Proper football club

[Islington Hibs]

This interesting article appeared in the Critic as to what makes a proper football club. Clearly subjective and this is written from an English perspective but history, passion, success, decent support, hard core, character etc etc. Man C don’t make it but Aston Villa do…

https://thecritic.co.uk/issues/november-2021/history-fans-noise-and-passion/

Who makes the cut in Scotland - clearly all the big 5 but I would say Dundee and not United. Probably Motherwell and perhaps St Mirrwnbut who are St Johnsotone?

Perhaps Dunfermline and some old school but down on their luck Clyde and of course Queens Park. Can’t think of many others really.

[Since90+2]

This interesting article appeared in the Critic as to what makes a proper football club. Clearly subjective and this is written from an English perspective but history, passion, success, decent support, hard core, character etc etc. Man C don’t make it but Aston Villa do…

https://thecritic.co.uk/issues/november-2021/history-fans-noise-and-passion/

Who makes the cut in Scotland - clearly all the big 5 but I would say Dundee and not United. Probably Motherwell and perhaps St Mirrwnbut who are St Johnsotone?

Perhaps Dunfermline and some old school but down on their luck Clyde and of course Queens Park. Can’t think of many others really.

I don't really get what you are meaning. Dundee United are not a proper football club but Dundee are??

Every single football club is a proper club. That includes Man City who had some of the most loyal supporters throughout the 90s whilst their city neighbours dominated English football. What gives anyone the right to proclaim to those generations of City fans who's families have supported the team for decades that they don't support a "real" club?

I've heard people say Edinburgh isn't a footballing city (and they are probably correct when you look at our population relative to the 2 clubs attendances). Does that mean Hibs aren't a proper club? Of course not as it means the world to the people who follow the club.

There seems to be an almost inverted snobbery with football fans lower down the pecking order. I read it on here quite often that Liverpool, Man Utd ect are not real clubs. They are to the people who have supported them all of their lifes and I'm pretty sure they don't care what other supporters think.

[The dalmeny]

This interesting article appeared in the Critic as to what makes a proper football club. Clearly subjective and this is written from an English perspective but history, passion, success, decent support, hard core, character etc etc. Man C don’t make it but Aston Villa do…

https://thecritic.co.uk/issues/november-2021/history-fans-noise-and-passion/

Who makes the cut in Scotland - clearly all the big 5 but I would say Dundee and not United. Probably Motherwell and perhaps St Mirrwnbut who are St Johnsotone?

Perhaps Dunfermline and some old school but down on their luck Clyde and of course Queens Park. Can’t think of many others really.

what a load of pish

[007]

This interesting article appeared in the Critic as to what makes a proper football club. Clearly subjective and this is written from an English perspective but history, passion, success, decent support, hard core, character etc etc. Man C don’t make it but Aston Villa do…

https://thecritic.co.uk/issues/november-2021/history-fans-noise-and-passion/

Who makes the cut in Scotland - clearly all the big 5 but I would say Dundee and not United. Probably Motherwell and perhaps St Mirrwnbut who are St Johnsotone?

Perhaps Dunfermline and some old school but down on their luck Clyde and of course Queens Park. Can’t think of many others really.

Link isn't working for me but it sounds like a Man Utd fan has come up with a convoluted way to have a dig at Man City.

[Kato]

Link isn't working for me but it sounds like a Man Utd fan has come up with a convoluted way to have a dig at Man City.Nah, it's a Villa fan with a dig at The Baggies.

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[CropleyWasGod]

This interesting article appeared in the Critic as to what makes a proper football club. Clearly subjective and this is written from an English perspective but history, passion, success, decent support, hard core, character etc etc. Man C don’t make it but Aston Villa do…

https://thecritic.co.uk/issues/november-2021/history-fans-noise-and-passion/

Who makes the cut in Scotland - clearly all the big 5 but I would say Dundee and not United. Probably Motherwell and perhaps St Mirrwnbut who are St Johnsotone?

Perhaps Dunfermline and some old school but down on their luck Clyde and of course Queens Park. Can’t think of many others really.

So a club that has reached the final of one European competition,the semi of another, and has beaten Barcelona home and away twice, isn't a "proper football club "?

