'Plastic' fans?

On here and no doubt many other football forums, fans loyal to their 'home town' team refer to 'plastic' fans of clubs such as Liverpool, Man Utd, Arsenal, Chelsea, Man City etc

Other than my team being Cardiff (until I die), I always want Man Utd to do well, unless of course they are playing Cardiff. This dates back to the 1st match I saw on tele in black & white ... United v Benfica (European Cup final).

I don't actually 'support' them because I don't go to watch them, subscribe to MUTV or buy their merchandise.

I watched the Leicester v United game yesterday and thought the support given to the team and their manager by the Man Utd fans was great. Are those fans 'plastics'? I suspect that supporting United either at home or especially away is difficult for anyone who does not have a season ticket.

The same could be said about the other so called big teams.


An AI response on Quora:

Do Manchester United have many plastic fans?

The term "plastic fans" typically refers to supporters of a sports team who are perceived to be bandwagon fans or those who lack a genuine connection to the team, often following it due to its popularity or success rather than a deep-rooted loyalty.

Manchester United, being one of the most successful and widely supported football clubs in the world, naturally has a large and diverse fan base. This includes a significant number of fans who have followed the club for many years, as well as newer fans who might have come on board during periods of success or due to the club's global marketing efforts.

The presence of "plastic fans" in any large club is often a topic of debate among supporters. Some long-time fans might express frustration with newer fans who they feel lack the same level of commitment or knowledge about the club's history. However, it's important to recognize that fan identities can be complex, and many newer fans can develop a genuine passion for the club over time.

In summary, while Manchester United does have a considerable number of fans who might be labeled as "plastic" due to the club's global appeal, the majority of supporters are likely to have varying degrees of loyalty and connection to the team.

Thinly veiled ‘I’m a plastic’ post
The United away fans wouldn’t be “plastics”, they’d be part of their more hardcore base support

In my opinion there’s a sizeable amount of our fans whose interest was sparked in the club around the time we got promoted to the championship. And possibly then further when we made it to cup finals. But they supported other clubs beforehand, because Cardiff were too low profile. I think there’ll be less plastics as the years go on, unless we go and do something drastic like go down the leagues or be shit all the time…

Oh..

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Originally Posted by Forest Green Bluebird

On here and no doubt many other football forums, fans loyal to their 'home town' team refer to 'plastic' fans of clubs such as Liverpool, Man Utd, Arsenal, Chelsea, Man City etc

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I was a plastic fan at Forest Green Rovers a couple of weeks ago. Very rural, innit? The antithesis of Luton, I thought.

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Originally Posted by Forest Green Bluebird

On here and no doubt many other football forums, fans loyal to their 'home town' team refer to 'plastic' fans of clubs such as Liverpool, Man Utd, Arsenal, Chelsea, Man City etc

Other than my team being Cardiff (until I die), I always want Man Utd to do well, unless of course they are playing Cardiff. This dates back to the 1st match I saw on tele in black & white ... United v Benfica (European Cup final).

I don't actually 'support' them because I don't go to watch them, subscribe to MUTV or buy their merchandise.

I watched the Leicester v United game yesterday and thought the support given to the team and their manager by the Man Utd fans was great. Are those fans 'plastics'? I suspect that supporting United either at home or especially away is difficult for anyone who does not have a season ticket.

The same could be said about the other so called big teams.


An AI response on Quora:

Do Manchester United have many plastic fans?

The term "plastic fans" typically refers to supporters of a sports team who are perceived to be bandwagon fans or those who lack a genuine connection to the team, often following it due to its popularity or success rather than a deep-rooted loyalty.

Manchester United, being one of the most successful and widely supported football clubs in the world, naturally has a large and diverse fan base. This includes a significant number of fans who have followed the club for many years, as well as newer fans who might have come on board during periods of success or due to the club's global marketing efforts.

The presence of "plastic fans" in any large club is often a topic of debate among supporters. Some long-time fans might express frustration with newer fans who they feel lack the same level of commitment or knowledge about the club's history. However, it's important to recognize that fan identities can be complex, and many newer fans can develop a genuine passion for the club over time.

In summary, while Manchester United does have a considerable number of fans who might be labeled as "plastic" due to the club's global appeal, the majority of supporters are likely to have varying degrees of loyalty and connection to the team.

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You're a james hunt if you want manu or Liverpool "to do well"
Unless you come from or your parents come from both cities simple.

Don't you think Man U have done well enough? As I see it, it has nothing to do with going to games. You could go every week for all I care. If you're from the Home Counties and support Man U, (unless there are mitigating circumstances like familial ties) to me you're a plastic.

