Players and their "fan" clubs

shane86

It is clear a large chunk of the buzz behind Keanes signing is that he has always supported Liverpool. tbh it seems relatively rare for many footballers or managers to actually comment on their favourite team through their life. Like, presumably Fergie is a Gers fan (assuming his surname didnt originate in Ireland like alot of Celtic fans, may be mistaken of course) but Ive never heard him comment on it. Is there any website that has a collection of them? Would be interesting re where players might want to end their careers.

All I can think of from my head from EPL and SPL (excluding the likes of Gerrard, Rooney or Giggs whos youth allegiance is well known):

Carragher is an Everton fan IIRC.
James McFadden: Celtic
Les Ferdinand: Spurs
Lampards dad played for West Ham and he got his start there I think, so it would be his likely one.
Nearly certain Kevin Doyle said Man U (though a good player obviously not yet of the calibre to join them.)
Roy Keane: Celtic
Fairly sure Ian Wright is a lifelong Arsenal fan. As was Ashley Cole (actually, scratch that one )
Joey Barton: Everton
Lee Carsley is possibly a B`ham City fan. From the area I think and was well pleased with his move


Think of many others? Obviously 99% of players out there followed a team, but it is something alot keep on the hush. Any reason why they largely keep it hidden?

Melion

Arent Wes Brown and John O'Shea Liverpool fans?

estebancambias

Damien Duff, Shay Given and Stephen Carr support Celtic.

Stephen Hunt is a Celtic fan as well.


I seriously doubt any of them were actually that bothered by Celtic in their younger days.

shane86

Melion wrote: »

Arent Wes Brown and John O'Shea Liverpool fans?

Brown is from Manchester and has been associated with united since his early teens hasnt he?

Seems unlikely.

Mr Alan

Solskjear was a Liverpool fan as well, was actually a fully paid up member of the norweigen (or wherever he is from) fanclub until he went to OT.

and carragher is not an everton fan, he was at a very very young age. considering he went to Liverpool when he was about 10 you cant imagine that fan thing disappeared fairly sharpish! he is on record as hating them as much as the most red scousers. thank god

themont85

Wasn't there a photo of gerrard in a everton jersey as a youngster a while back? could have been carragher actually

Mr Alan

no it was gerrard.

he was never an Everton fan though, he was very young in it, about 6-7 and his uncle dressed him up in it and brought him to Goodison to piss off his aul fella.

doesnt stop the bitters rolling it out every derby though :rolleyes:

Big Ears

Mr Alan wrote: »

no it was gerrard.

he was never an Everton fan though, he was very young in it, about 6-7 and his uncle dressed him up in it and brought him to Goodison to piss off his aul fella.

doesnt stop the bitters rolling it out every derby though :rolleyes:

Whatever about the other two I'm fairly sure Owen was an Everton fan .



WE normally here the lifelong fan/boyhood fan stuff when a player signs for a club . Sometimes it's true, but mainly it's just talk to try and get the fans on their side .

DmanDmythDledge

Mr Alan wrote: »

and carragher is not an everton fan, he was at a very very young age. considering he went to Liverpool when he was about 10 you cant imagine that fan thing disappeared fairly sharpish! he is on record as hating them as much as the most red scousers. thank god

Didn't Rooney show up at a Liverpool trial in an Everton kit?

Big Ears wrote: »

Whatever about the other two I'm fairly sure Owen was an Everton fan.

I'm pretty sure Fowler and McMananam were too.

Bounty Hunter

Steven Gerrard

Reganio 2

shane86 wrote: »

Obviously 99% of players out there followed a team, but it is something alot keep on the hush. Any reason why they largely keep it hidden?

They keep it hush because its not a nice way to get the fans on your side if you are playing for Liverpool and come out on Sky Sports and say "Ahh sure I was a United fan all my life" Majority of fans wouldn't take to kindly to that. Me on the other hand, if he plays well for us, I couldn't give 2 f's who he supports.

Xavi6

shane86 wrote: »

Brown is from Manchester and has been associated with united since his early teens hasnt he?