😆

[Just_Jimmy]

I don't really get what you are meaning. Dundee United are not a proper football club but Dundee are??

Every single football club is a proper club. That includes Man City who had some of the most loyal supporters throughout the 90s whilst their city neighbours dominated English football. What gives anyone the right to proclaim to those generations of City fans who's families have supported the team for decades that they don't support a "real" club?

I've heard people say Edinburgh isn't a footballing city (and they are probably correct when you look at our population relative to the 2 clubs attendances). Does that mean Hibs aren't a proper club? Of course not as it means the world to the people who follow the club.

There seems to be an almost inverted snobbery with football fans lower down the pecking order. I read it on here quite often that Liverpool, Man Utd ect are not real clubs. They are to the people who have supported them all of their lifes and I'm pretty sure they don't care what other supporters think.Good post. On this site it's as evident as many others. Manchester is Red and Blue and I have mates who support and grew up supporting one or the other and they're all mates except they rip each other about it relentlessly. I enjoy being in the middle cos I can stir the pot for greatest humour outcome.

They're all die hards, their families supported the club and the club is massive in their life.

Anyone who bangs on about Utd fans "coming from London" or No one supporting city until they got money has never been to Manchester and have no idea what these clubs mean to people.

What the clubs themselves stand for now is a different argument. They're all REAL clubs*.


*except Sevco.



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[Radge70]

I recently learned that AC Milan begun as a cricket club, so they're not a proper football club

[Wilson]

I recently learned that AC Milan begun as a cricket club, so they're not a proper football club

Well they're damn sure not a proper cricket club!

[Orchard_Hibs]

I think there are more people on this thread that know proper Man City fans than there are Man City fans.

[Dr What If?]

I think there is a fair argument that the owners of some of these clubs don't know what a proper football club is, allegations of sportswashing on the back of the Newcastle takeover or the Tottenham owners 'legacy fans' comment seem to suggest that. Money has changed the people at the top and a fair few couldn't give a jot if their clubs played baseball or hockey, or were in London or Moscow, just as long as their own agendas are met.

One stat I would love to know is how many football fans in Edinburgh in 2021 would identify as Man Utd, Liverpool, etc. fans first and foremost. 20 years ago most football fans I knew would have had a favourite English side but would all identify with a Scottish team first (child of the 80s, far more Aberdeen fans than you would think)....that seems to have changed with kids and younger men today. These 'new' owners may not particularly care what constitutes the soul of a club but they haven't half brought a lot more glamour to the teams they bought.

[Since452]

Man City playing at Maine Road with 30k in the lower divisions while their city rivals were winning everything. They are most definitely a proper football club. Most of their fans had a lifetime of being in Man United's shadow to the point they weren't even considered their main rivals. Let them enjoy it.

[blackpoolhibs]

I recently learned that AC Milan begun as a cricket club, so they're not a proper football club

Hearts should really play every Saturday night on strictly come dancing.:dancer::dancer::dancer:

[James Stephen]

Man City playing at Maine Road with 30k in the lower divisions while their city rivals were winning everything. They are most definitely a proper football club. Most of their fans had a lifetime of being in Man United's shadow to the point they weren't even considered their main rivals. Let them enjoy it.

This goes back way further too. I think im right in saying that Man City won the English title in 1968, only for United to trump them by winning the Euroean Cup a few weeks later!

What is a proper football club? Any club is a proper football club. Its just a stupid debate that fans of the money grabbing English clubs are using to try and make their avarice, more acceptable and justifiable than the other clubs' avarice.

It all just reveals how much top English clubs have left their fans behind, and how insecure those fans feel about it.

I mean how nauseating, not to mention stupid, was it to see Newcastle fans singing "weve got our club back" as it is bought by Saudi Arabia and some posh financiers. You can see why football is so attractive to those with bad intentions, football fans dont half make it easy for them.

[Since452]

This goes back way further too. I think im right in saying that Man City won the English title in 1968, only for United to trump them by winning the Euroean Cup a few weeks later!

What is a proper football club? Any club is a proper football club. Its just a stupid debate that fans of the money grabbing English clubs are using to try and make their avarice, more acceptable and justifiable than the other clubs' avarice.

