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Football traditions dying a slow death


Toonraider
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Gone are uncovered terraces and pitches so close to the stands you can hear the players cough; gone is the tea lady that has worked at the ground for 30 years; gone are the pies so bad you know it's getting chucked.

 

In are carbon copy Lego stadiums with running tracks around the pitch; in are contract caterers and pop bottles without the top; in are warnings to stay seated, not to smoke, or drink, or breathe.

 

Twenty years ago grounds such as Burnden Park, Roker Park, the Victoria Ground and the Baseball ground (the list is endless) were all still standing - superb grounds full of atmosphere, history and charisma.

 

In their places today are the Reebok, Stadium of Light, Britannia and Pride Park. All magnificent stadiums, of that there is no doubt. But the stadium conveyor belt has been in motion for quite some time now and visit any of those grounds - or the Riverside or the Madjeski - and you will see they are not that different, some in fact are near identical.

 

Away trips used to be the highlight of a supporter's week. A chance to see a different ground, hear a whole host of new songs, taste the local pies, get wet in a different town.

 

But today's away trip is very different. Where is the excitement in visiting a ground that looks the same as your own? Or buying a hot dog that's sold in your own stadium. Even the fans are the same now, the 'easy' chant was funny at first but we hear it every week for goodness sake.

 

When I was in short pants, Saturday afternoons were my favourite time of the week - Saturday, three o'clock, nothing different - not 12.15 or 7.45 on a Friday night.

 

And they used to be such close-knit occasions. Stand next to the same people as the last 10 years, hear the latest ridiculous rumour flying around, and tell the latest crude joke. Even the players seemed human in those days as they stood chatting to fans at the front of the home end, signing autographs for the young 'uns.

 

The camaraderie was brilliant, 10,000 Stoke fans always felt more like family to me than most of my actual relatives. The banter was second to none; the songs were hilarious and even the abuse was funny -most of it was aimed at our own players anyway - Pies being chucked at the 'star' striker who hasn't scored for three months.

 

Onto the match, and it was very different to today's sit-down 'entertainment'. Half the fun was squeezing in between two 18-stone men to catch a glimpse of the corner flag. And ending up at the opposite end of the stand after we scored, desperately trying to get back for the next 10 minutes. Today, the same fun and excitement just doesn't exist. The passion is disappearing - and so are the fans.

 

Media frenzy will ensure football is the best-supported game for a long time to come, but real supporters who have seen the changes are getting bored. The bigger football has become, and the more money that has been pumped into it - the more originality, tradition and fun has disappeared. £25 to sit in a plastic seat to see 90 minutes of cheating, diving and arguing with the ref - and it's on TV anyway.

 

The rules of the game have undergone great changes too, and it's mostly for the worst. Why must players leave the pitch after injuries for instance? He wasn't even hurt in the first place. The shoulder-barge has long since disappeared; the tackle will soon follow if football authorities have their way. The game will soon become a suitable alternative to ballet and everybody will be happy.

 

Arjen Robben's recent sending off for celebrating a goal is a typical example of how jobsworths are trying to ruin our game as we love it. Not so long ago, players would be in the stands celebrating after a goal and 50 fans would be on the pitch. It's not hooliganism, it's football. It pains me to see supporters ejected for standing up or encroaching in today's games, what has happened.

 

The only place where the true spirit of football exists is non-league. Real people watching a game of football. And if you're lucky you might even be able to pronounce the players' names. Oh, and you can get a decent cup of tea.

 

Unless something is done to stop the game's decline, commercialism will have ruined it completely.

 

Competition must be brought back into the game, prices must be driven down to bring back the common supporter, and players should have their wages capped to stop them from becoming even more powerful. But I'm sure football's fat cats are far happier with the way things are now

 

Dont know where this originally came from, but have to say i agree with alot of those thoughts.

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To be fair though, the football now is much better to watch, which is all I care about really.

 

And it's bollocks about the non-league bit. You can include League 1 and 2 in that.

84868[/snapback]

You want to see that 1955 Cup Final DVD I won off N-O, it's fucking shit! :lol:

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Football's changed, and people just need to get over it IMO.

84872[/snapback]

 

change is not always for the better..and theres no harm in being nostalgic and remembering how things were from time to time.

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To be fair though, the football now is much better to watch, which is all I care about really.

 

And it's bollocks about the non-league bit. You can include League 1 and 2 in that.

84868[/snapback]

You want to see that 1955 Cup Final DVD I won off N-O, it's fucking shit! :lol:

84870[/snapback]

 

Old foooooootball was rubbish, old football was rubbiiiiiiiiish, old fooooooootball .....was rubbish, old football was rubbish....... :unsure:

 

Quality slot on Fantasy Football that!

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Penny-farthings on the street riding

Motorcars were funny things, frightening

Bow and hoops and spinning tops

Annie Gretzel's lollipops...

84869[/snapback]

 

 

wet leg

peanuts "tanner a bag"

crushed at big games

lousy sight lines

no roof

no security

great players trying to pass in a swamp

psycopaths who flattened any decent player

footballs that weighed 60 lbs in the wet

no toilets at all

 

 

wey them wor great daze - aaa remember them well (unfortunately)

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Penny-farthings on the street riding

Motorcars were funny things, frightening

Bow and hoops and spinning tops

Annie Gretzel's lollipops...

