'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAHAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFQABAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAb/2gAIAQEAAAAAnGf/xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAD/9oACAECEAAAAG//xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAC/9oACAEDEAAAAB//xAAfEAACAQQCAwAAAAAAAAAAAAACAwEABAUSBiERFqL/2gAIAQEAAT8Av4xVrgjm4wxPGQIVMJnjWI76jakcMU5K2ej45m4wW8Xxjt91/8QAGREAAQUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEQABAgMS/9oACAECAQE/AJV6Ylf/xAAZEQACAwEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAREgABMdH/2gAIAQMBAT8AdAK3s//Z'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
DISCLAIMER : This article is mainly for foreign football fans . I shall not question the loyalty of the home grown fans, some of whom have attended their clubs matches since they were toddlers, whether they were in the premier league or the Championship. To all you people … Infinite respect. Also this article takes only the EPL into consideration.
Upon writing this article I become the biggest hypocrite ever. My friends will testify to this fact. It is true that I, like most other non-United, non-Chelsea and non-City fans, have called all the people under those three categories glory hunters. Accept it, you have done it too. Arsenal fans are quick to label every United fan they see as one and now after the supposed ‘blue revolution’, the new City fans are facing the same tirade of name-calling .
The definition of glory hunter as per Urban Dictionary is 30 lines wrong . It basically refers to anybody who follows a successful club only because they are successful. I used to classify fans in similar ways. But I have a new classification.
Following-football fans and Non-Following football fans.
Following-football fans are more or less the majority of Gooners, Blues and YNWA people or whatever they are called. A large amount of the fans of these clubs watch matches, wear the kits, know the players the coach (in Chelsea’s case the physio), potential transfers and even the club’s youth stars. They have followed their clubs through thick and thin and still sit promptly at 6 pm in front of the TV during weekends to watch their team play.
Non-following football fans are more or less a large proportion of the United fans . (I am sorry but it is the truth. Note the fact that I said a large proportion. United have over 350 million fans so there are a LOT of following fans too). They are those who saw a team and they maybe liked their kit colour, or the way they played and their star players. Yet they are not interested in watching match weekends or staying up unearthly hours to watch the champions league broadcast.
I know some people will jump here and say that’s exactly what a glory hunter is. No it is not. They like a team, it is their opinion. If they do not want to follow it, that again is their opinion. We frankly have no right to question their choice.
So what if they still do not know their favourite player was sold and now is playing in a whole different country (read Ronaldo), or that their other favorite player who they respect, above all actually blackmailed the club into giving a bigger paycheck (read Rooney). They still support the club, the idea, the logo and the game. Yes, they may not know how to keep themselves in good books of following fans of other clubs by saying GGMU or CHAMP20NS or whatever in every one of their sentences but the fact that they even keep the beautiful game in mind is one that we should be happy about.
Now for the City conundrum. I am all the way in India, a million miles from Manchester and have started to see City jerseys popping up everywhere. Frankly where they get them is a mystery to me, but the fact is that the sniggers and smirks are growing as fast as the number of these kits on the market. Especially the united fans, yes they won the title, get over it. And you arsenal fans, yes they have thrown money and bought your stars, again get over it. Stop calling them glory hunters.
Look in the mirror and ask yourself, why did you become a fan of the team you support. Was it because of their high moral standards? Do any of you guys support West Brom or Stoke or Sunderland as your first choice team? You saw Manchester United as one of the most dangerous teams ever who kept winning and winning and you liked it. You saw the midfield of Arsenal weave magic and give the ball to henry who rarely disappointed. You saw Chelsea getting a billionaire owner and buying players for huge sums (sorry, couldn’t resist) and begin winning trophies. You saw an inspiring capitan, rocking crowd, great history, goal after goal and now you laugh at City fans?. If I was not advocating a change in mindset I would call you all glory hunters. How many Arsenal fans were Arsenal fans pre-Wenger or CFC fans pre-Abramovich or United fans pre-Ferguson?
For those who don’t watch the league, City plays awe inspiring football, plus the ‘will they crack or will they prevail’ debate about a team composed of so many superstars is as engaging as the football they play. They totally deserve their title of champions.
I predict the “buying club” debate to start somewhere around here but that is for a different article.
So stop mocking Manchester City . They are now a force in world football. They are going to get fans and ten years down the line when Southampton win the league don’t call those new fans glory hunter too. Stop the cycle stop the hate . Football for life. Amen.