It all just reveals how much top English clubs have left their fans behind, and how insecure those fans feel about it.

I mean how nauseating, not to mention stupid, was it to see Newcastle fans singing "weve got our club back" as it is bought by Saudi Arabia and some posh financiers. You can see why football is so attractive to those with bad intentions, football fans dont half make it easy for them.

I often find myself yearning for the days when Saudi billionaires etc had no interest in football clubs. Probably looking through rose tinted glasses but just seemed more relatable back then.

[jacomo]

Man City playing at Maine Road with 30k in the lower divisions while their city rivals were winning everything. They are most definitely a proper football club. Most of their fans had a lifetime of being in Man United's shadow to the point they weren't even considered their main rivals. Let them enjoy it.


They were. Now they are just a global sports franchise.

They’ve bought enormous success but at what cost? Man City isn’t the same club anymore imo.

[jacomo]

I often find myself yearning for the days when Saudi billionaires etc had no interest in football clubs. Probably looking through rose tinted glasses but just seemed more relatable back then.


Definitely. Also, I’m struggling to understand how the Newcastle take over was allowed to go through. They promised that Saudi Arabia wouldn’t have direct control of the club, but apparently all decisions have to be approved by the representative of PIF (the Saudi investment fund bankrolling the project).

What a farce.

[Onceinawhile]

I recently learned that AC Milan begun as a cricket club, so they're not a proper football club

They were founded in 1899 by English and Swiss industrialists as a football and cricket club, winning their first championship in 1901.

Source: page 10 of "calcio a history of Italian football" by John foot

So they are.

[Since90+2]

They were. Now they are just a global sports franchise.

They’ve bought enormous success but at what cost? Man City isn’t the same club anymore imo.

I've always held the view that a football club is essentially it's fans. Owners, managers, players all come and go over the years yet the loyal fans remain constant.

Man City are a proper football club and always will be to the people of Manchester and the surrounding areas.

[Since452]

I've always held the view that a football club is essentially it's fans. Owners, managers, players all come and go over the years yet the loyal fans remain constant.

Man City are a proper football club and always will be to the people of Manchester and the surrounding areas.

I agree. Anyone other than fans are just custodians. I say "just" but they have a vital duty to protect clubs which are a gigantic part of peoples lives. I sometimes wonder if rich foreign owners realise just how important football clubs are and the role they play in the community and have played in generations of families lives. If i think about my own life, i've been emotionally invested in Hibernian FC for longer than anything else in my lifetime. More than any relationship, children, parents now they are gone. And that's just one person. There will be thousands the same as me. That's some thought.

[lucky]

So which of these two Paris clubs are a real football club?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/59053439

[Pagan Hibernia]

So which of these two Paris clubs are a real football club?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/59053439

very interesting piece that. I’d never heard of Red Star Paris, despite the fact they’ve been around since the 1800s. They’re almost an antidote to PSG.

helps that they play in green and white of course.

[lucky]

very interesting piece that. I’d never heard of Red Star Paris, despite the fact they’ve been around since the 1800s. They’re almost an antidote to PSG.

helps that they play in green and white of course.

I thought it was decent read but the point I was making is there is no standard formula to what constitutes a proper football club. Fans support their team for a variety of reasons politics, religion, location, history, colours and of course success. Clubs are clubs regardless of what fans of other clubs think. Without rivals there is no football.

[jacomo]

I've always held the view that a football club is essentially it's fans. Owners, managers, players all come and go over the years yet the loyal fans remain constant.

Man City are a proper football club and always will be to the people of Manchester and the surrounding areas.


Events of the past 18 months show us otherwise. Fans are essentially an optional extra for these clubs now… nice for improving the show, as a full stadium looks better, but really just a customer base to be engaged with content and sold merchandise.

The backlash to the proposed breakaway league took them by surprise, but these clubs don’t really care anymore unless it affects the brand.

[Pagan Hibernia]

I thought it was decent read but the point I was making is there is no standard formula to what constitutes a proper football club. Fans support their team for a variety of reasons politics, religion, location, history, colours and of course success. Clubs are clubs regardless of what fans of other clubs think. Without rivals there is no football.

