Did You Know Any Chelsea Fan 10 Years Ago?

Hi all,

I visited Nigeria not too long ago and I popped into the
football viewing center where I used to watch the English
premiership.

To my surprise, I saw loads of Chelsea fans, many of them
with the blue jersey, speaking passionately about their
team.

I cast my mind back to about a decade ago and I can't
remember knowing any Chelsea fan.

I remeber when Glen Hoddle was their manager, before
Ruud Gullit took over. I also remeber the glorious moments
Gianfranco Zola gave them.

I then cast my mind to 1998 when Marc Overmar's goal at
Old Trafford won the league for Arsenal over Manchester
United. I remember heated arguments between me (I'm
a die hard Man Utd fan) and Arsenal fans.

There was no Chelsea fan.

What could be the reason for the turn around? Is it because
of Roman Abramovich's millions and the Jose Mourhino's
glorius era?

If it is, then that means they are not true fans.

What do you guys think? Especially the Chelsea "fans" here.

Cheers,

Akin Alabi
http://talkpremiership(dot)blogspot(dot)com

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all fans on nairaland,

did u join your current team when they were struggling?

atleast most manutd fans joined because of der treble, because dy wer d best team in d 90's in england

arsenal fans joined because of kanu (arsenal at that time was a good team ridin high in prem) and because of der unbeaten run.

liverpool because dy won d champ league,

Hi,

I know there are a few genuine Chelsea fans in Naija but I
don't understand the current "craze".

You don't have to support a team simply because they are
winning. My brother is a die hard Fulham fan.

I fell in love with Shooting Stars of Ibadan in 1986 ( I was 9 then)
when they got relegated so it shouldn't be about the reigning
team.

I started supporting Man Utd when Blackburn swept them
aside in the premiership in 1995.

I don't usually respect "current craze" football fans.

Or am I just in the Old School?

Akolawole. Milton Keynes best design town? Forget it. Na
so so round about we dey see  .

Cheers,

Akin Alabi
http://talkpremiership(dot)blogspot(dot)com

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@akinalabi,
I think I agree with you that at least in Naija there were not many Chelsea fans(I actually only knew of one 10 years ago and he was more a Hoddle fan than anything else,he now supports Wolves).

Truth is people will support clubs for different reasons and you can't deny that they have less passion simply because they started supporting yesterday or 10 years ago.I agree however that time may be an indicator of how true that passion is.
I have this theory which generally describes the categories of football supporters.It's my view you may have yours

1.The Fan:Likes football generally and  tends to lean toward a particular team or teams because of their football,players,manager,success,etc.While someone can be a fan of football for life most club fans usually support for 1-5 years.The fan is also more likely to shift allegiance to other teams when the going gets tough.If you ask me many Chelsea fans today were probably supporting either Manchester United or Arsenal prior to that( or at least definitely not Chelsea).Else where were they then.

2.The Supporter:Loves football. Significantly leans towards a particular team or teams beacuse of passion built over time usually longer than the fan.This passion comes from their past successes,their football,players,etc.The difference between a supporter and a fan really is in the number of years which would give room for ups and downs(to mellow the successes),or exits(if specific players or managers was the reason for the initial support)Many Arsenal supporters got on board because of Kanu but some still remained even after he left(they have moved from being fans to supporters)
Many Manchester United fans came on board during the glory years of the 90s .The fans have left to other clubs(names witheld)while the supporters remain.

3.The Loyalists:In love with football,their football.They know of only one team and they will die for their team.A lot of Manchester United and Arsenal guys claim to be this but you may never truly know until your team has a perenial drought of trophies,begin to play very badly or maybe even move to a lower division.People who support the Nottingham Forests ,West Hams etc of this world may fall into this category.You can only be a loyalist after so many years of support usually not less than 20 for one particular team.It has nothing to do with whether you support a club that has not won a trophy(so a Bolton supporter of 5 years cannot claim to be a loyalist ) I have a friend here in Nigeria who has supported West Ham for 20 years and still does(they've only won 1 trophy in that period,been to lower rungs and back a few times)I knew of the Haywoods and Gabbidons well before they got to the prem through him. It's just love for a team which only time can build.

