Football
FanCast columnist Sam
Hollis is fed up of hearing the
likes of Arsenal, Liverpool, Everton and Spurs bemoaning their misfortune and
feels that they should take a closer look at what is happening elsewhere in the
football league. You could say somewhat trivia in comparison.
One thing is really grinding my gears at the moment. In
recent weeks, I have noticed a significant increase of extreme moaning. I feel
I have to stick up for the real football fans.
When fans of the 'top four'
constantly whine about mundane, un-important issues such as: "Gallas clearly tried to move his hand AWAY
from the ball" and "This
multi-millionaire owner only cares about the money - get him out!", it
makes my blood boil. You are in the Premier League. Unless the 'big four'
headlines are all these people read - Bournemouth have just been saved from extinction
and my club, Luton Town, are set to be docked another 15 points for the start
of their season in League Two after we have just been relegated. Surely not in
the same league as a dodgy penalty decision.
While I admire passion for football and passion for a football team, I can't
help but feel that these fans should try standing on the terraces at
Chesterfield on a Tuesday night, or at York, or, indeed face an outstanding struggle
in keeping the circulation flow to your legs at Luton. You see, it is very hard
to find any sympathy for a club who are having such a terrific season. I ask,
what exactly do these fans have to moan about?
I have no doubt the top-flight clubs haven't always enjoyed Premier League
football, and at some point they have been struggling for their lives. But in
this day and age, with all the money floating around the top League which you
don't need me patronising you fine people about, Everton, Spurs, Liverpool or
Arsenal do not appear to be bad teams to support. While Steven Gerrard and co
were in a Boeing 737, which flew for just 26 miles and burned nearly a ton of
fuel - just so that England's pampered soccer stars could avoid spending an
extra half an hour on a coach - I no doubt was contemplating an away trip to
Gillingham on a Tuesday night. While Everton fans were 'heartbroken' after defeat to Fiorentina in the UEFA Cup, I was
barely home from a lovely tip to Carlisle the previous night reflecting on a
2-1 defeat.
I understand it is not a competition, and while I rant I am fuelling what these
fans were expressing in the first place. Heck, let's not beat about the bush
here - I am extremely bitter. I simply cannot help but think that when I read
headlines such as: 'Ferguson has one eye
on semis', and: 'Lampard - Blues
revenge not the agenda', that the media and other sports fans could at
least throw a little attention to real issues. Real issues that affect real
fans. Please do express your love for your team - just not on the same day
lower League teams have once again been shot in the teeth by the Associations
that supposedly care for all Leagues. I'm sure there are many fans that are far
worse off than you, if you think about it.