Let me preface this by saying that I know every county has it's bandwagon support. It's also not easy or cheap for that matter getting the whole family to games etc. But this has really been irritating me the more I think of it all week.

On Monday at work while dissecting the carnage we saw in Clones last Sunday and reflecting on the qualifier draw one of the lads said something along the lines of, "well that team (Donegal) is nowhere near ready and will be winning nothing anytime soon. I won't be going near another game for the foreseeable"

Yet the same boy, a Liverpool fan, will spout shite all the live long day about his beloved Red men who haven't won a Championship in 27 odd years. He'll be heard giving it the "we're in to sign this lad or that lad, we had too many injuries etc etc" He'll be over to Anfield at least twice next season throwing his money at the Premier League machine. All for a team whose marketing department really and truly just considers him another consumer of their 'product'.

Now don't get me wrong, I follow the Premier League as closely as anyone but I came to the conclusion years ago that it wasn't something to get seriously upset over if the team I follow (Newcastle) weren't going well. And let's face it I'd have been in a pretty bad place a good few times if I did!

Supporting your county is totally different. You're from there. Born and bred. I'm lucky enough to be still living in mine. Gaelic Games are part of our DNA. These men train like pro's and are under more scrutiny than ever. (I personally think we've reached saturation point with the analysis, podcasts etc). The point is they deserve better support than supposed fans dimissing them out of hand after a bad day at the office.

I'll be in Ballybofey this day week hoping to see our lads bounce back against Longford and our younger men especially to better demonstrate their massive potential and talent. Just hope the majority of our support are thinking the same.

Tír Chonnail abú!

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9129 - 24/06/2017 05:55:21    2004235

Bandwagon fans annoy me too but without them you would have half full Croke Park for All Ireland final day.

This new generation with their selfie sticks, instagram, twitter and Facebook profiles love to be seen at the big game to let everybody know how great their life is..."look at me" brigade

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11229 - 24/06/2017 10:58:52    2004249

Support Rant
Let me preface this by saying that I know every county has it's bandwagon support. It's also not easy or cheap for that matter getting the whole family to games etc. But this has really been irritating me the more I think of it all week.
On Monday at work while dissecting the carnage we saw in Clones last Sunday and reflecting on the qualifier draw one of the lads said something along the lines of, "well that team (Donegal) is nowhere near ready and will be winning nothing anytime soon. I won't be going near another game for the foreseeable"
Yet the same boy, a Liverpool fan, will spout shite all the live long day about his beloved Red men who haven't won a Championship in 27 odd years. He'll be heard giving it the "we're in to sign this lad or that lad, we had too many injuries etc etc" He'll be over to Anfield at least twice next season throwing his money at the Premier League machine. All for a team whose marketing department really and truly just considers him another consumer of their 'product'.
Now don't get me wrong, I follow the Premier League as closely as anyone but I came to the conclusion years ago that it wasn't something to get seriously upset over if the team I follow (Newcastle) weren't going well. And let's face it I'd have been in a pretty bad place a good few times if I did!
Supporting your county is totally different. You're from there. Born and bred. I'm lucky enough to be still living in mine. Gaelic Games are part of our DNA. These men train like pro's and are under more scrutiny than ever. (I personally think we've reached saturation point with the analysis, podcasts etc). The point is they deserve better support than supposed fans dimissing them out of hand after a bad day at the office.
I'll be in Ballybofey this day week hoping to see our lads bounce back against Longford and our younger men especially to better demonstrate their massive potential and talent. Just hope the majority of our support are thinking the same.
Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts:5303 - 24/06/2017 05:55:21 Why do so many irish people love using the word bandwagon to knock other peoples support of a team. You are not any less of a supporter because you dont attend every game etc etc

ormondbannerman (Clare) - Posts: 13473 - 24/06/2017 11:41:18    2004257

I've definitely fallen out of love with the Premier League as I've gotten older. It's hard to have any sort of connection other than a desire to see a good sport played at the highest level. I was in Lille last summer when Ireland beat Italy and I have to say for a single match atmosphere I've never experienced anything like it, it was magnificent.

In saying that, seeing Donegal lift Sam is another level for me. Watching lads you grew up with or you've watched with your club grow into county men and giving it hell for leather in Croke Park for Donegal, there's something incredibly special about that.

JoeSoap (Donegal) - Posts: 1432 - 24/06/2017 11:44:44    2004258

Have no time for the Instagram/facebook brigade at all. What an absolute stain.

