Sports unite towns, cities and even countries. Watching on TV is all well and good but nothing beats the atmosphere of a packed stadium.
The only downside of watching live sports is having to deal with all the strangers surrounding you. Some of them are nice but some of them drive you crazy. There are 10 types of sports fans you’ll have to mingle with.
This fan is easy to spot. They’re usually wearing the team shirt and enthusiastically shouting swear words that the referee. They’re probably middle-aged and have been supporting the team since they were a foetus. They’re constantly rambling on about the ‘good old days’.
They’re the exact opposite to the ultra-fan and consequently get a lot of criticsm. They only show up to big games and when the team is doing well. On a cold Tuesday night when their team is playing their top of the league competition and they’re going to lose, they’re nowhere in sight.
Commentary is fine when you’re watching sport on the TV, but when you’re sat watching it live you don’t really need Mark, 43, from 3 miles down the road, constantly commenting on what’s happening and ruining every second of it for you.
There’ll always be a family member in the crowd to watch their son/daughter/wife/husband. The mum has been stood at the sidelines for every game since their child was four and she loves every second of it.
They’re the first to pass judgement and first to throw a punch when face to face with the opposition fans. They probably have a beer belly that’s not quite covered by their team replica shirt and have come straight from the pub. They’ll be going back to the pub after it’s over, too.
Their friend or partner asked them if they wanted to come and they didn’t want to be rude and say no. They’re enjoying it a bit but they’d rather be at home because they don’t really know what’s going on. Just clap when everyone else claps, right?
They know how many goals and assists each of the attacking players has had for the ten past seasons. They know how many clean sheets the keeper has had since they were playing on the school field in Year Four and you bet they feel the need to share the stats with everyone around them.
They’re there to watch their heroes, the people they aspire to be. They have heart eyes the entire time there and want nothing more than a selfie with their role model. They’re running around and driving you crazy but everyone around you seems to think it’s cute.
This person knows (read: thinks they know) everything that’s wrong with every move and doesn’t hesitate to shout them at the team manager. Even if the team they’re supporting is winning, they will find a reason to be negative. They’ll blast their least favourite player all over social media when they get home.
You’re not going to see the game if this person is in front of you. From 10 minutes before it begins to the moment they leave, this person will be stood up and making exaggerated gestures, blocking your view.
Polka dot is eternal. There was a brief moment when people would scrunch their noses at how "old-fashioned" and "out…
Summer is drawing to a close which means it's almost jumper weather time, and - if you're like me -…
Reading is a joy, especially when it comes to classic books. There is something about them that makes us read…
Relationships are already hard enough, let alone distance ones- Here are some tips for those of you who starting a long…
I've heard it. You've heard it, and your friends will have heard it. You'll have seen it online and on…
In October 2015, I decided to call it quits on the Economics undergrad degree I was pursuing, for a host…
