Just out of interest ....

[MAD87]

I started out on the terraces at Stamford Bridge in my early teens, in the Bonetti-Osgood-Hollins days. 2 bob bought the right to freeze/get drenched against a short iron railing. I knew the Bridge well already as my father took me to dog races there (he bet on everything and anything). He also took me to Twickenham regularly.

After marrying someone with no interest in sport, I ended up (eventually) in Winchester so took our sons to The Dell, as Southampton's ground then was. It was the only pro club within reach and, leaving aside the huge changes since watching CFC, was a friendly venue for watching all the top clubs again. In my turn, I took the male offspring to Twickenham, etc.

The only live soccer I've seen in France was said sons playing in poussins' teams in our first village... We had Canal+ when that channel had EPL coverage and Arsenal became my team of choice. Since the rights have gone elsewhere, I've only watched such international matches as French tv shows.

[Doug]

Ah the Dell I remember it well, in my youth was taken there by my father but he mainly supported Pompy, had a season ticket so was taken there most.
Was in Western Australia visiting family back in 1976 when the Saints won the cup, heard it live on the radio, ( no sat tv in those days)

[Wilbro]

I support three teams, Rangers, Huddersfiekd Town and Leeds Utd. The latter bing the one I used to watch regularly in the Revie era. Best English team ever (waits for flak ). However as I moved around the UK a lot I supported teams local to where I lived at the time. Hence, Halifax Town, Bradford City, Watford, West Kirby, Tranmere, Hull City and a passing interest in a few others.

[Chappers51]

I used to pay 2 bob to stand behind the « dugout » at Deepdale in Howard Kendall’s days. The only time I was allowed behind goal was when North End played Manchester United in a cup match and my father asked someone to keep an eye on me.
He worked Saturdays so couldn’t accompany me, but regularly he would take the bus to Burnley, Blackburn, Bolton or Blackpool if there wasn’t a midweek match at PNE.
Once I moved away at the end of the sixties I started watching rugby and that is now my preference - but I do keep an eye on the football.

[niemeyjt]

Ditto, my home team is always the first result I look for, followed by Ipswich Town. Nothing makes a Canary happier than Norwich winning and Ipswich losing!
I haven't seen any live pro football in France, we are simply too far away from any decent teams.
Our local bar is run by a family from Dijon so we all have to follow them... downwards last season. Hoping we'll see more of the Cnaries on their big screen as they show a lot of premiership footie (and rugby and any team sport where France are doing well).

Ah - the Tractor Boys have a new no 17!

[mysty]

Never really been interested in football.
95 million transfer fees, half a million a week in wages for someone who kicks a ball about while others live in abject poverty.
I did go to a Queens park game once and I think a Scottish international, that was a long time ago.

[Wilbro]

The wages are ridiculous. And when Barca cant afford to keep one player because of the ludicrous wage demands then it becomes a farce. I remember the old fixed wage days and Johnny haynes being the sensation as he was the first player to be paid £100 per week. Also Denis Law breaking the transfer record, £53,000 to Man C. from Huddersfield. A couple of days wages now for some.

The rule changes, VAR, playing games on different days at different times, especially the cup to accommodate Sky. Along with the diving and play acting the game has lost it's soul.

[Spardo]

I agree Wilbro, I grew up a Man U fan, only officially because of birth and Grandpa, and later Forest, upbringing and Cloughie, a sad hero, but lost interest early and moved first to Union and then League. But even that, although I am on the posting lists of both Catalans and Wigan, and have travelled (taking the caravan) to Perpignan and Villeneuve sur Lot (the best followed by the closest ), has palled now as I see the main plank of training seems to take place in the gym in order to build the biggest tank like body to smash all and sundry out of the way.

My solution? Make above waist tackling illegal. That would sort out the skilled from the brawned.
As a 9 stone weakling whose first year at boarding school was misery on the pitch which I circulated warily avoiding any action, I discovered the exquisite pleasure of burying an oncoming lumbering giant face down in the mud, merely by fastening his legs together.

When will these men mountains learn 'you can't run without legs.'

[Pathca]

Tommy Finney used to work Saturday mornings ,then get a bus to Deepdale and play in the afternoon

[Spardo]

Tommy Finney used to work Saturday mornings ,then get a bus to Deepdale and play in the afternoon

Back in the days of the maximum wage eh? Jimmy Hill lived long enough to see the, perhaps not entirely welcome, fruits of his labour.