Seems unlikely.

Wes Orange was actually a City fan before he joined the United youth academy I'm almost certain.

anonymous_joe

If I remember rightly, Frank Lampard doesn't like West Ham anymore, because of how the fans treated him.

invincibleirish

Did i not read in Roy Keanes manifesto that he was a Spurs Fan as a kid?, though plenty Norries love Celtic so he probably had some allegiance to them.

Ashley Young is an Arsenal fan i read somewhere on the Internet, posssibly the Villa thread.

Big Ears

invincibleirish wrote: »

Did i not read in Roy Keanes manifesto that he was a Spurs Fan as a kid?, though plenty Norries love Celtic so he probably had some allegiance to them.

I believe he was too, a big fan of Hoddle apparently .

PHB

Scholes and Oldham

Cadzer

I cant remember were i heard that Mr JT was a Man united fan?

hussey

Denis Bergkamp was named after denis Law

_blank_

hussey wrote: »

Denis Bergkamp was named after denis Law

But, he has two "n"'s in his name.

Because Denis in Dutch is Day-nis, and his father wanted people to call him Denis, after Denis Law,

stovelid

Xavi6 wrote: »

Wes Orange was actually a City fan before he joined the United youth academy I'm almost certain.

My cousin knows Wes and told me before that this was the case. He's a City fan too, so I never knew whether to take it with a pinch of salt.

Think I read before that Richie Dunne said he'd like to play for Shamrock Rovers when he finishes in England. Could have been just saying this because he's from Killinarden though.

_blank_

I thought this thread was going to be about The Mr. Alan Fernando Torres Appreciation Society.

grames_bond

i dont know how much of what robbie keane sayd we can believe, i mean he has always dreamt to play for liverpool in the same way that he always dreamt of winning the carling cup as a kid?!?! just the announcement to make the fans happy (and he should do)

Mr Alan

actually with Keane its not just the usual ****e.

Is it that hard to believe a lad from Dublin grew up as a Liverpool fan?

there is pics of him in the old clubhouse in Crumlin in his Liverpool kit as a kid. And the front of the Mirror today has him as a kid in a Liverpool scarf.

I'm usually sceptical of people saying they support the club they join, but in Keanes case, its been well known for years that he supports Liverpool.

Ronnie Whelan was a Utd fan as well btw.

Eirebear

Kenny Miller supports Rangers, sorry Celtic...I mean Rangers...or is it...

citytillidie

Ian Rush was an Everton fan. Kenny Daglish was a big Rangers fan until they turned him down and he signed for Celtic ended up ripping off the Rangers posters on his wall.

Karmafaerie

Jason Macateer was a boyhood Liverpool fan.
Ray Houghton was a Celtic fan IIRC

jackdaw

shane86 wrote: »

It is clear a large chunk of the buzz behind Keanes signing is that he has always supported Liverpool. tbh it seems relatively rare for many footballers or managers to actually comment on their favourite team through their life. Like, presumably Fergie is a Gers fan (assuming his surname didnt originate in Ireland like alot of Celtic fans, may be mistaken of course) but Ive never heard him comment on it. Is there any website that has a collection of them? Would be interesting re where players might want to end their careers.

All I can think of from my head from EPL and SPL (excluding the likes of Gerrard, Rooney or Giggs whos youth allegiance is well known):

Carragher is an Everton fan IIRC.
James McFadden: Celtic
Les Ferdinand: Spurs
Lampards dad played for West Ham and he got his start there I think, so it would be his likely one.
Nearly certain Kevin Doyle said Man U (though a good player obviously not yet of the calibre to join them.)
Roy Keane: Celtic
Fairly sure Ian Wright is a lifelong Arsenal fan. As was Ashley Cole (actually, scratch that one )
Joey Barton: Everton
Lee Carsley is possibly a B`ham City fan. From the area I think and was well pleased with his move


Think of many others? Obviously 99% of players out there followed a team, but it is something alot keep on the hush. Any reason why they largely keep it hidden?

