So what is a true fan?

[rfcjoe]

If you would like to join the Grammar Gestapo, just ask Crossie, ok?
You seem bitter that you are not in such a cool clique.

Like a lemon.

Great thinking, cover up your feelings with a joke.
Well done indeed.

[AbovetheI]

Simple minds think alike eh?

[rfcjoe]

Simple minds think alike eh?

[SHORT AND CURLY]

That’s my opinion lads about what is a true supporter. 1) If you are a true supporter you won't boo at the end of the game just because your team has lost. 2) Do not leave early just because you want to miss the bad traffic or your team is loosing badly and can't bear to look at the woeful performance. 3) Chant and sing really loudly no matter what the score and even if you’re not the person to have a sing song get involved and create an electric atmosphere. 4) Back the club even if you don't think some things are right for example money in the transfer window. 5) Always look on the bright side of life 6) never stop supporting the Royals even if they do go down ect. HTH

What a load of tosh

I booooooooooooooood with all my might last week after that shambolic performance. I stayed to the end with hands firmly sat on!
The boooooooooo was probably as vocal as it got (bar the appearance of Glen Little)
Sweet FA to sing about
I have also been watching Reading since around 1970/71 and still follow them up and down the country!
Personally I have been through thin and thinner to get to where we are today.
However according to you I am not a true fan!

[Oxon_Royal]

Can I just point out: you don't have to sing/chant to be a true fan, many true fans go to every home (maybe even every away match) and don't sing at all, just prefer watching games without chanting.

This post reminds me why I gave up my season ticket.

To most, the atmosphere at a live game is the main criterion for going - rather than watching the highlights on the box.
If everyone had your attitude (which unfortunately the majority do) what a dull experience it would all be.

I bet you're one of the "Sit down" brigade!

Everyone should sing.

[earleyroyal]

Can I just point out: you don't have to sing/chant to be a true fan, many true fans go to every home (maybe even every away match) and don't sing at all, just prefer watching games without chanting.

This post reminds me why I gave up my season ticket.

To most, the atmosphere at a live game is the main criterion for going - rather than watching the highlights on the box.
If everyone had your attitude (which unfortunately the majority do) what a dull experience it would all be.

I bet you're one of the "Sit down" brigade!

Everyone should sing.

The statement was 'many true fans go to every home match and don't sing at all.' How you have taken this to mean that a) I don't sing and am one of the 'sit down' brigade, and b) everyone doesn't sing and is a member of the 'sit down' brigade, is beyond me. I am actually one of the more vocal supporters in my area, particularly when Reading are losing, when most of the people around me seem to give up, and would gladly stand given the chance, but this doesn't impact on whether I'm a true fan or not.

I really doubt that the atmosphere at a live game is the main criterion for going for 'most' - yes it is a large part of how enjoyable the day is for me, and for you, unfortunately I doubt everyone thinks like you.

It's not up to you to tell everyone what they should do, people are allowed to go to a football match just to watch the football, revolutionary as that might be.

I'll remember to tell the fan next to me who's been going for almost 50 years but never sings that he's not a true fan, and you are despite giving up your season ticket because of a 'lack of atmosphere', at the next home game. Thanks for jogging my memory so I can point this out to him.

[Rev Algenon Stickleback H]

Can I just point out: you don't have to sing/chant to be a true fan, many true fans go to every home (maybe even every away match) and don't sing at all, just prefer watching games without chanting.

This post reminds me why I gave up my season ticket.

To most, the atmosphere at a live game is the main criterion for going - rather than watching the highlights on the box.
If everyone had your attitude (which unfortunately the majority do) what a dull experience it would all be.

I bet you're one of the "Sit down" brigade!

Everyone should sing.

even at elm park, 75% of the fans didn't sing. It just that they didn't all stand on the southbank, so the singers weren't "diluted" by being surrounded by non-singers. That's always been the way at nigh on every single ground in the country. It's not as if if you went back to Anfield in the 80s you'd hear fans in the seats ever singing.

[double d]

i hate people saying somebody's not a true fan because they do not go to all the away games and they are a plastic fan. i have been to a fair amount but money issues (driving, three holidays,phone...) has stopped me and because i haven't been to Blackburn away im not a supporter. my granddad went to rfc games for nearly 50 years since he was a kid until he had a heart attack and now he lives in south Africa. he still follows the results and supports them but just because he doesn't go to games does not make him a plastic. i think it makes him a better supporter.

[seahawk10]

No supporter is better than any other. The preening and the I am a better fan than you is silly. We are brothers and sisters in faith. All are welcome. No one is better than anyone else.

I will say this about singing though: I cannot wait to go to my first game at the Mad Stad and as an away supporter of Reading to someone else's ground and sing my fecking heart out. I wish that the fans here in the States showed a tenth of the passion of real football fans. Everyone here in the US needs the chants to be orchestrated by the bloody Jumbotron. Ri-dic-u-lous. Nonce sense. You don't realize how good you have it. Do not Americanise your support by sitting on your hands and only cheering when the screen puts a 'Back the boys. Make some noise.' reminder up in neon. Sing. Chant. Be loud and creative. I wish I could be there with you at the Emirates tomorrow.

