FMTTM 644: "Losing My Religion": David Lister`s Boro Dream is coming to an end.
- Thread starter r00fie1
- Start date
Brilliant post and from the heart.
I'm 62 and have very similar feelings, but am plodding on into next season, which I reckon will be my last as a ST holder.
'There Is A Light That Never Goes Out'...
or so I thought.
Yearbyred
Well-known member
Very good article - think I know David indirectly (know his brother) and reflects pretty much my story too. Long time season ticket holder (nearly 40 years) went with family and friends , then on my own for a few seasons.
Gave up this season for a multitude of reasons - prices, matchday experience, disillusionment with how football is going. Will always be a Boro fan - watched most games this year, but can’t see me ever going to the Riverside again. Once you break the habit it’s unlikely you go back regularly (especially with walk up prices).
Gave up this season for a multitude of reasons - prices, matchday experience, disillusionment with how football is going. Will always be a Boro fan - watched most games this year, but can’t see me ever going to the Riverside again. Once you break the habit it’s unlikely you go back regularly (especially with walk up prices).
Gunslinger
Well-known member
I think theres a combination of things with football, its natural to lose interest on a progressive basis as you get older anyway, but age, motivation, health (the biggest one) etc when you have to travel so far and its a physcial and mental slog,
the beige nature of boros performances over the last 20 years aside from a season or 2, and the cost , i am not sure if the season ticket cost includes boro live for home games but it should
the beige nature of boros performances over the last 20 years aside from a season or 2, and the cost , i am not sure if the season ticket cost includes boro live for home games but it should
I agree with his point that it should be a process where the older fans leave but the next younger generation comes in.
I have being saying for a while that football was a huge part of my life in my teens and through my twenties. I haven't lived in the Boro since 1998 so, like in the piece, every game is an away game, for me.
The club should be ensuring that the next generation is encouraged in with lower prices.
I have being saying for a while that football was a huge part of my life in my teens and through my twenties. I haven't lived in the Boro since 1998 so, like in the piece, every game is an away game, for me.
The club should be ensuring that the next generation is encouraged in with lower prices.
Ha ha.. that is great Specky.
I borrowed the title from a football biography I read of a Chesterfield fan. Obviously taking it from REM. But the point is this guy moved to Chesterfield, fell in love with the club, followed them home and away and then promptly stopped when he couldn't abide the appointment and playing style adopted by a new manager.
Now for the weird part, the manager he couldn't abide was John Duncan. The final game where he walked away from the Spireites was the 3-0 defeat to Middlesbrough in the FA Cup Semi Final. It certainly made for a dramatic end to a book but fancy getting yourself worked up by a manager to such an extent that you walk away after the biggest game in your club's history. And it wasn't cos they lost, part of him was relieved they lost, he couldn't stand to watch his club anymore. He had lost his religion because he couldn't abide the manager. Arguably the most successful in the club's history. There is a lesson there somewhere. Am not quite sure where.
Great article by David. Privilege to be able to publish it.
Redwurzel
Well-known member
Disengagement - It sounds mainly an age factor with DL and defintinely with his Dad (not having the mobility to walk long distances). To be 85 and still going to games is great and something the majority of us will not be able to do when we are 85. I can tell any one on here if you managed to go in the 1981 to 1986 period anything since has been almost heaven.
If DL has a child of say 40 and grand child of 12 going to the games he may feel differently. It sounds like his family has drifted away and it has left him going alone for the first time in his life. Some people psychologically find it very difficult to go on their own, especially when they are not used to it.
For me I probably feel a bit more engaged because I have more time now to go to games now and a bit more disposable income for football. Last season was probably the most Boro goals I have ever seen in one season.
The connection with the area (and how the football helps) I fully understand as I did the same effectively moving away at 22 for work and and not moving back. Although it sounds like he may have moved back.
I can't understand why it takes him a hour to get away from the Stadium nor how he loses 20% of his view nor how it costs £1200 to renew a senior and adult ST. Surely he would be best in the West Stand lower tier with his Dad and avoiding all the stairs - thats £900 for the two season tickets.
What could disengage me is a lack of competiveness for promotion and relegation from the Premier league - I can see soon when the same clubs that are promoted or then relegated back and promoted back etc. It could even happen this season.
Disengagement in full is when there is no buzz on matchdays. This time last year I was visiting a nursing home and passed a door of a very elderly gentlemen with a A4 Boro Badge pinned to his door (I did not know him). The poor blighty was in his 90s laid flat out and almost gasping for breath. As I passed his door. I just gave him a Up the Boro when walking past even Ms Wurzel joined in telling him we are proper Boro fans. I know I should have not have and a big smile came to his face even though he couldn't speak. I took that smile with me to the Norwich game that night and we won 5-1. It might have been his last smile.
If DL has a child of say 40 and grand child of 12 going to the games he may feel differently. It sounds like his family has drifted away and it has left him going alone for the first time in his life. Some people psychologically find it very difficult to go on their own, especially when they are not used to it.
For me I probably feel a bit more engaged because I have more time now to go to games now and a bit more disposable income for football. Last season was probably the most Boro goals I have ever seen in one season.
The connection with the area (and how the football helps) I fully understand as I did the same effectively moving away at 22 for work and and not moving back. Although it sounds like he may have moved back.
I can't understand why it takes him a hour to get away from the Stadium nor how he loses 20% of his view nor how it costs £1200 to renew a senior and adult ST. Surely he would be best in the West Stand lower tier with his Dad and avoiding all the stairs - thats £900 for the two season tickets.
What could disengage me is a lack of competiveness for promotion and relegation from the Premier league - I can see soon when the same clubs that are promoted or then relegated back and promoted back etc. It could even happen this season.
Disengagement in full is when there is no buzz on matchdays. This time last year I was visiting a nursing home and passed a door of a very elderly gentlemen with a A4 Boro Badge pinned to his door (I did not know him). The poor blighty was in his 90s laid flat out and almost gasping for breath. As I passed his door. I just gave him a Up the Boro when walking past even Ms Wurzel joined in telling him we are proper Boro fans. I know I should have not have and a big smile came to his face even though he couldn't speak. I took that smile with me to the Norwich game that night and we won 5-1. It might have been his last smile.
Amazing post and that story at the end - incredible.