A national sport?

Madhatter · 06-03-2006, 19:47

This Quote is not my view or opinion.

I've just read a thread on our forum, and the author asks why is our national sport football.

Quote:

Association football is said to be a national sport. Is it really?

We have (foreign) managers accused by petulant British ones of unsporting behaviour. We have players who gob all over the playing areas. We have players who seem to be the bluntest in the knife box. We have fans who wage wars between towns, countries.

We seem to have had a string of incompetents as national coaches and now a foreign one who appears to have been forced out by newspaper campaigns - although having the best recent history record.

Is this really the best the old country can do? Or is it not just a disgrace that it seems to be a game predicated on ill-will, lack of sportsmanship and is played by thicko yobs watched by more thicko yobs who've never played this game?

This seems to be the view of football that many people not interesested in the game have.

Most of you seem to like football but what is the view of those of you who don't?

Acrylic-bob · 06-03-2006, 19:54

I think that, on balance, your quote just about sums the situation up to a tee.

Madhatter · 06-03-2006, 20:23

why is this in here? I put it in general for a reason. it's asking non football fans an opinion. Non football fans aren't going to come in here are they?

shakermaker · 06-03-2006, 20:34

That is a very narrow minded view of football. It is no doubt a view of Premiership football...which yes I agree is the worst example of sport anywhere in the world; the game, the players, the fans are all corrupted by commercialism.
However people able to see the bigger picture know that if you look more local for your football in lower leagues you will find the true passion in football is still alive and as a Accrington Stanley supporter of a decade I am proud to say football is the national sport.
Besides - it's the amount of people that go to see professional sport that determine what is the national sport, not the quality of it.

Madhatter · 07-03-2006, 18:36

I think it's more our natinal sport becuase it is there at a local level and at international level rather than national. We don't seem as keen on football on a local level as you up there, I'm supprised at the level of supports stanley has. You should be proud of that. Shame your local council hasn't got the same enthusiasm about you and your town as you have about stanley. You'd have the best town in the world.

shakermaker · 07-03-2006, 21:10

It is a shame about the council - any politician around here for that matter. Stanley 'fans' when it suits them to toot their own horn.
It is also a shame that in a town of 33000 people, only a maximum of 10% of those turn out to see the best thing in Accrington...they'd much rather just claim the fame of the name when they're abroad and never support the club at all.
A town of old sh...gits.