I think it's good to have this healthy passion.Only thing is a lot of Chelsea fans need to relax and learn their history to be more rounded supporters.There's really nothing bad in supporting a team only yesterday only thing is to try to learn some of their illustrous history even if only the very recent ones to better appreciate their team(bought for 1 pound by Ken Bates,the fantastic players over the years(wise,gullit,vialli,desailly,zola,hughes,dorigo,etc)the search for the then elusive league trophies(won FA Cups and Cup winners cup in the 90s),their continental style football even in England,etc).Then their passion will not be seen as too hollow by opposition supporters.Presently,except for a few Chelsea fans many of them just blow hot air.


WAN UNITED!

Hello again,

Manu4life, your post was brilliant. Although I disagree with some points
you made, I cannot take anything away from it's brilliance.

I like this thread. We've been seeing only knowledgeable people and hope
it remains that way.

Have you all noticed that the so called Chelsea fans have not
responded?

Akolawole, you sure have a point as regards the construction allowance
between the main road and the buildings. I really marvel at it's concept.

But don't be decieved. That's probably where it ends.

What do you think?

Akin Alabi
http://talkpremiership(dot)blogspot(dot)com

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We(Chelsea fans) may not be FANATICS but we are happy with our club.

Gentility is not stupidity, please watch your statements.

What is your definition of commitment?

If a person in his infancy adopts a team simply because they are on top,that is tolerable

I ,like Akinlabi,started supporting Man Utd in the 94/95 season partly because they had won the league in the previous 2 seasons and partly because they seemed to be the only team at the time that kept the ball on the ground in the Premiership,when most teams were playing the long ball.

At the time,I was about 13 years of age.

At around that age u are free to adopt any team u want and then most people my age supported AC Milan/Ajax .

What i think annoys most people is when full grown adults,who have been supporting a particular team for years,suddenly change and adopt another team .Someone I know,in his early 30s was a long time Arsenal supporter,now a die hard Blues fan.

Like I said,I can't begrudge a little kid who adopts Chelsea now,but a grown man,,,,,,,,

commintment is staying by your team after many years of doing nothing and playing crap.

Not one minute saying Arsenal till i die and then next Chelsea till I die. 

@ Vieria

I want the guy to define it for me.

Lets leave the issue of MK for now.

There are many Chelski bandwagon riders out there. Enough said !

Howdy all,

wormedup, that was totally unnecessary. "Jumping off the
petronas to break my neck?" My goodness!!!

Well, I won't join issues,

To everyone else that has contributed thus far.

I took this up because of what I observed during my last visit. What
I wonder is those Chelsea fans have been football supporters
for years and they surely had team they were supporting.

I've used Chelsea as the case study because they are the
English champions and they are the rave. I would have asked
the same thing if it was Wigan or Watford.

I agree with 4play as regards infants supporting the "current"
club. They can grow to become life long supporters.

What about those who were supporting other teams in the past
but now support another. That means they will support
another team tomorrow.

Are they true fans? That's the question and the purpose
of this thread. Not to trade insults.

Fine we can have a dig at each other occassionaly but it should
be done in a matured fashion.

We all can't support the same team, and I respect other people's
positions and actions even if we disagree in principle.

Akolawole is a Chelsea fan I reckon, and his views are that
of a sound mind. So this is not a personal issue.

Back to the crux of the matter.

Such people (that criss cross due to success) are they true
fans? Are they the ones that form the base of Chelsea fans in
Nigeria?

Sond minds please?

Akin Alabi
http://talkpremiership(dot)blogspot(dot)com

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Chelsea's fan base is nt huge compared to Manchester United and Arsenal fans in Nigeria.Really sha when we stand your people shld try and respect because we have been dere ever since.Most Chelsea fans left dese clubs because Chelsea started winning and dts d most reason i don't see them as supporters you know.

Yeah!Most people joined Man Utd because of da trebble.Most People joined Arsenal because of KanU and some left when he left. Bolton got fans in Nigeria because of Jay-Jay and they disappered when he left, People just love catching in on a good thing. Chelsea got fans because everybody loves a winner.

Just Bury this ish and i hope this be the last post.If u post anything here again,i go vex oh!

Manchester United fans often apply a diffrent rule when it comes to their clubs! It is a fact that most people support the winning team!and thre are so many many Manchester United fans that fall into this category. I know Many 'Manchester United till i die' fans that started supporting the club after the treble!
@ Akinlabi, if you really want to know that Manchester United is no different, you can do a researh to find out Manchester United's fan base Pre 93 and and after 1999, You will be surprised at your findings

What did you want to know?

I will send one of my girls to deal with you now?