Normally - "I remember when you used to be in the Premier League, what happened" at which point either a) you respond by giving a lecture on the spiral nature of football and how one bad decision normally leads to another, which leads to another and before you know it you've developed a pathological hatred of Alan McCormack based on where he goes for dinner, or b) you just shrug and say "that's football".
If it's overseas then the above happens too, but first I seem to spend about two minutes showing them how to pronounce the name properly - particularly in northern Europe (Switzerland, Scandinavia) - there seems to be something about the first syllable of our name that northern Europeans find very hard to pronounce.
Sharlton?
They then say "oh yes, they used to be in the premiership, but now they're chit.........
Normally - "I remember when you used to be in the Premier League, what happened" at which point either a) you respond by giving a lecture on the spiral nature of football and how one bad decision normally leads to another, which leads to another and before you know it you've developed a pathological hatred of Alan McCormack based on where he goes for dinner, or b) you just shrug and say "that's football".
If it's overseas then the above happens too, but first I seem to spend about two minutes showing them how to pronounce the name properly - particularly in northern Europe (Switzerland, Scandinavia) - there seems to be something about the first syllable of our name that northern Europeans find very hard to pronounce.
Sharlton?
Normally the best I can get to is "Char-alton" - maybe it's just my accent !
Before Chris Powell: "Oh. What league are you in at the moment?" - this happened even when we were in the premier league.
The CP years: "You've got Chris Powell in charge haven't you? He's a top bloke. I've always had a spot for Charlton"
After Chris Powell: "Oh. What league are you in at the moment?" or from the more 'in the know': "I heard you guys are a feeder club for Standard Liege now?"
Living in London most people support the bigger teams Chelsea/ Arsenal/ Tottenham etc, so when they finally take a breath about how fantastic their team is, they ask who I support pretend to care for about 30 seconds then go back to telling me about their teams. However a few months ago an elderly Jewish customer at work asked me who I supported, I assumed that he wouldnt of heard of them or not know much but how wrong I was he knew more about the club than I did.
Cant remember where in the Far East it was one year (Thailand or Indonesia) but never forget SkySportsNews showing the impact of Man Utd v Arsenal out there.
Was this restaurant with "fans" of both clubs hugging each other celebrating when either team scored... Was just a total WTF moment (i.e. Dont expect them to be at each others throats)
The weirdest game I ever saw was a Malaysia XI v Manchester United. Something seemed strange during the game and then I worked it out. When the Malaysian team attacked (which was admittedly a rare event), the crowd cheered as expected, but when MU attacked the same people cheered. Usually, of course, you hear noise from certain parts of the ground, but not for this game when the crowd wanted both teams to score.
Usually I get a sort of respect from people who know football, i.e. I'm obviously a real supporter. That respect sometimes has a hint of condescension... how sad that some people derive personal status from the team they claim to support!
While traveling across Canada on business (20 years) & when the subject came up, I'd get 2 questions: 1) Who??? ; 2) Why??? Lol.....I'd then show my Red card, provide a quick history and try to recruit the great uneducated, unwashed who only know of Man U or Chelsea.......
Respect from those who go to watch football anywhere outside the premiership. For the rest and especially those in the top half of the premiership...condescension which reinforces my arrogant inverted snobbery
It gets pretty annoying that 98% of people seem to support the top 4. Most pub/workplace conversations just revolve around what Van Gaal allegedly said this week or well-known transfer targets to Chelsea.
It's a shame as we have the most brilliant league system in this country.
Comments
a) Cheltenham?
b) Oh right, what league are they in now? (Even from fellow Championship team fans. Just weird)
c) I'm so sorry to hear that
When I am in Brasil with my wife, she says Charlton they say Chelsea
The CP years: "You've got Chris Powell in charge haven't you? He's a top bloke. I've always had a spot for Charlton"
After Chris Powell: "Oh. What league are you in at the moment?" or from the more 'in the know': "I heard you guys are a feeder club for Standard Liege now?"
"Chelsea?"
Me: Charlton
Him: Chelsea?
Me: no, Charrllton
Him: Chelsea?
Me: Charrllton Athletic
Him: Chelsea?
Me: Yep, Chelsea.
'I used to go watch them when I was a kid'
'What division are you in now'
'Bet you wish you had never hounded Curbishley out'
'Why'
I have 3 Millwall mugs at work...but they're alright most of the time.
I have 3 Millwall mugs at work...but they're alright most of the time.
You can't always choose who you work with Len. They were full of it this morning.
It's a shame as we have the most brilliant league system in this country.