Well yes, football fans tell themselves all sorts of nonsense to make them feel better. And they tell those lies to themselves so often they end up believing them.

united fans tell themselves that city aren’t a proper club anymore because it softens the blow of city destroying them on the pitch these days.
city fans tell themselves that they are the true Manchester team and united fans all come from Surrey because it made them feel better when United were dominating.
Liverpool fans tell themselves they are the greatest fans in the world, Everton fans claim to be the ‘people’s club’. And so on.

locally, I’ve been guilty of buying into the notion that hearts fans are all badly dressed middle-class rover driving buffoons. But I accept that’s only true for some of them :greengrin

[Pretty Boy]

In Scotland Queens Park are most definitely a 'proper club'. Undoubtedly one of the most important clubs in the entire history of football.

A club like East Fife also fall into the category of having been historically successful and central to their community. They have won the same number of major trophies as Motherwell and St Mirren and more than the likes of Partick thistle , Falkirk, Dunfermilne and St Johnstone.

The issue with trying to decide who is and isn't a proper club is there is a modernity bias. It's all a load of nonsense anyway. There are clubs i have a bit of a distaste for, Livingston and MK Dons spring to mind, but they are clubs that play football so they are 'proper' football clubs.

[beensaidbefore]

They were. Now they are just a global sports franchise.

They’ve bought enormous success but at what cost? Man City isn’t the same club anymore imo.


agree with this.

[Phil MaGlass]

Is Gretna a proper football club?
Is Livingstone?

[Smartie]

A "proper club" is one that is in either the top league of English or Scottish football when you collect panini football stickers for the first time.

For me that means Luton Town and Coventry City are most certainly proper clubs whereas Leeds United are not.

[Keith_M]

So some clubs are proper clubs and others aren't?

Who exactly gets to decide the criteria?

[Keith_M]

Is Gretna a proper football club?
Is Livingstone?


The latter definitely isn't, as it doesn't exist.


(at least that gives us the first criterion: must actually exist)

[Pretty Boy]

Is Gretna a proper football club?
Is Livingstone?

Gretna definitely are.

Can date their history back to the 1890s, a period of inactivity then reformed locally in the 40s. Resurrected again as 2008 by their supporters trust after the Brooks Mileson ego trip. The fairytale stuff was all bollocks of course.

I'm not a fan of clubs moving about like franchises, hence my earlier comment about MK Dons and Livinsgton, but Livingston are a direct continuation of Ferranti Thistle and Meadowbank so have a comparable history to plenty other proper clubs.

[ABZHFC]

To me, a proper club means their fans are sound and get that the best part about the football is the day out itself, and not necessarily the result. They believe having an atmosphere at the games is important, and are able to take the piss out of themselves when things aren't going their way, rather than gnashing their teeth and demanding that they watch a successful product on the pitch.

For that reason, I'd say Birmingham City are one of the few proper clubs left in England

[Pagan Hibernia]

To me, a proper club means their fans are sound and get that the best part about the football is the day out itself, and not necessarily the result. They believe having an atmosphere at the games is important, and are able to take the piss out of themselves when things aren't going their way, rather than gnashing their teeth and demanding that they watch a successful product on the pitch.

For that reason, I'd say Birmingham City are one of the few proper clubs left in England

you’ve probably ruled Hibs out with that criteria

[Fuzzywuzzy]

In Scotland Queens Park are most definitely a 'proper club'. Undoubtedly one of the most important clubs in the entire history of football.

A club like East Fife also fall into the category of having been historically successful and central to their community. They have won the same number of major trophies as Motherwell and St Mirren and more than the likes of Partick thistle , Falkirk, Dunfermilne and St Johnstone.

The issue with trying to decide who is and isn't a proper club is there is a modernity bias. It's all a load of nonsense anyway. There are clubs i have a bit of a distaste for, Livingston and MK Dons spring to mind, but they are clubs that play football so they are 'proper' football clubs.

Boy on the radio this morning saying he hadn't missed a queens game since 1979. Was saying when he was a lad he went to a game at brechin and he was the only away fan there and they won 5-0 or something🤣

[The Veteran]

Nothing to see here, move along now.

[Lancs Harp]

Gretna definitely are.

