rugby versus football.....the fan experiences compared

Over the last 10 days I have attended a Heinekin Cup Rugby Quarter Final;Harlequins versus Leinster, a UEFA Cup Quarter final; Manchester City versus Hamburg and an FA Cup Semi Final;Manchester United versus Everton all as a paying punter and with the "normal" fans rather than in corporate hospitality and was struck by the difference of the experiences and the effect each had on me as a fan or as a spectator.

Firstly the rugby, a great competition, a brilliant day out, easy access, fantastic atmosphere, friendly, warm, respectful, fans of both sides intermingling,fantastic cheerleaders,a couple of beers and a nice chat with the people around me,followed by an incrediby close game with a huge physical encounter on the pitch,and happily the Irish team squeaked it. An easy experience as a fan, a spectator and importantly as a parent as I had my 9 year old with me. My involvement; a fan of the sport

Fast forward to Manchester for City's biggest European game since the 1970's (sad, frustrating but true), no beer on site to help the nerves as City lay siege unsuccessfuly to the Germans' goal due to a quaint Uefa ruling re beer sponsorship ( I'm sure they sell beer at Uefa Chapions League Games??),jumping up and down at key moments, occassional team hugs with all and sundry, raucus screaming and chanting, criticism of players and management decisions, tearing out of hair,gnashing of teeth,(that was just me and my brothers) followed by a quiet resignation that goes with this job. Visiting fans were largely ignored as we focused on our own pain, game over,easy exit and a taxi back to the hotel for a pint of disappointment,a shot of resignation and a final round of squad improvement.My involvement; a fan of the team

Forward three more days, my role changed from fan of the sport, via fan of the team to a Dad providing a kid with what should have been one of those important and long lasting childhood memories of seeing his team (United) in a Cup semi.

First big shock, a weakened Unitd team, the boy felt cheated.Rotation rules.

Second,the naked aggression between both sets of fans on the transport system as we made our way to the stadium and to our seats;not actually United v Everton but city v city, Manchester versus Merseyside. Nasty,cruel, bitter, uncouth and crudely expressed. Not by any means exclusive to these teams but striking as they are not sworn enemies.

I had a few very uncomfortable moments with behaviour and vocabulary as far the the boy was concerned, he was frightened a few times by big scary men screaming and banging in his ear and I questioned the wisdom of exposing him to naked, foul mouthed bigotry based on football...he did however enjoy my discomfort at the songs that our united neighbours were, somewhat incongurously, singing about my team, you know the one, nick knackpaddy whack why don't City bob along home now>>>>. Everton had similar songs about Liverpool.

I was temporarily drawn into the classic cliche of a question, why do rugby fans enjoy the sport, the social experience and the game in a relaxed, beer fuelled camaraderie when football fans become beer fuelled foul mouthed bigots....? Why am I exposing a 9 year old boy to every swear word and sexual imagery I've ever heard and a few more, to a bitterness that has all Liverpudlians as thieves and hopelessly unemployed and all United fans as arrogant Northern boors or Gay Southern Tourists?

I quickly regained my senses, avoided all the cliches about tribalism, socio economic classifications, theories of footballers as Saturday afternoon Gladiators for the Industrial age, and realised that I knew what I was letting myself in for when I aggressively sought out the tickets.

The differences between the two sports and how they are "consumed" and enjoyed are fundamental,and rooted in social history and culture.

Would I like to enjoy a football match....there is no better sport on the planet..in the rugby style , yes indeed but "Our way" of watching football is totally ingrained in this society and no matter how much money goes into and out of the game, that's how we do it in these islands and it will never change.