I was in a fancy hotel in Bangkok once and the bell boy who was taking my bags to the room asked about my football team. Obviously answering Charlton, I was expecting to spend 10mins explaining who etc. To my surprise he started going on about Bartlett, Fish, Rufus etc saying what a great team we used to have. I was pretty gobsmacked, the guy got a decent tip for knowing his stuff!
I always get the 'what league are they in now' question which I find so strange from supposed football fans. I also know not to talk too long so that the conversation can switch back to Chelsea. Oh and the other point I notice is that being a Charlton fan means that I know nothing about the Premiership and certainly my opinion counts for nothing re the Champions League. But these are proper fans as they always go to see Chelsea in the first round they enter of the CO Cup and the Liverpool fan saw them at Fulham the season before last.
Back in the early 90's I remember my section leader asking me when I was going to grow up and support a big team because I had asked for a day off to go to Notts County. Got the impression she felt I was supporting Charlton just be different.
I was asked by a waiter and mad football fan in the Maldives what team I supported and when I told him his face dropped and he looked very sympathetic and slightly confused, as though I had admitted to contracting a rare sexually transmitted disease
"Didn't they used to be quite good?" he asked gently.
As I currently work in Manchester, saying I support Charlton will either merit an interested 'Oh?' as it indicates that I am actually a proper football fan, or sometimes a derisory 'Ha, really?', typically from a glory hunter who hasn't been to see their team play for years.
Reading through four pages of posts I'm a bit surprised that the reactions you get over there are not much different than those I get here in China, lol. Most of the times they ask 1. why? 2. are they in the second division now? 3. is their home ground called The Valley? 4. Zheng Zhi's old club yes? 5. they used to be very big in the Premier League, weren't they? (many think we were big! )
and then they'll say something like 'you're a true football fan', 'respect', etc.
I remember back in 2005 I went on the internet forum of Shanghai TV Sports Channel (top three sports channel in China with millions of regular viewers) asking if there was anyone supporting Charlton. I was desperate to find fellow Addicks but didn't find any. However, to my surprise, on the following weekend a Charlton live game was picked by the channel and the commentator (a well-known one in China) made a reference to my post before the game saying that Charlton were becoming more and more famous and popular around the world!
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.......
What's Canada, is that one of the 50 states?
I sure hope that you didn't waste any education money on History or Geography, my friend and I also hope you did not attend our Sponsor's esteemed facilities (I expect their standard is much higher than that :P) ?!?!?!? Often confused with our friends to the South when traveling in Europe, but I can assure you that our becoming a "State" was settled back in 1812 - 1814 (sorry, more history for you.....lol!!).
But was once pleasantly surprised in Sydney when I walked into a sports store looking at football shirts. 'Can I help you?' Said the bloke in the store. 'I don't think so, you wouldn't have my team's shirt.' 'Who's that then?' He asked. 'Charlton Athletic' said I, expecting the usual puzzled look. 'Oh yeah' he responded 'you guys should beat Fulham later on today' and we did I think.
If it's someone who actually goes to games it's usually pretty civil - even with Beagles and Spanners. For a few years after the prem days it was "What on earth has happened to them?" in most cases with an air of suprise TBH, closely followed by "When's Curbishley going to get another job?"
The armchair big 4 followers are the ones who usually irritate, plus anyone who uses the word "Brand" when talking about football. It ain't baked beans you know....
Also get the usual crap from work colleagues who support Manure, one guy who has never been to Old Trafford announced he was buying the new 3D TVs so he could watch football in 3D, I said if you buy a ticket and go to games its all in 3D already.
If I'm asked by a big chelsea/united supporter etc I usually don't just reply with ''Charlton'', but say dismissively ''My local team, Charlton'', in which they can never really reply with anything too snidey after that
Whenever a friend of mine at work who supports Man Utd (genuine armchair fan) decides to bash Charlton after a loss I usually turn it back round on him saying that because I've been to Old Trafford more than him (he has never been) that makes me more of a Man Utd fan than he is and I don't even support them. He has yet to respond to that one yet. It should work on most armchair fans of any club.
Comments
DON'T YOU THINK I F***ING KNOW THAT HAVING SPENT THE BEST PART OF 6 YEARS WATCHING US PLAY CARLISLE AND YEOVIL YOU CRETIN.
I was asked by a waiter and mad football fan in the Maldives what team I supported and when I told him his face dropped and he looked very sympathetic and slightly confused, as though I had admitted to contracting a rare sexually transmitted disease
"Didn't they used to be quite good?" he asked gently.
Or alternatively
"I met one for you once, his name was tom do you know ow him?"
that really annoys me ...normally from chelsea,spurs,arsenal fans
Most of the times they ask
1. why?
2. are they in the second division now?
3. is their home ground called The Valley?
4. Zheng Zhi's old club yes?
5. they used to be very big in the Premier League, weren't they? (many think we were big! )
and then they'll say something like 'you're a true football fan', 'respect', etc.
I remember back in 2005 I went on the internet forum of Shanghai TV Sports Channel (top three sports channel in China with millions of regular viewers) asking if there was anyone supporting Charlton. I was desperate to find fellow Addicks but didn't find any. However, to my surprise, on the following weekend a Charlton live game was picked by the channel and the commentator (a well-known one in China) made a reference to my post before the game saying that Charlton were becoming more and more famous and popular around the world!
Often confused with our friends to the South when traveling in Europe, but I can assure you that our becoming a "State" was settled back in 1812 - 1814 (sorry, more history for you.....lol!!).
But was once pleasantly surprised in Sydney when I walked into a sports store looking at football shirts. 'Can I help you?' Said the bloke in the store. 'I don't think so, you wouldn't have my team's shirt.'
'Who's that then?' He asked. 'Charlton Athletic' said I, expecting the usual puzzled look.
'Oh yeah' he responded 'you guys should beat Fulham later on today' and we did I think.
The armchair big 4 followers are the ones who usually irritate, plus anyone who uses the word "Brand" when talking about football. It ain't baked beans you know....
That are loads smaller then us.