In light of the fact that some fans look at others as being of the glory-hunting variety and so on, I thought it would be appropriate to get some views on what people perceive as being a hard-core fan. It's not for us to judge or discriminate as everyone has the right to support their club in any manner they see fit. While I admit this, I still find it annoying when fair-weather fans try to put up an argument with weak points.

Let me ask you then, what is your definition of a hard-core fan?

This post has been edited by Duke Red: Apr 16 2007, 06:04 PM

IMO;

1. Know the history of the club. no need to know all, but at least from the period when you started supporting that club.
2. Be aware of the latest happenings in and around your club, and form your own opinion on such news. don't just regurgitate the facts.
3. Try to watch EACH and EVERY game - live or otherwise.
4. PERSONAL PREFERENCE - try to get the official merchandise of the club. it looks really sad if you said you are supporting a particular club whilst sporting an unofficial (aka 'AAA' or lower grade) kit/shirt/etc.

Cry when your team lose...

I cried when we lost to Barca last year

This post has been edited by prelude23: Apr 16 2007, 02:58 PM

I ain't hardcore fan. But, I will watch every match my team play. It doesn't matter if I have to wake up at 3.30am and after finished the game, get shower and napping in my office. I know some other team played good football and they have some very exciting players but I don't feel like to watch them play unless it's against my team. So, the hardcore fan must be more than that.

That's an honest answer. I don't make it a point to stay up for matches of other clubs either, but I will watch if it happens to be on when I turn it on. I just like to know my opponents a little better.

for me, i will try to watch my team play be it an early kick off, midnight or even 3+am
its the next best thing until air asia have flights to europe at 9.90
but on a serious note, lately whenever i watch my team play LIVE on tv, they don't perform so (spank me and call me superstitious), i began to NOT watch them and they manage to score like mad against opponents.
i do have quite a few items of the club's genuine merchandise, my wife have to stop me from looking/buying from time to time
i know enough about what the current players can/can't do to criticize or praise them.

note : i did watch the lost to pompey and roma

I dunno whether i consider myself a hardcore fan...
I try to watch every match possible and that itself is a task as most if not all La Liga matches are on very late
I do know my fair share of history and the everyday ins and outs of the club
I know what the club's chants sound like but obviously I can't sing them since my Spanish is non-existent.
But yet i feel that since im not a socio of the club i can't consider myself hardcore
I guess i consider myself a true supporter...."hardcore" is subjective for me

hardcore fans, maybe those bedroom are decorated with the team merchandise items from bedsheets to floor mat.

Based on the 1st post, I think the question is more like... what makes a REAL fan rather than a glory hunter? If we're looking for HARDCORE fans then it's different answer already, like sell car to fly to the stadium every year, sacrificing makan/minum to collect expensive merchandise, etc...

Being a real fan is quite simple - being aware of your team, know who's who, latest results, etc. You don't have to be rich, or join clubs, or buy their shirts, etc. Do whatever it is within your limits, then you're good.

A glory hunter, well, only knows when they've won a major trophy and go singing "WE'RE THE CHAMPS" but don't even know who are the players.

There are few posts involving how often you watch your team play. That is one of the more obvious traits. Verx touched on knowing at least a little of his clubs history, and this to me is key. Many people claim to love their clubs but how can you love something you don't know about? Why you ask why they love their clubs, they say things like, because we play good football (so if another team plays better football, you'd switch?), we have super players (and if another team has better ones?) and then you have really really insightful reasons like, "because we are the best!". Erm... ok... whatever that means. Most of the reasons are pretty superficial. There is no reference to the clubs history, it's traditions, values or culture.

Let me use an analogy to explain myself.

You walk into a club, see a girl and are immediately captivated by her stunning good looks. You also notice that every bloke with a penis is looking at her and vying for her attention. She is the center of attention and it's really obvious. You think you are in love but then you realise, "heck I don't even know her". You then realise that you thought you were in love with her either because; a) Her appearance is stunning or b) Everyone else wants her and you don't want to lose out. Then you tell yourself, "ah, I'd better get to know her first too see if I really am in love". "If she doesn't have any substance, it'll just be a free shag and I'll move on to the next good looking chick".

Hope you get my point.

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Added on April 16, 2007, 4:07 pmGood point. How do I edit the thread title?

This post has been edited by Duke Red: Apr 16 2007, 04:09 PM

To Justify Whether We Are Hardcore Fans Or Not..Well To me, i dont know if i am a hardcore fan or not,because i dont buy all the merchandise(waiting to fly to england soon and i'll be a lil kid in the store).hardcore fan is to watch/see their team play even if its against a low-table table or against one of the reknown clubs in the world.but thats a hard core supporter of just one club..if its a hardcore fan..i would consider i have the depth of knowledge to know who is who and where their from, but i wouldnt want to know to the extent of their fashion taste.hardcore fans enjoy watching a game of football but if its within their capabilities because for some of us like for example last years world cup..i tried to watch every single match but i ended on drooling on the couch with my eyes shut.thats just the time difference.if i was to live there i could just grab some snacks and just watch football if i could..

well to conclude: hardcore fans can be varied though.perhaps the difference is how knowledgable you are about the team you support and how passionate you feel when they win a game or be saddened when they lose..but glory hunters..they just pop out from nowhere and saying "WERE HARDCORE" but when we ask them its like a zombie without knowing wats happening.

90% of chelsea fans i know , cant even name a line up for year 2000

infact ... almost all football fans i know , didnt even bother about chelsea abromovich came along

Well we all have to start somewhere. What matters is that they continue their support even if they get relegated. What also matters is that they bother to read up on a little history.

I'm a Milan ultra...and there's not many of us here in Malaysia...but thats cool...and watching the likes of Franco Baresi & Demitrio Albertini and Dutch trios (MVB, Rijkaard, Gullit) worth everything then... and still have the chance to watch il Capitano Maldini on the pitch is a superb experience...

yup i agree there, we all have to start somewhere. share the highs and lows, be there where-ever the team is, Championship, 1st division, etc.

as for crying, well that's a very subjective matter. i won't cry but i will feel sad and will pick up when the next game comes along!

Were you at Hartamas Square of the Champions League final in 2005? I noticed a number of AC Milan supporters that morning.

I was at Ampang coz our Supporters Club and Liverpool Fan Club had joint gathering there where TV3 did a live telecast as well..but what a night!

We also did a gathering during Milan-Barca semi last season as well as all Italian matches gathering during last World Cup..

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Added on April 16, 2007, 4:55 pm
went thru the highs and lows all the time...

CL win against Juve, lost to Deportivo, Istanbul nightmare, unlucky vs Barca... gone thru it all...

my blood is red and black..

This post has been edited by penew: Apr 16 2007, 04:55 PM

at least u guys got ur own local based fans club n get to hav gatherings. I had never met with any other true local Romanista in my life so far. that make me feel like an alien sometimes.

How did you become one anyway?

we did gather with other Italian clubs fans as well.. such as Juventus & Inter...
especially during WC... and during matches like Milan vs Juve or Milan vs Inter matches..
We also have other clubs fans on our webforum such as Interisti, Romanista & a Deportivo fan..and its good to discuss things with fellow non-EPL fans..