'm on a massive high and we we lose there's no talking to me, the day is a complete write-off. I don't think a 'real' fan is simply someone who goes home and away religiously.

Onto the point, and do I think relegation has increased my love for Blues? No. This is what I signed up for when I decided to follow Blues and i'll love the Blues massively, whether they play in the Premier League or in the Ryman League.

I feel incredibly lucky to be a Birminghma fan as since 1991 I have experienced extreme lows and massive highs. You see, fans of clubs who have never been outside of their top flight in their lifetime will never understand fans who are comfortable with supporting a team who aren't likely to win the Premier League or a major European Trophy.

I had a conversation last season with a Villa fan who said that he would stop following Villa if they went down from the embarrassment. I questioned him why he supports Aston Villa? Is it because he loves the club or is it because in this world of football rivalries, he felt he'd have an easier life if he supported the best team?

Even though Manchester City are starting to become a force by means of money, money, money, I would take great pleasure in seeing the delight on their fans faces should they reach the pinnacle of domestic and European football as they have followed their club in a lower league.

In a way, I feel sorry for my friends who are Villa fans who haven't been able to experience their team in lower league football. When Blues won the Carling Cup, I remembered back to when me and my Dad went to Bury on Boxing Day (in the early 90's) to watch Blues lose 1-0. Unless you experience the lows, the real lows, you can't really experience the full euphoria of a high.

In summary, it'd do a lot of good for Villa fans - as fans and, to be fair as people too - to see their team get relegated. As a fan it would open their eyes to the full spectrum of English Football. As a person, the embarrassment of being relegated may change their attituide towards other clubs and fans.

STC, I didn't mean just the fan that goes to games, I meant generally fans who try their best whenever they can. I'm very lucky to have my dad support me for my season tickets for the past 5/6 years although next season I will have to fund my own due to leaving college and deciding against university.

It's nice to hear (even though it's blues) about the hardships experienced. i've been following Leeds over the past 5 years a lot due to their demise then promotions and ups and downs they're having, yet still seeing their fanbase there. Man city fans I wish all the best also, majoirty have been there when they were awful.

Don't get me wrong, sitting in the pub and going down the villa the fans that turn up when they can are very realistic. The problem is people say "we should be top4 or top 6"

.. Well i think that if we aren't there, then we shouldn't be. yes, the fans deserve it who are very passionate, but the club hasn't reached those heights recently.. I'm a firm believer in 'the table doesn't lie'

I believe mcleish will bring stability, and obviously he's got better resources than he had at blues. Who knows what will happen. My real point is that I wish I was born in 1972 or 1982 and not 1992. I consistently watch palace v liverpool 1990 semi final because of the atmopshere, the terraces, the fans going nuts when they score. Wish i had that. Modern day football is a rip off/ dominated by money and short tempered arrogant r3t4rds who have no respect or interest for the fans who are the heartbeats of every club.

I hate blues more than anything in my life (Im sure you all understand), but I believe a rivalry is still about respect and banter as well as hate. It's true, you can change your girlfriend/wife, although I think my dad has gone past that stage.. HAHA.

Who remembers the Dennis Law back heeler for Man City,that sent Man U down to the second division , happy days . kro.

I do, Beesknee. It was in the last minute - a typical Law instinctive poach of a goal. Didn't he put his head in his hands after he scored, realising he'd just relegated United.

I met someone a couple of months ago who played briefly for Coverntry and then Non league. He told me he played centre half against Law in a pre-season match many years ago.

In the first half, this chap had marked Francis Lee out of the game, so Law was sent on at the start of the second half. Law, by now an aging player, said to the centre half (who was still a young burly chap) not to be to tough on him as he had a wife and three kids and just wanted to get to the end of his career without another major injury.

45 minutes later, Law had scored a hatrick and as he shook the centre half's hand at the end of the match said
'Don't believe everything your told, lad'.

Thought that was a nice tale.

Lol!!!

Big brown tongue.

May as well crawl all the way up there. Get covered in brown.

What a creepy brown one.

JH delivers another pointless pathetic childlike comment.
Keep them coming JH. Tw a t.

bluenoseden, nice one. kro.