[Arch]

Good post. I would replace the word fan with supporter. And every person is different. I think Reading has great support and it will only grow (even if the club goes down). I can't stop thinking about the Arsenal match even though logically I know it is very likely a defeat. And I am trying to plan out my sleep so I can wake up at 4:45am on Saturday to watch on my computer. It takes all types I guess.

Seahawk, I think you and i are fans (read 'fanatics') rather than supporters. In my book, a supporter pays money to the club and provides vocal uplift during the games. I agree with everyone who says you can be a perfectly good fan without doing these things, but the supporter's role is essential, and like you I wish I had the opportunity to be one. So I sympathize with both sides of the sing/don't sing issue, but I cannot for the life of me see the objection to bringing your own tucker to a game.

[Irvinchangeyaname]

i hate people saying somebody's not a true fan because they do not go to all the away games and they are a plastic fan. i have been to a fair amount but money issues (driving, three holidays,phone...) has stopped me and because i haven't been to Blackburn away im not a supporter. my granddad went to rfc games for nearly 50 years since he was a kid until he had a heart attack and now he lives in south Africa. he still follows the results and supports them but just because he doesn't go to games does not make him a plastic. i think it makes him a better supporter.

Agreed but I have read an increasing amount (see Wigan and Derby away thread) where people are choosing not to go to away games because we're going to lose. I've missed away games due to time and money constraints, but never have I based it on how well we're playing. Whatever happened to supporting through thick and thin and being at games because you love the club, not because we're shit.

[seahawk10]

Good post. I would replace the word fan with supporter. And every person is different. I think Reading has great support and it will only grow (even if the club goes down). I can't stop thinking about the Arsenal match even though logically I know it is very likely a defeat. And I am trying to plan out my sleep so I can wake up at 4:45am on Saturday to watch on my computer. It takes all types I guess.

Seahawk, I think you and i are fans (read 'fanatics') rather than supporters. In my book, a supporter pays money to the club and provides vocal uplift during the games. I agree with everyone who says you can be a perfectly good fan without doing these things, but the supporter's role is essential, and like you I wish I had the opportunity to be one. So I sympathize with both sides of the sing/don't sing issue, but I cannot for the life of me see the objection to bringing your own tucker to a game.

Fair enough. I just like the sound of 'supporter' more than fan. But I see your point.

Ps-What's a 'tucker'?

[cmonurz]

i hate people saying somebody's not a true fan because they do not go to all the away games and they are a plastic fan. i have been to a fair amount but money issues (driving, three holidays,phone...) has stopped me and because i haven't been to Blackburn away im not a supporter. my granddad went to rfc games for nearly 50 years since he was a kid until he had a heart attack and now he lives in south Africa. he still follows the results and supports them but just because he doesn't go to games does not make him a plastic. i think it makes him a better supporter.

Agreed but I have read an increasing amount (see Wigan and Derby away thread) where people are choosing not to go to away games because we're going to lose. I've missed away games due to time and money constraints, but never have I based it on how well we're playing. Whatever happened to supporting through thick and thin and being at games because you love the club, not because we're shit.

The fact that £60 used to fund two away games, and now doesn't cover one?

[Arch]

Good post. I would replace the word fan with supporter. And every person is different. I think Reading has great support and it will only grow (even if the club goes down). I can't stop thinking about the Arsenal match even though logically I know it is very likely a defeat. And I am trying to plan out my sleep so I can wake up at 4:45am on Saturday to watch on my computer. It takes all types I guess.

Seahawk, I think you and i are fans (read 'fanatics') rather than supporters. In my book, a supporter pays money to the club and provides vocal uplift during the games. I agree with everyone who says you can be a perfectly good fan without doing these things, but the supporter's role is essential, and like you I wish I had the opportunity to be one. So I sympathize with both sides of the sing/don't sing issue, but I cannot for the life of me see the objection to bringing your own tucker to a game.

Fair enough. I just like the sound of 'supporter' more than fan. But I see your point.

Ps-What's a 'tucker'?

food

[double d]

i hate people saying somebody's not a true fan because they do not go to all the away games and they are a plastic fan. i have been to a fair amount but money issues (driving, three holidays,phone...) has stopped me and because i haven't been to Blackburn away im not a supporter. my granddad went to rfc games for nearly 50 years since he was a kid until he had a heart attack and now he lives in south Africa. he still follows the results and supports them but just because he doesn't go to games does not make him a plastic. i think it makes him a better supporter.

Agreed but I have read an increasing amount (see Wigan and Derby away thread) where people are choosing not to go to away games because we're going to lose. I've missed away games due to time and money constraints, but never have I based it on how well we're playing. Whatever happened to supporting through thick and thin and being at games because you love the club, not because we're shit.

i agree with you. in the championshit i went to nearly all of the away games just because it was so cheap. i did go as many prem away games as possible but with uni on the way i cant afford to, especially since my last one (Newcastle) cost me an extra 80 quid for a train ticket because some idiot fans smashed up our train so me and my gf missed had to miss it. i went to man united on the first day of the season expecting to get our arses kicked but came back happy. i would go to all away games regardless whether against Barcelona or Burton Albion apart from money constraints!!!