84869[/snapback]

 

 

wet leg

peanuts "tanner a bag"

crushed at big games

lousy sight lines

no roof

no security

great players trying to pass in a swamp

psycopaths who flattened any decent player

footballs that weighed 60 lbs in the wet

no toilets at all

 

 

wey them wor great daze - aaa remember them well (unfortunately)

84896[/snapback]

 

lol...sounds like Torquay united now........ :lol:

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To be fair though, the football now is much better to watch, which is all I care about really.

 

And it's bollocks about the non-league bit. You can include League 1 and 2 in that.

84868[/snapback]

You want to see that 1955 Cup Final DVD I won off N-O, it's fucking shit! :lol:

84870[/snapback]

 

Old foooooootball was rubbish, old football was rubbiiiiiiiiish, old fooooooootball .....was rubbish, old football was rubbish....... :unsure:

 

Quality slot on Fantasy Football that!

84886[/snapback]

 

And, to the same tune (of course), "Saint aaaand Greavsie talk about the Endsleigh League as if it's im..... portant, Saint and Greavsie talk... " (ad infinitum)

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Football's changed, and people just need to get over it IMO.

84872[/snapback]

 

change is not always for the better..and theres no harm in being nostalgic and remembering how things were from time to time.

84882[/snapback]

 

You're right. To a Status Quo soundtrack, if at all possible. :lol:

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Football's changed, and people just need to get over it IMO.

84872[/snapback]

 

change is not always for the better..and theres no harm in being nostalgic and remembering how things were from time to time.

84882[/snapback]

 

You're right. To a Status Quo soundtrack, if at all possible. :unsure:

84908[/snapback]

AND A LIIIIYKE IT, A LIYKE IT, I LIYKE IT, A LIYKE IT A LA-LA-LA-LIIIIYKE IT, LA-LA-LA-LIYKE.... OLD FOOTBAAAAAAAAAA-ALL ;):lol:

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Football's changed, and people just need to get over it IMO.

84872[/snapback]

 

change is not always for the better..and theres no harm in being nostalgic and remembering how things were from time to time.

84882[/snapback]

 

You're right. To a Status Quo soundtrack, if at all possible. :unsure:

84908[/snapback]

 

have to say i always despised them :lol:

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Football's changed, and people just need to get over it IMO.

84872[/snapback]

 

change is not always for the better..and theres no harm in being nostalgic and remembering how things were from time to time.

84882[/snapback]

 

You're right. To a Status Quo soundtrack, if at all possible. ;)

84908[/snapback]

 

have to say i always despised them :lol:

84916[/snapback]

 

What you doing taking a picture of Rick Parfitt in to your hairdressers then? :unsure::razz:

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Football's changed, and people just need to get over it IMO.

84872[/snapback]

 

change is not always for the better..and theres no harm in being nostalgic and remembering how things were from time to time.

84882[/snapback]

 

You're right. To a Status Quo soundtrack, if at all possible. :razz:

84908[/snapback]

 

have to say i always despised them :lol:

84916[/snapback]

 

What you doing taking a picture of Rick Parfitt in to your hairdressers then? ;)B)

84919[/snapback]

 

 

:unsure:

 

Asked for a Brian May permanent wave tbh. Fucking livid.

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To be fair though, the football now is much better to watch, which is all I care about really.

 

And it's bollocks about the non-league bit. You can include League 1 and 2 in that.

84868[/snapback]

You want to see that 1955 Cup Final DVD I won off N-O, it's fucking shit! :lol:

84870[/snapback]

 

I've still not even watched the copy i won...i take it i shouldn't bother now?

 

:unsure:

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To be fair though, the football now is much better to watch, which is all I care about really.

 

And it's bollocks about the non-league bit. You can include League 1 and 2 in that.

84868[/snapback]

You want to see that 1955 Cup Final DVD I won off N-O, it's fucking shit! :lol:

84870[/snapback]

 

I've still not even watched the copy i won...i take it i shouldn't bother now?

 

:unsure:

85035[/snapback]

Well, Milburn scores after about 45 seconds, after that I would keep fast forwarding. It's crap man! ;)

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To be fair though, the football now is much better to watch, which is all I care about really.

 

And it's bollocks about the non-league bit. You can include League 1 and 2 in that.

84868[/snapback]

You want to see that 1955 Cup Final DVD I won off N-O, it's fucking shit! :lol:

84870[/snapback]

 

I've still not even watched the copy i won...i take it i shouldn't bother now?

 

:unsure:

85035[/snapback]

Well, Milburn scores after about 45 seconds, after that I would keep fast forwarding. It's crap man! ;)

85101[/snapback]

I'd rather watch the '55 final again than the Mansfield game. Only just like.

Edited by Happy Face
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To be fair though, the football now is much better to watch, which is all I care about really.

 

And it's bollocks about the non-league bit. You can include League 1 and 2 in that.

84868[/snapback]

You want to see that 1955 Cup Final DVD I won off N-O, it's fucking shit! :lol:

84870[/snapback]

 

I've still not even watched the copy i won...i take it i shouldn't bother now?

 

:unsure:

85035[/snapback]

Well, Milburn scores after about 45 seconds, after that I would keep fast forwarding. It's crap man! ;)

85101[/snapback]

I'd rather watch the '55 final again than the Mansfield game. Only just like.

85178[/snapback]

I'd rather watch neither again, ever :razz:

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