Can date their history back to the 1890s, a period of inactivity then reformed locally in the 40s. Resurrected again as 2008 by their supporters trust after the Brooks Mileson ego trip. The fairytale stuff was all bollocks of course.

I'm not a fan of clubs moving about like franchises, hence my earlier comment about MK Dons and Livinsgton, but Livingston are a direct continuation of Ferranti Thistle and Meadowbank so have a comparable history to plenty other proper clubs.

Didnt Gretna play in the English Northern Premier league in the 90s or maybe 80s and play in the FA Cup? Or was that a different club?

[LancashireHibby]

Didnt Gretna play in the English Northern Premier league in the 90s or maybe 80s and play in the FA Cup? Or was that a different club?
Yes they did, they played Bolton in the FA Cup in 93/94

[stu in nottingham]

They were founded in 1899 by English and Swiss industrialists as a football and cricket club, winning their first championship in 1901.

Source: page 10 of "calcio a history of Italian football" by John foot

So they are.

Herbert Kilpin a lace worker from Nottingham and son of a butcher is considered as the main founding father of AC Milan. He was invited to Italy by an Italian-Swiss merchant who had links to Herbert's place of work in Nottingham. He played in Torino for a couple of years moving to Milan and becoming the main founder and player-manager of the newly-formed Milan Foot-Ball and Cricket Club. He named them and chose their colours of red and black

Occasionally, Milanese come to visit Herbert's modest birthplace in Nottingham and the parks where he played football. Fans often celebrate their founder Herbert Kilpin by flying large flags in the crowd at the San Siro.

Recommend 'The Lord of Milan' both book and film. Quite an amazing story really.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BbocEE2IQAAYeTB.jpg

[AngloHibs]

That article claims that Portsmouth isn't a proper club. He has clearly never been to a game at Portsmouth, as the whole place simply oozes football tradition.

The article is nonsense.

[LancashireHibby]

That article claims that Portsmouth isn't a proper club. He has clearly never been to a game at Portsmouth, as the whole place simply oozes football tradition.

The article is nonsense.
I went to Portsmouth v Bolton last week, as it happens. Hard to put my finger on, but I wouldn't say it holds anything close to the aura of Easter Road. Great sausage rolls though.

[AngloHibs]

I went to Portsmouth v Bolton last week, as it happens. Hard to put my finger on, but I wouldn't say it holds anything close to the aura of Easter Road. Great sausage rolls though.

Fair enough, it's all a matter of opinion. It's about 15 years since I was there, so my memory may be playing tricks on me or things may have changed.

I was struck by the boy in the sailor suit walking around the pitch with a "Play up Pompey" sign. It just felt really old-school and traditional, although I suppose there's some PC reason why it isn't allowed nowadays.

[marinello59]

Fair enough, it's all a matter of opinion. It's about 15 years since I was there, so my memory may be playing tricks on me or things may have changed.

I was struck by the boy in the sailor suit walking around the pitch with a "Play up Pompey" sign. It just felt really old-school and traditional, although I suppose there's some PC reason why it isn't allowed nowadays.

Pompey are a brilliant club. I’ve got several family members who are regular attenders there. Their experience of following their club pretty much matches mine with Hibs. :greengrin

[Smartie]

Pompey are a brilliant club. I’ve got several family members who are regular attenders there. Their experience of following their club pretty much matches mine with Hibs. :greengrin

Is Fratton Park not still quite quirky as well?

With most of the post Taylor Report big club grounds you feel like if you've been in one, you've been in them all.

I certainly couldn't argue that Easter Road isn't miles better than it used to be, but in terms of character and soul it's just not a patch on what it used to be.

Not sure what the point I'm trying to make it, but I always feel like a "proper" club has something unique and distinct about it. A lot of the biggest clubs lost all of that long ago.

[LancashireHibby]

Fair enough, it's all a matter of opinion. It's about 15 years since I was there, so my memory may be playing tricks on me or things may have changed.