I hope this AI shit is not going to become a regular feature of this board.

Who gives a **** what AI says? What possible relevance does it have?

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Originally Posted by Forest Green Bluebird

In summary, while Manchester United does have a considerable number of fans who might be labeled as "plastic" due to the club's global appeal, the majority of supporters are likely to have varying degrees of loyalty and connection to the team.

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What a valuable insight. A human being could never have reached such a profound conclusion.

:puke:

Who actually cares? It's an infantile discussion really, the type of shit one poster on here love to bang on about, and no doubt, immature adults who need to grow up and talk about things more pressing in every day life. People can call themselves what they like, it's their business. There's no blueprint for supporting a football club. I think that in the 43 years i have supported the club i have had a season ticket for 16 of those seasons, if we became really successful and someone who supported Man utd from their armchair and never had an ounce of interest in CCFC all of a sudden became a fan and got a season ticket at my expense, then i wouldn't give a shit. It's not my club, and i don't want it to be, those days are long gone.

Man United have a very large number of very committed and passionate (and local) fans. They are no different to any club. Same with Liverpool. The difference is they also have a very large number of fans around the UK, attract tourists and appear on wealthy people's "bucket lists" in the way other clubs don't. Rightly or wrongly, they all have a right to buy tickets and do so, so the local base is more diluted.

United's away support is widely recognised as one of the best in the UK, their home crowds even for league cup games etc are exceptional and their protests against the Glazers, even setting up FC United etc show how active and organised they are.

I know people won't like this but I know same United supporters in South Wales who are far more passionate and committed to them than I know City fans in Cardiff are committed to us.

Cardiff is my first: Malmö FF are my second as i live in MalmÖ. Maybe i should switch as MFF are constantly in Europe.

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Originally Posted by insider

You're a james hunt if you want manu or Liverpool "to do well"
Unless you come from or your parents come from both cities simple.

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I don't get your logic.

What if I wanted Bournemouth or Brighton to do well?

Football has been my 'religion' since I was knee high to a grasshopper.

I have enjoyed watching the most able footballers (Best, Charlton, Osgood, Banks etc) on MOTD etc since the late 60s.

Watching football at the highest level (not just Man U) has been a tonic to the trials and tribulations of supporting my home-town team.

Do you enjoy watching Premier League and Champions League games?

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Originally Posted by Tuerto

Who actually cares? It's an infantile discussion really, the type of shit one poster on here love to bang on about, and no doubt, immature adults who need to grow up and talk about things more pressing in every day life. People can call themselves what they like, it's their business. There's no blueprint for supporting a football club. I think that in the 43 years i have supported the club i have had a season ticket for 16 of those seasons, if we became really successful and someone who supported Man utd from their armchair and never had an ounce of interest in CCFC all of a sudden became a fan and got a season ticket at my expense, then i wouldn't give a shit. It's not my club, and i don't want it to be, those days are long gone.

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Couldn't agree more, who cares

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Originally Posted by The Lone Gunman

I hope this AI shit is not going to become a regular feature of this board.

Who gives a **** what AI says? What possible relevance does it have?

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Also couldn't agree more

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Originally Posted by Taunton Blue Genie

I was a plastic fan at Forest Green Rovers a couple of weeks ago. Very rural, innit? The antithesis of Luton, I thought.

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They've been my 'home-town' club since 1982 ... watched them about a dozen times in that period, the majority being pre-season friendlies against Cardiff.

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Originally Posted by delmbox

Also couldn't agree more

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Seconded, or thirded. Whatever it is.

I keep seeing things on social media about "AI designs future premier league stadiums" and it's all just a load of complete nonsense with no basis in reality

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Originally Posted by The Lone Gunman

I hope this AI shit is not going to become a regular feature of this board.

Who gives a **** what AI says? What possible relevance does it have?

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I would have expected a more thoughtful response from someone who usually makes considered contributions on this board.

I was really looking for a definition of 'plastic' fans.

AI is a system that analyses opinion and summarises.

Wasn't trying to be for or against AI ... just wanted to be enlightened about the term 'plastic' fan and how anyone liking to see a team other than Cardiff do well in a more elite league should be judged.

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Originally Posted by delmbox

Also couldn't agree more

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Is that in relation to AI in football or AI in general?

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Originally Posted by ToTaL ITK

Cardiff is my first: Malmö FF are my second as i live in MalmÖ. Maybe i should switch as MFF are constantly in Europe.