GAA supporters can be fickle in the extreme anyway. The amount of conclusions they come to regarding a team based off of one game can be baffling.

"They've actually gone backwards".

That's the one that cracks me up. You hear that from our own supporters all the time after we've lost one game.

HandballRef (Donegal) - Posts: 520 - 24/06/2017 11:57:51    2004264

I love football and rugby but to me nothing beats following your club and county in GAA. I love going to Croke Park. When I am in it and I look around the stadium it makes me proud to be Irish. It really is a fabulous arena and I can't wait to be in it again tomorrow. Coming from a so called weaker county I love my county with pride. I will always follow my beloved Wee County through thick and thin.

Sunday June 27th 2010 is one day that will live with me till the day that I die. It started off with watching Germany beating England 4-1 in a pub in Dublin. Frank Lampard's disallowed goal getting the biggest cheer of the game, then heading in to get the last few mins of the Dubs and Meath match with the Royals scoring five goals. Up next was the main event and I was quietly confident. But I know Louth never do anything easy. It was the Wee County's first Leinster semi-final appearance since 1998. It was nip and tuck with Westmeath. But when the final whistle went and Tommy Fleming's May we never say good bye blaring over the intercom I had tears in my eyes. I could not believe that the Wonderful Wee County had finally reached the promise land after fifty long years. A great day and night all around. The Bull followed by the rare visit to Peter Matthews pub in Drogheda. The beer garden was packed and the band playing in it and finishing up with Red is the Rose. The whole place was jumping. That was a great summer with every Louth match the sun was out in force.

Them two weeks leading up to the Leinster final was great indeed. It was like the recession disappeared for a couple of weeks. Living on the Meath border added just extra spice to the special occasion. I won't talk about the Leinster final because I would be here all night. But what can I say about the great Paddy Keenan? What a player and what a leader? He is our captain marvel. One of the best to wear the red jersey. They should erect a huge stature to him like they have in Rio and place it on the Cooley mountains.

OLLIE (Louth) - Posts: 12224 - 24/06/2017 12:05:09    2004267

Why do so many irish people love using the word bandwagon to knock other peoples support of a team. You are not any less of a supporter because you dont attend every game etc etc

ormondbannerman (Clare) - Posts:13066 - 24/06/2017 11:41:18

I know what you mean Ormond, however I'd just flip your question slightly. Why do people get offended when being labelled a bandwagon fan?

I'd support the Dubs, Bohs and Ireland but have jumped on many a bandwagon on my day and it doesn't bother me if I'm labelled as such. The bandwagon is great.

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13707 - 24/06/2017 12:09:50    2004268

hill16no1man (Dublin) - Posts: 12665 - 24/06/2017 12:10:35    2004269

Morty (Westmeath) - Posts: 209 - 24/06/2017 12:14:35    2004270

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9129 - 24/06/2017 12:57:29    2004275

ctowers (Dublin) - Posts: 99 - 24/06/2017 13:42:15    2004286

Iamlegion666 (Monaghan) - Posts: 285 - 24/06/2017 13:42:52    2004288

The term "bandwagon supporter" has always interested me. I lived in the UK for many years and, admittedly, only travelled back for selected games (incl '05 hurling final), just like thousands more from all corners of the country have done for donkeys years. During this time, if anybody had the cheek to call me a "bandwagon supporter" they'd have been told in no uncertain terms where to go.

streaker (Galway) - Posts: 497 - 24/06/2017 13:45:38    2004290

Look it's human nature. When things are going well everyone wants a piece of the pie. My point was more due to the fact that this particular guy will spend more this year on replica kits, Sky/BT subscription, a couple of weekend trips to Anfield etc than what it costs to go to a few Donegal games. Thats his choice. But funnily enough if we do reach the last 8 he'll be the first boy you'll meet in Jury's before the game.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9129 - 24/06/2017 14:22:19    2004298

There are only a small core number of supporters or fans that will attend all their teams home and away games all year round and that applies to all sports. For the rest it's watch some and go to others.
Are the majority bandwagoners?

catch22 (USA) - Posts: 2148 - 24/06/2017 14:27:08    2004300

Why do so many irish people love using the word bandwagon to knock other peoples support of a team. You are not any less of a supporter because you dont attend every game etc etc
ormondbannerman (Clare) - Posts:13066 - 24/06/2017 11:41:18
I know what you mean Ormond, however I'd just flip your question slightly. Why do people get offended when being labelled a bandwagon fan?
I'd support the Dubs, Bohs and Ireland but have jumped on many a bandwagon on my day and it doesn't bother me if I'm labelled as such. The bandwagon is great.
MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts:10863 - 24/06/2017 I disagree simply because too many people in ireland use the phrase so negatively and begrudgingly.