I was struck by the boy in the sailor suit walking around the pitch with a "Play up Pompey" sign. It just felt really old-school and traditional, although I suppose there's some PC reason why it isn't allowed nowadays.
Although not the chap you’re referring to, I actually met the chap with the wig and bell etc a couple of years ago. A very quiet and unassuming bloke in reality compared to his match day persona. He’d actually travelled up to Bolton for the funeral of a Wanderers fan (a friend of my partner and her family) who he’d known over the years which is probably a good indication of what a nice bloke he is.


Is Fratton Park not still quite quirky as well?

With most of the post Taylor Report big club grounds you feel like if you've been in one, you've been in them all.

I certainly couldn't argue that Easter Road isn't miles better than it used to be, but in terms of character and soul it's just not a patch on what it used to be.

Not sure what the point I'm trying to make it, but I always feel like a "proper" club has something unique and distinct about it. A lot of the biggest clubs lost all of that long ago.
Yes very much an old school ground. The terracing in the away end was reprofiled in the away end when the seats were put in, but where I was stood right in the corner there was a part between the home and away ends where the old terracing was still there, virtually at a ratio of three terrace rows to one seated row - not hard to see why capacities reduced so dramatically!

Fair to say some of the pubs were more welcoming than others, but largely ok really.

I’ve been to something like 217 grounds (he says as if he doesn’t keep a record of these things…) and there are genuinely few places that compare to the sight of Easter Road slowly appearing in front of you as you walk down Albion Road. Similarly the view of ER from Calton Hill, the main reason I started following Hibs 25+ years ago!

[FromLeithtoNZ]

I went to Portsmouth v Bolton last week, as it happens. Hard to put my finger on, but I wouldn't say it holds anything close to the aura of Easter Road. Great sausage rolls though.

Is John Westwood still attending matches with all the crazy gear on?

[LancashireHibby]

Is John Westwood still attending matches with all the crazy gear on?
He is yeah. See post above for my own little story about him.

[Is It On....]

what a load of pish

It's written by the clown (in my opinion) that was Theresa Mays spin doctor

[AltheHibby]

To me, a proper club means their fans are sound and get that the best part about the football is the day out itself, and not necessarily the result. They believe having an atmosphere at the games is important, and are able to take the piss out of themselves when things aren't going their way, rather than gnashing their teeth and demanding that they watch a successful product on the pitch.

For that reason, I'd say Birmingham City are one of the few proper clubs left in England

Small Heath a proper club? Wash your mouth out!😆

There are only 2 proper teams in Birmingham: Villa and Villa ladies.

[heretoday]

Pompey are a brilliant club. I’ve got several family members who are regular attenders there. Their experience of following their club pretty much matches mine with Hibs. :greengrin

Correct. I went there with my dad about a million years ago and they lost (to Charlton) but the stand was a cacophony of noise. The chimes!

Portsmouth was a mental place in those days. I don't know what it's like now.

[Is It On....]

This interesting article appeared in the Critic as to what makes a proper football club. Clearly subjective and this is written from an English perspective but history, passion, success, decent support, hard core, character etc etc. Man C don’t make it but Aston Villa do…

https://thecritic.co.uk/issues/november-2021/history-fans-noise-and-passion/

Who makes the cut in Scotland - clearly all the big 5 but I would say Dundee and not United. Probably Motherwell and perhaps St Mirrwnbut who are St Johnsotone?

Perhaps Dunfermline and some old school but down on their luck Clyde and of course Queens Park. Can’t think of many others really.

I would have thought you need at least 10yrs in existence to be a proper club..so that would exclude The Rangers 😂

[Pagan Hibernia]

Is John Westwood still attending matches with all the crazy gear on?

is that the fella that changed his middle name to ‘Portsmouth Football Club’?

[Baader]

is that the fella that changed his middle name to ‘Portsmouth Football Club’?

John Westwood yes. The fella with the wig and bell. Hes an antiquarian book seller away from his life as a Pompey fanatic.

[Iggy Pope]

Yes they did, they played Bolton in the FA Cup in 93/94

I just read an account of that game on Facebook from a Bolton supporting punk rocker. Seems Gretna pushed them all the way although I can’t say I rember a thing about it.