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Fabulous city Malmo. I saw Ibrahimovic play for them years ago in the second tier.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Tuerto

Who actually cares? It's an infantile discussion really, the type of shit one poster on here love to bang on about, and no doubt, immature adults who need to grow up and talk about things more pressing in every day life. People can call themselves what they like, it's their business. There's no blueprint for supporting a football club. I think that in the 43 years i have supported the club i have had a season ticket for 16 of those seasons, if we became really successful and someone who supported Man utd from their armchair and never had an ounce of interest in CCFC all of a sudden became a fan and got a season ticket at my expense, then i wouldn't give a shit. It's not my club, and i don't want it to be, those days are long gone.

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Agree with this. Could not care less if the person who lives across the road wants one team or another to win.

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Originally Posted by JamesWales

Man United have a very large number of very committed and passionate (and local) fans. They are no different to any club. Same with Liverpool. The difference is they also have a very large number of fans around the UK, attract tourists and appear on wealthy people's "bucket lists" in the way other clubs don't. Rightly or wrongly, they all have a right to buy tickets and do so, so the local base is more diluted.

United's away support is widely recognised as one of the best in the UK, their home crowds even for league cup games etc are exceptional and their protests against the Glazers, even setting up FC United etc show how active and organised they are.

I know people won't like this but I know same United supporters in South Wales who are far more passionate and committed to them than I know City fans in Cardiff are committed to us.

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I wonder why.

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Originally Posted by Forest Green Bluebird

Is that in relation to AI in football or AI in general?

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Probably not the thread for it but the relentless drive towards improvement of AI quite frankly terrifies me. There doesn't seem to be any control of it, everybody's chasing the money and it doesn't seem that anyone's taking a moment to pause and think about the consequences of unchecked development of something like this.

Putting aside the fact we don't know what happens if we end up creating an intelligence greater than our own, on a less Terminator level it's going to make the jobs of millions of people redundant and make the world a far more soulless place.

In terms of this thread in particular, I don't care what AI's summation of the situation is, just like I don't care about looking at a picture or listening to an album that's created by AI. This is a messageboard where humans discuss football, AI's response just isn't something I'm personally interested in seeing.

Not to say there can't be amazing benefits to AI if developed and used carefully and with consideration, but you only need to look at the climate emergency to know humans are selfish and greedy and we'll probably end up breaking everything with it

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Originally Posted by Forest Green Bluebird

I don't get your logic.

What if I wanted Bournemouth or Brighton to do well?

Football has been my 'religion' since I was knee high to a grasshopper.

I have enjoyed watching the most able footballers (Best, Charlton, Osgood, Banks etc) on MOTD etc since the late 60s.

Watching football at the highest level (not just Man U) has been a tonic to the trials and tribulations of supporting my home-town team.

Do you enjoy watching Premier League and Champions League games?

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I enjoy watching premier league and champions league games, I just watch it without having to choose who I want to win. I’d generally prefer the underdog, unless a non Jack Welsh player was on one of the teams

What you’re talking about is closet-supporting United from a distance rather than that anyway. There’s actually quite a bit of that in our fanbase. It’s a bit like Tory voters, they rarely admit to it

It’s just a bit cringe seeing adults in Merthyr talking about their team, when a visit to the game is more a Mecca-like visit every five years, if they’re lucky. #ynwa on social media and all that.

That being said each to their own, when I was in school all the kids supported Liverpool, United, arsenal etc, I never had a problem with them

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Originally Posted by Tuerto

Who actually cares? It's an infantile discussion really, the type of shit one poster on here love to bang on about, and no doubt, immature adults who need to grow up and talk about things more pressing in every day life. People can call themselves what they like, it's their business. There's no blueprint for supporting a football club. I think that in the 43 years i have supported the club i have had a season ticket for 16 of those seasons, if we became really successful and someone who supported Man utd from their armchair and never had an ounce of interest in CCFC all of a sudden became a fan and got a season ticket at my expense, then i wouldn't give a shit. It's not my club, and i don't want it to be, those days are long gone.

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It's taking all of Sludgeys will power and diazepam not to contribute to this thread, unless of course he's already incapacitated by a seizure?

Love you Sludgey.

X

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Originally Posted by Forest Green Bluebird

AI is a system that analyses opinion and summarises.

Wasn't trying to be for or against AI ... just wanted to be enlightened about the term 'plastic' fan and how anyone liking to see a team other than Cardiff do well in a more elite league should be judged.

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So you asked a robot or a computer or whatever it is….

This AI nonsense has started to creep onto this message board with increasing frequency in recent months and it’s a truly dreadful development - another nail in the coffin of what is obviously a dying social media format.

I’ve always come here to talk about football and other stuff with fellow fans, not with robots. The fact that some contributors are now seeking to authenticate their opinions with AI is truly pathetic. The term ‘artificial’ sums it up perfectly.