You rugby people don't understand gaa supporters.
It you loose a provincial game and say that's it of course your less of a supporter of a county than someone who gets out their a week later and supports the team when they need it most like lockjaw.
it's easy for everybody to look for tickets on the big days and want to go but a qualifier a week after taken a heavy beating is where you find the people who care more about the team
hill16no1man (Dublin) - Posts:12232 - 24/06/2017 12:10:35 What nonsense. You cant quantify support? How do you measure it? Simpy physically attending games isnt the primary nor secondary measure of how much you support your team.
Im a damn proud Munster Rugby supporter yet have attended probably 4/5 games in the past 3/4 years and of those 4/5 nearly all have been knock out games/european games. I by your logic am i bandwagon supporter. Only there for the biggest games.

'You are not any less of a supporter because you dont(sic) attend every game etc etc'
Absolute nonsense.
Morty (Westmeath) - Posts:1 - 24/06/2017 12:14:35Fabulous argument backed up so well by such excellent points....... not!!!!!!!

I'm sorry but roaring on your own people in sporting battle in Croke Park is a universe away from shouting for Newcastle in some pub.
Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts:5305 - 24/06/2017 12:57:29 Is it? Why?? Are supporters of Newcastle United people who can and do travel regularly to newcastle and elsewhere to support their team lesser beings because they dont go to all the games?
What of irish people abroad who may not have lived in ireland for a long time or even if they did live here only for a short period and never really got to see their county play live? Are they not as big a supporter because theyre not physically at the ground when games are on? Such arrogance to say theyre not.


The term "bandwagon supporter" has always interested me. I lived in the UK for many years and, admittedly, only travelled back for selected games (incl '05 hurling final), just like thousands more from all corners of the country have done for donkeys years. During this time, if anybody had the cheek to call me a "bandwagon supporter" they'd have been told in no uncertain terms where to go.
streaker (Galway) - Posts:201 - 24/06/2017 13:45:38its such a petty begrudging term.

ormondbannerman (Clare) - Posts: 13473 - 24/06/2017 14:41:15    2004306

There are proportions in play , % of dedication there's the diehard of which many in here are there's the honest supporter gets to most games even the odd away one , there's the championship only fan , then the sandwich brigade with corporate Ireland friends they get to semi finals and all Ireland only , each to there own the only time I get offended is when guys don't get to go to games barely catch the Sunday game but feel entitled to their opinion like being ignorant doesn't matter

Damothedub (Dublin) - Posts: 5193 - 24/06/2017 15:22:14    2004312

I'll give you all a good one, as majority know I live in Westmeath, I know this guy who is a pure Liverpool fan, everything is us, we etc, slapping the crest on his Liverpool top (has everyone from 1st strip to away by 2, goalkeeper etc. (how many does one bloody team need) anyway that's away from my point, he goes do support we us Liverpool at least 3 times a year. (probably more, met him last Sunday I was wearing my new Meath top (win lose or draw I always wear it the following day) and he started off the slagging, I asked did he go to Westmeath game, oh yeah, but only second half as i wouldn't pay 15/20 (whatever it was) to watch them , I waited until they opened gates to go in, I do that all the time he proudly announces. But yet is looking for a free ticket from his work for tomorrow game.
And of course that some guy called ebrieammvuallla (I jest name) is going to sign for the pool, us we.
Btw I am not anti soccer, I support Chelsea since 1970s and when I lived in UK I went to Stanford bridge to see them play , and crystal palace too (as I lived very close to ground) the days of Kerry Dixon and david speedy were for me the highlight of them. I have to be told now if Chelsea win or get beat, I may see it on news etc, but to me soccer has lost everything that made it good and is now just over paid prima donnas.
But not to the pool or man u men aka us we etc.
That's my rant over.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 24/06/2017 15:28:21    2004316

Jack_Sparrow (Westmeath) - Posts: 1016 - 24/06/2017 15:47:51    2004320

Morty (Westmeath) - Posts: 209 - 24/06/2017 16:11:40    2004326