[LancashireHibby]

I just read an account of that game on Facebook from a Bolton supporting punk rocker. Seems Gretna pushed them all the way although I can’t say I rember a thing about it.
A season too early for me to remember really. Finished 3-2 to Bolton but Gretna were 2-1 up with ten minutes left until Owen Coyle scored twice. Gretna were drawn at home but switched in to Burnden Park as they saw it as more lucrative, something that hasn’t been allowed for a while now.

[Smartie]

A season too early for me to remember really. Finished 3-2 to Bolton but Gretna were 2-1 up with ten minutes left until Owen Coyle scored twice. Gretna were drawn at home but switched in to Burnden Park as they saw it as more lucrative, something that hasn’t been allowed for a while now.

When was that relative to the time Bolton beat Liverpool at Anfield in the cup?

I seem to remember watching the highlights of that and had it in my mind that it was around the same time?

Funny the way football works - being pushed close by Gretna and winning at Anfield.

I remember Bolton playing some amazing stuff and all the commentators were gushing about how well they played.

[Pagan Hibernia]

When was that relative to the time Bolton beat Liverpool at Anfield in the cup?

I seem to remember watching the highlights of that and had it in my mind that it was around the same time?

Funny the way football works - being pushed close by Gretna and winning at Anfield.

I remember Bolton playing some amazing stuff and all the commentators were gushing about how well they played.

bolton beat liverpool at anfield in the 92/93 season.

bolton/Gretna was 93/94

[JeMeSouviens]

So a club that has reached the final of one European competition,the semi of another, and has beaten Barcelona home and away twice, isn't a "proper football club "?

😆

They did it all with Arab money. :rolleyes::greengrin

[LancashireHibby]

When was that relative to the time Bolton beat Liverpool at Anfield in the cup?

I seem to remember watching the highlights of that and had it in my mind that it was around the same time?

Funny the way football works - being pushed close by Gretna and winning at Anfield.

I remember Bolton playing some amazing stuff and all the commentators were gushing about how well they played.




bolton beat liverpool at anfield in the 92/93 season.

bolton/Gretna was 93/94
As above, the Liverpool game was in 92/93 (also beat Wolves away in the next round who were the division above)

93/94 was a bit of an odd one, as although Bolton were in Division One, there were still 22 Premier League clubs so two of the three sides promoted from Division Two still had to enter the FA Cup in the First Round rather than the Third. The Gretna win was followed by a win at Lincoln and then the fun REALLY began. A 3-2 replay win away to Everton in the third round (including an Alan Stubbs goal), a 3-1 replay win at Arsenal (Andy Walker scoring the third) in the fourth round and a win at home to Aston Villa (Stubbs scoring the winner) in the fifth round before losing at home to Oldham (much better back then than they are now!) in the quarter final.

[EI255]

I recently learned that AC Milan begun as a cricket club, so they're not a proper football clubOur friends across the city started as a blinkin dance group [emoji1787]

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[Eyrie]

Our friends across the city started as a blinkin dance group [emoji1787]

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They've always been a bunch of hoofers.

[Clarence Beeks]

To me, a proper club means their fans are sound and get that the best part about the football is the day out itself, and not necessarily the result. They believe having an atmosphere at the games is important, and are able to take the piss out of themselves when things aren't going their way, rather than gnashing their teeth and demanding that they watch a successful product on the pitch.

For that reason, I'd say Birmingham City are one of the few proper clubs left in England

Feels wrong to make this my first post on this board but Birmingham City are a scab on the arse of football, and a few of them like to think that they're part of the Chelsea-Rangers-Linfield Axis of ********s that play in that ****ty blue.

[Jones28]

Feels wrong to make this my first post on this board but Birmingham City are a scab on the arse of football, and a few of them like to think that they're part of the Chelsea-Rangers-Linfield Axis of ********s that play in that ****ty blue.

Top notch first post 👍🏻😂

[LancashireHibby]

Feels wrong to make this my first post on this board but Birmingham City are a scab on the arse of football, and a few of them like to think that they're part of the Chelsea-Rangers-Linfield Axis of ********s that play in that ****ty blue.
Was on a train up to Glasgow a few years ago (think it was a semi final weekend) and a few Birmingham fans were on their way up for the The Rangers game the following day. Orange Birmingham shirts and UDA tunes on their speakers. The mind boggles.