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Originally Posted by The Lone Gunman

So you asked a robot or a computer or whatever it is….

This AI nonsense has started to creep onto this message board with increasing frequency in recent months and it’s a truly dreadful development - another nail in the coffin of what is obviously a dying social media format.

I’ve always come here to talk about football and other stuff with fellow fans, not with robots. The fact that some contributors are now seeking to authenticate their opinions with AI is truly pathetic. The term ‘artificial’ sums it up perfectly.

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Absolutely 100% - incredible for this 64 year old to see a thread about "plastic" fans supplemented by "artificial intelligence" takes some beating.

People can support who they want to, but unless you attend live matches on a fairly regular basis I don't think you can call yourself much more than a follower. There are hundreds of people travelling from South Wales every Saturday to watch teams based in London, Merseyside, the Midlands and Manchester. They put their money and time into watching the team they choose to support.

It's the armchair followers who in many cases have never been or even seen their team who annoy genuine fans.

I believe in freedom of choice. It is up to the individual who they want to 'do well'. I may not like their choices, but it is up to them and none of my business.

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Originally Posted by The Lone Gunman

I hope this AI shit is not going to become a regular feature of this board.

Who gives a **** what AI says? What possible relevance does it have?

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AI says
It sounds like he's skeptical or even outright dismissive of AI, which is understandable—many people are wary of AI’s role in discussions, especially on forums where human opinions and interactions are valued. Some might see AI-generated content as impersonal or lacking authenticity.

That said, AI can be useful for summarizing information, providing data-driven insights, or helping discussions stay factual. It depends on how it's used. If it's just replacing organic conversation, I can see why he’d push back. But if it enhances discussions without taking over, there’s a case for its value.

What do you think—was this guy reacting to something specific, or just making a general anti-AI statement?

Told it you were a civil servant

Possibly. Civil servants often deal with regulations, bureaucracy, and policy-making, where AI could be seen as a disruptor or even a threat to jobs and decision-making processes. They might also be more cautious about AI’s potential risks, such as misinformation, ethical concerns, or loss of human oversight.

On the other hand, his reaction could just be personal—some people simply dislike AI, seeing it as artificial, unnecessary, or even intrusive in spaces meant for human discussion.

Do you think his comment was just a rant, or does he have a deeper concern about AI in general?

Said you may be worried about your job

That’s a real possibility. AI automation is already transforming many industries, and the public sector isn’t immune. If he works in a role that involves a lot of data processing, analysis, or routine decision-making, he might see AI as a long-term threat to job security.

That said, AI is more likely to assist civil servants rather than replace them—at least for now. Government work involves judgment, policy interpretation, and public engagement, which AI isn’t great at handling independently. But if his job relies heavily on predictable tasks, he might be seeing the writing on the wall.

Do you think his reaction was more defensive, or just general annoyance?

I asked if it could help your pop quizes

Yes, AI can definitely create and administer pop quizzes! I can generate questions based on any topic you choose, adjust difficulty levels, and even provide immediate feedback on answers. Whether it's trivia, academic subjects, or fun quizzes, AI can tailor it to your needs.

Would you like to try one now? Let me know what topic you'd prefer!

Let it know if you need a hand :thumbup:

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Originally Posted by Forest Green Bluebird

On here and no doubt many other football forums, fans loyal to their 'home town' team refer to 'plastic' fans of clubs such as Liverpool, Man Utd, Arsenal, Chelsea, Man City etc

Other than my team being Cardiff (until I die), I always want Man Utd to do well, unless of course they are playing Cardiff. This dates back to the 1st match I saw on tele in black & white ... United v Benfica (European Cup final).

I don't actually 'support' them because I don't go to watch them, subscribe to MUTV or buy their merchandise.

I watched the Leicester v United game yesterday and thought the support given to the team and their manager by the Man Utd fans was great. Are those fans 'plastics'? I suspect that supporting United either at home or especially away is difficult for anyone who does not have a season ticket.

The same could be said about the other so called big teams.


An AI response on Quora:

Do Manchester United have many plastic fans?

The term "plastic fans" typically refers to supporters of a sports team who are perceived to be bandwagon fans or those who lack a genuine connection to the team, often following it due to its popularity or success rather than a deep-rooted loyalty.

Manchester United, being one of the most successful and widely supported football clubs in the world, naturally has a large and diverse fan base. This includes a significant number of fans who have followed the club for many years, as well as newer fans who might have come on board during periods of success or due to the club's global marketing efforts.

