Last week I shared my dilemma with you, namely which football team I should encourage my young son Andy to support.
As I said, I want him to develop an affinity with a reasonably good English team with potential rather than picking one of the ‘big boys’. On that basis I narrowed it down to West Ham United, Tottenham Hotspur, Everton or Newcastle United.
Well, thanks for the feedback. All the feedback. Even the feedback which somehow managed to sneak in a little dig at Sheffield United. I was actually quite stunned by how many of you got in touch.
Decision isn’t taken yet, but you’ve given me plenty of interesting food for thought. Here are excerpts from some of your more printable messages:
“I read your excellent articles every week, but last week’s article disappointed me. You wrote: ‘He also needs a more global team to follow’. Why? Why do we Maltese need a global team to follow, as if our local club and our national team is not good enough for us, or is it that we feel we are too good for our local club and country?!
“The club, the team we support does not come as a matter of choice but with a feeling of pride and belonging. With your, and so many others’ same reasoning, why do you keep supporting Sheffield United and don’t go for another winning team? I used to support Leeds United and England when I was young, but as I matured I started questioning myself: Why? What the hell have these teams, and where they come from, got to do with me and where I come from?
“After all, I never remember England winning anything, so with the same losing spirit, I might as well support my own country, my own flag! If you want your son to start getting excited about his team, let him support and enjoy his ‘own’ local club, Balzan.” Ray Sacco, Hibs supporter, e-mail.
“Thinking outside the box, have you ever thought of Andy supporting a German football club like Borussia Dortmund? I’ve been following this club since 1965 when they played Floriana. Nowadays the black and yellows are a wonderful squad full of young talent and forward-looking expectations.
Andy will surely enjoy the atmosphere when Dortmund play at home (a modest 81,340 spectators). You’ll Never Walk Alone is sung before every home match and the Yellow Wall is an awesome sea of black and yellow scarves, banners and other slogans to spur the team on for a win! Just a suggestion – how about it?” Joe Micallef, e-mail.
“Ruling out teams like Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool shows you don’t know anything about football. Your son deserves to support a team that wins things so he can know the joy of success, not the pain of failure, which is all you Sheffield United fans have ever known.” Roland, e-mail.
“I would go with Everton if I were you. Good old club, good solid fans, decent team, good manager, bit of money in the bank. Plus they are undoubtedly the Merseyside underdogs, and with you being a Sheffield United supporter, you evidently like underperforming teams with a more glamorous neighbour.” Alvin G, e-mail.
“I am a regular follower of your column, I do enjoy your Maltese perspective and writing style. Myself, I am a lifelong Burnley fan. People from where I grew up just outside Burnley in the foothills of the Pennines generally supported Manchester United or Burnley. My earliest recollections, which must have been my first game, was at a packed Turf Moor v Chelsea. We were in the Bee Hole End, behind the goal. The crowd, as I recall, appeared to wear all the same style of clothes complete with flat caps, and I was hoisted up so I could see.
“There was a young Peter Osgood, who dribbled (not a term you hear today) past half the Burnley team to score. I remember one particular comment from an elderly supporter (although at about seven, most people were): ‘Ere, that’s how football should be played’.
“So your task of trying to guide your son’s choice of team is a tricky one. Although you see his footballing friends supporting Italian league teams, maybe some support an English team, and it would be good to have a fellow supporter to watch the games with.
“The Blades would be an obvious choice, a good solid connection – my dad supports them; better still, he used to live next to the ground.
“So look for a family or geographical connection first.
You’ve given me plenty of interesting food for thought
“I would see who he leans towards already, consider that you will want to take him to some games. So that rules out Newcastle, and he probably wouldn’t understand their speech.
“Where is accessible? So London and Manchester are at the top of that list. In light of the crowd trouble at the Olympic stadium would you feel comfortable watching West Ham?
“For me, I would choose the team whose style of football he enjoys watching, and he needs to go to see them, but you already know that it must be his choice.
“So if you wish to influence him, add in all the factors and take yourselves off to a match – my choice purely on footballing style and accessibility is Arsenal – without taking into consideration Arsene Wenger’s age.” Peter Varley, e-mail.
“There is absolutely nothing wrong with supporting teams like Manchester United and Liverpool. Supporting a club is about developing and nurturing a love for them. This can certainly happen over time.
“I understand that some people will not see this as being a true supporter just because someone decided to support a successful team but I think it is.
“I decided to support Liverpool when I was a very young lad and I have laughed and cried with them over the past 50 years. I have no links to Liverpool geographically but that doesn’t make me any less dedicated.” Kevin Cassar, e-mail.
“It’s not exactly a great selection of alternatives you gave us there to choose from, but out of those I think you would probably have to go with Spurs if you want Andy to see any sort of success before he is old enough to leave home.
“The other three have potential, I agree, but it is going to take a while for them to fulfil it. Spurs, on the other hand, are almost there. They maybe need two or three players to become a top force. And by the way, I am an Arsenal fan.” Jonathan Fenech, e-mail.
“Let the boy enjoy football. Give him a proper team to support: Chelsea.” Steve, e-mail.
“Let things take their own course. It must be a team your son chooses, but point out one thing – he must have a deep love for them for whatever reason and has to stick with them through good and bad times.” Joseph Lewis, e-mail.
“I must say that I am not your greatest fan, being a follower of the Italian football scene. However, I always read most of what you write with interest as your articles are always written in a balanced way. Opinion is one thing; one can agree or disagree; but balanced articles are quite difficult to achieve.
“A sentence that struck me was your reference to Inter FC, my favourite team since I was five years old; so roughly the current age as your son. If he ever chose to become an Inter fan there would be nothing wrong except that nowadays any aspiring Inter fan has to first undergo a severe heart stress test before he can declare himself so.
“There are many jokes going around my team in Italy, however, this stress test thing is only an internal supporters’ joke between themselves.
“I do mine regularly when I go every three months for my blood donation.
“Which means that if your son ever decides to become an Inter fan he will be assured of a strong heart for life!
“Good luck (to us Inter supporters mostly) but also to you, and have a good day.” Vincent Buttigieg, Qala, e-mail.
sportscolumnist@timesofmalta.com
Twitter: @maltablade