[ABZHFC]

Feels wrong to make this my first post on this board but Birmingham City are a scab on the arse of football, and a few of them like to think that they're part of the Chelsea-Rangers-Linfield Axis of ********s that play in that ****ty blue.

I agree they definitely carry that element to their support (sadly, most English clubs do), but then they also have a good bunch of anti-racist supporters too, I mind them doing a Black Lives Matter march last June

[tamig]

I agree they definitely carry that element to their support (sadly, most English clubs do), but then they also have a good bunch of anti-racist supporters too, I mind them doing a Black Lives Matter march last June

They also had the infamous Zulus and have long been recognised for their diverse hard-core support.

[heretoday]

I agree they definitely carry that element to their support (sadly, most English clubs do), but then they also have a good bunch of anti-racist supporters too, I mind them doing a Black Lives Matter march last June
Birmingham are a great club.

[NAE NOOKIE]

I don't really get what you are meaning. Dundee United are not a proper football club but Dundee are??

Every single football club is a proper club. That includes Man City who had some of the most loyal supporters throughout the 90s whilst their city neighbours dominated English football. What gives anyone the right to proclaim to those generations of City fans who's families have supported the team for decades that they don't support a "real" club?

I've heard people say Edinburgh isn't a footballing city (and they are probably correct when you look at our population relative to the 2 clubs attendances). Does that mean Hibs aren't a proper club? Of course not as it means the world to the people who follow the club.

There seems to be an almost inverted snobbery with football fans lower down the pecking order. I read it on here quite often that Liverpool, Man Utd ect are not real clubs. They are to the people who have supported them all of their lifes and I'm pretty sure they don't care what other supporters think.

Absolutely bang on mate and especially your point about Man City, even when they had plummeted the depth and Man United were sweeping all before them they were getting crowds of 30,000 if that isn't loyalty I would like to know what is, now these 30,000 get unfairly lumped in with the fitba tourists and glory / glamour hunters who have attached themselves to the club and you can absolutely guarantee that when the billions kick in a Newcastle, one of the most extraordinarily loyal supports possibly in world football, exactly the same will happen.

From Real Madrid to East Stirling every club is a 'proper' football club .... Yes some are far more successful and 'glamorous' than others and therefor attract the floating fans who only follow success or glamour, but that doesn't diminish in the slightest the core fanbase or thick or thin fans who have always been there and always will.

I use 'glamour' quite a lot here because especially in the EPL that seems to be a new thing. Look at the likes of Fulham, Cardiff City, Reading etc. When these clubs are in the EPL they get big crowds willing to pay top dollar to watch them get pumped by Liverpool, Man Utd, Arsenal and Chelsea week in week out, but when they inevitably drop back to a league where they can win at home reasonably regularly their crowds still plummet .... clearly for some 'fans' basking in the warm glow of being in 'the worlds biggest and most glamorous league' trumps having to watch the team you profess to support getting its arse handed to it on a regular basis.

[Clarence Beeks]

Birmingham are a great club.

No, they're Zombies without trophies.

I'm Villa, I'm biased, but West Brom are a great club, punched above their weight for years and have a bit of class, Wolves are a great club with a proper history. That lot, no.

[MWHIBBIES]

No, they're Zombies without trophies.

I'm Villa, I'm biased, but West Brom are a great club, punched above their weight for years and have a bit of class, Wolves are a great club with a proper history. That lot, no.

Haven't Birmingham more recently won a major trophy?

[Scottie]

Haven't Birmingham more recently won a major trophy?
Alex McLeish was their manager at the time I think they won the League Cup 2011.

[Clarence Beeks]

Haven't Birmingham more recently won a major trophy?

Yeah, even a stopped clock tells the right time twice a day.

[IWasThere2016]

Manchester is Red and Blue and I have mates who support and grew up supporting one or the other and they're all mates except they rip each other about it relentlessly. I enjoy being in the middle cos I can stir the pot for greatest humour outcome.

They're all die hards, their families supported the club and the club is massive in their life.

Anyone who bangs on about Utd fans "coming from London" or No one supporting city until they got money has never been to Manchester and have no idea what these clubs mean to people.

:thumbsup:

But Manchester is BLUE :cb