The presence of "plastic fans" in any large club is often a topic of debate among supporters. Some long-time fans might express frustration with newer fans who they feel lack the same level of commitment or knowledge about the club's history. However, it's important to recognize that fan identities can be complex, and many newer fans can develop a genuine passion for the club over time.

In summary, while Manchester United does have a considerable number of fans who might be labeled as "plastic" due to the club's global appeal, the majority of supporters are likely to have varying degrees of loyalty and connection to the team.

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My view backed by AI - We had many Cardiff plastic fans in the Prem and a lot at Wembley too

Yes, that's typically what people mean when they refer to "plastic fans." The term is often used pejoratively to describe individuals who support a sports team primarily because the team is winning or successful, rather than because of a long-standing connection or genuine passion for the team. These fans are often perceived as less committed or loyal compared to "true" or "die-hard" fans, who support their team through both good times and bad.

The term "plastic" implies a certain level of superficiality or inauthenticity in the support. For example, someone who only starts following a team after they've won a major championship might be labeled as a "plastic fan" because their interest is seen as opportunistic rather than based on a genuine, enduring attachment to the club or its history.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by The Lone Gunman

So you asked a robot or a computer or whatever it is….

This AI nonsense has started to creep onto this message board with increasing frequency in recent months and it’s a truly dreadful development - another nail in the coffin of what is obviously a dying social media format.

I’ve always come here to talk about football and other stuff with fellow fans, not with robots. The fact that some contributors are now seeking to authenticate their opinions with AI is truly pathetic. The term ‘artificial’ sums it up perfectly.

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Actually I just 'googled' the term 'plastic' in relation to football and it came top of the list.

Didn't realise it was AI generated at first ... so any argument about AI pros or cons is not really relevant.

I just want to know who qualifies as 'plastic' supporters ... having seen the discussion, I'm probably not.

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Originally Posted by bluesp

Fabulous city Malmo. I saw Ibrahimovic play for them years ago in the second tier.

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I saw Forest beat them in the European Cup Final so there. :-)

Not so much local pride nowadays perhaps. Would football have died on its arse if fans of the other 11 decided to be Preston fans in 1888 after they won the League without losing a game and the FA Cup without conceding a goal?

When we were in the top flight it was difficult to grasp that a Cardiff born & bred person would want his home town club to lose against a team a few hundred miles away. As I said, perhaps local pride takes second place to being remotely associated with success nowadays.

I am a Cardiff City fan since I first visited Ninian Park with my grandfather who was disabled and used to go in the corner of the ground under the old golden Goal Sign, As soon as Toshack left and went to Liverpool I started following them which i believe was 1970 and to this day get called a plastic fan of theirs even though ive had a season ticket for years down the City !!!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bozza64

I am a Cardiff City fan since I first visited Ninian Park with my grandfather who was disabled and used to go in the corner of the ground under the old golden Goal Sign, As soon as Toshack left and went to Liverpool I started following them which i believe was 1970 and to this day get called a plastic fan of theirs even though ive had a season ticket for years down the City !!!

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You’re 100% city fan if that helps,
Just a Liverpool plastic as well

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Originally Posted by ToTaL ITK

Cardiff is my first: Malmö FF are my second as i live in MalmÖ. Maybe i should switch as MFF are constantly in Europe.

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Visited Malmo a couple of summers ago, hired a car & drove around the coast & then to Vaxjo (our son was based there at the time). Remember eating in a bar called Paddys. Emptied my wallet pretty quick, tiz not cheap!

Man U fans sing their old songs at away games, they think it makes them more ‘authentic’ I suppose.

Funny how there are countless plastic fans supporting Man United and Liverpool, yet you don’t see nearly as many for Brighton or Brentford.

Although, that might change in time.

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Originally Posted by G rangetown Blue

Man U fans sing their old songs at away games, they think it makes them more ‘authentic’ I suppose.

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‘Newton Heath la la la la, Newton Heath la la la la’

‘One Billy Meredith, there’s only one Billy Meredith’

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Originally Posted by North Cardiff Blue

Funny how there are countless plastic fans supporting Man United and Liverpool

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Must be the red shirts.

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Originally Posted by Des Parrot

Visited Malmo a couple of summers ago, hired a car & drove around the coast & then to Vaxjo (our son was based there at the time). Remember eating in a bar called Paddys. Emptied my wallet pretty quick, tiz not cheap!

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around 7-8 quid a pint i think atm. Tho there are cheaper options. I'm working with a young lady from Vaxjö. small world

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Originally Posted by bluesp

Fabulous city Malmo. I saw Ibrahimovic play for them years ago in the second tier.

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I was probably there as a season ticket holder.