Well we all know what Chelsea fans are like... Wasnt there a video last season of this bloke interviewing their fans about random signings (inventing names) and they were just coming out with bullshit cos they didnt want to admit they'd never heard of them
I am normally chaired around by half a dozen admiring onlookers who cannot stop congratulating me for an astute footballing choice and pestering me for tickets to the Valley. It's fucking annoying!
I've had this one a few times: 'Guys, guys. Meet this guy. Are you ready for this? A Danish/Pakistani Charlton Athletic supporter' (followed by laughing)
Depends really, most common one is 'I thought you said you liked football?' Always shut them ones down though, Man U fans etc living in London/Kent always get silenced. Proper football fans don't say anything bad though, normally just ask why and that's that.
Normally - "I remember when you used to be in the Premier League, what happened" at which point either a) you respond by giving a lecture on the spiral nature of football and how one bad decision normally leads to another, which leads to another and before you know it you've developed a pathological hatred of Alan McCormack based on where he goes for dinner, or b) you just shrug and say "that's football".
If it's overseas then the above happens too, but first I seem to spend about two minutes showing them how to pronounce the name properly - particularly in northern Europe (Switzerland, Scandinavia) - there seems to be something about the first syllable of our name that northern Europeans find very hard to pronounce.
Mild surprise (as I now live in North London), but the reaction has varied over the years. During that period in the Premier League, you tended to get very complementary comments about how Charlton were a role model, a great community club and best wishes. If the other person supports someone similarly not of the Top 6, then you get the shrug of the shoulders, I support Brentford, Sheffield United reply...
From an Arsenal fan :" weren't you that team that time that put four past us at Highbury including a sublime strike from that bald Danish bloke that stuck in the goal sanction ?". From a Chelsea fan : "weren't you that team that beat us at Stamford Bridge in the League Cup when we tell people that we still went unbeaten at home all season under Mourinho first time that he was in charge?". From a Spurs fan : " weren't you that team assembled on a shoestring budget that regularly used to beat us in the Premier league when we pissed millions up the wall on misfits chasing the glory glory days but won fuck all year after year ?".From a West ham fan :" weren't you that team that produced a series of great young academy players that we nicked off you because we couldn't produce any of our own at the Ron Greenwood Academy of football ?" .At least that's what I hear them saying whatever their responses actually might be.
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!
It all depends upon who they themselves support sadly. I think we are normally looked upon as a friendly family Club, possibly as we are not seen as much of a threat. I am hoping that before long we will be admired as a Club who over a period have produced a great young team from an excellent academy.
So you hold your supporters meetings in a phone box? Or.. I met the other supporter some years ago in Sidcup. Very funny. Funnily enough though, living in France, Charlton are known to the French as they are unlike the English and tend to support their local teams rather than the pot hunters.
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.......
I spoke to a Manchester United fan from Bristol yesterday here in Turkey and the first thing he asked me was " Why do you support them" when he saw the tattoo on my arm. Inside I was seething but I remained calm and explained that I was born and brought up in South east London and supporting my local team was the only sensible choice to make and that I have Charltons blood running through my veins. I asked why he supported United despite living in Bristol and he said because Rovers and City are/were crap.
I just gave him a look and at that moment he knew exactly who was the real football fan.
Comments
'Who do you support?' he says.
'Charlton' I replied.
'Oh are they a football team' he says.
'Must be ' I replied 'They done the double over your lot this season'.
Never heard another word from him.
As it happens I know a bit about Millwall mugs at work too.
'Guys, guys. Meet this guy. Are you ready for this? A Danish/Pakistani Charlton Athletic supporter'
(followed by laughing)
*condescending enough ?
"No, next year, I think". I reply.
If the other person supports someone similarly not of the Top 6, then you get the shrug of the shoulders, I support Brentford, Sheffield United reply...
I hate it.
'I used to watch them when I was younger'
Or the standard
'What division are they in now'
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!
Inside I was seething but I remained calm and explained that I was born and brought up in South east London and supporting my local team was the only sensible choice to make and that I have Charltons blood running through my veins.
I asked why he supported United despite living in Bristol and he said because Rovers and City are/were crap.
I just gave him a look and at that moment he knew exactly who was the real football fan.