I don't believe this .. but I heard John Terry was a Man United fan as a boy..

event

i think micah richards is an arsenal fan, read than before.

andrewie

jackdaw wrote: »

I don't believe this .. but I heard John Terry was a Man United fan as a boy..

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2006/may/07/newsstory.sport6

And you weren't a Chelsea supporter ...

No, I was Man Utd growing up.

citytillidie

jackdaw wrote: »

I don't believe this .. but I heard John Terry was a Man United fan as a boy..

Well he grew up in London

_blank_

citytillidie wrote: »

Well he grew up in London

There are fans of Manchester United from further away from Old Trafford than London.

There are fans of Liverpool from huge distances from Anfield.

taidghbaby

anelka was a <insert current interested party> growing up!! FACT

gustavo

Mr Alan wrote: »

actually with Keane its not just the usual ****e.

Is it that hard to believe a lad from Dublin grew up as a Liverpool fan?

there is pics of him in the old clubhouse in Crumlin in his Liverpool kit as a kid. And the front of the Mirror today has him as a kid in a Liverpool scarf.

I'm usually sceptical of people saying they support the club they join, but in Keanes case, its been well known for years that he supports Liverpool.

Ronnie Whelan was a Utd fan as well btw.

This fandom was just an excuse to be able to move easier , I've no doubt he was a fan in his youth , but I doubt he would have turned down a move to Manchester United on account of it somehow, The same as the vast vast majority of players would play for any club that would pay them enough

Guy:Incognito

Des wrote: »

There are fans of Liverpool from huge distances from Anfield.

Some not as far as you'd think though. My bedroom is 140.5 miles from the centre circle of Anfield. I could drive it in 2 hours comfortably were it not for the pesky water.:)

carlop

shane86 wrote: »

It is clear a large chunk of the buzz behind Keanes signing is that he has always supported Liverpool. tbh it seems relatively rare for many footballers or managers to actually comment on their favourite team through their life. Like, presumably Fergie is a Gers fan (assuming his surname didnt originate in Ireland like alot of Celtic fans, may be mistaken of course) but Ive never heard him comment on it. Is there any website that has a collection of them? Would be interesting re where players might want to end their careers.

All I can think of from my head from EPL and SPL (excluding the likes of Gerrard, Rooney or Giggs whos youth allegiance is well known):

Carragher is an Everton fan IIRC.
James McFadden: Celtic
Les Ferdinand: Spurs
Lampards dad played for West Ham and he got his start there I think, so it would be his likely one.
Nearly certain Kevin Doyle said Man U (though a good player obviously not yet of the calibre to join them.)
Roy Keane: Celtic
Fairly sure Ian Wright is a lifelong Arsenal fan. As was Ashley Cole (actually, scratch that one )
Joey Barton: Everton
Lee Carsley is possibly a B`ham City fan. From the area I think and was well pleased with his move


Think of many others? Obviously 99% of players out there followed a team, but it is something alot keep on the hush. Any reason why they largely keep it hidden?

I think i remember hearing that the nicest guy in football was a big liverpool fan and that he got into an argument with an everton fan pre-season a few years ago that ended with barton stubbing out a cigar in someones face, i could be wrong though.

Mr Alan

gustavo wrote: »

This fandom was just an excuse to be able to move easier , I've no doubt he was a fan in his youth , but I doubt he would have turned down a move to Manchester United on account of it somehow

complete bull****.

his fandom wasnt an excuse for the move. long before the move was even a possibility he openly talked about how he was not a Liverpool fan, but in fact a Liverpool fanatic. always has been, always will be.

stovelid

Mr Alan wrote: »

complete bull****.

his fandom wasnt an excuse for the move. long before the move was even a possibility he openly talked about how he was not a Liverpool fan, but in fact a Liverpool fanatic. always has been, always will be.

Agreed.

There's nothing like abject fandom for making people act stupidly.

Peyton Manning

Cristiano Ronaldo supported Benfica as a child. However Im sure most of that affection has now been lost given their reception of him as a Sporting player.

Paul Scholes was a boyhood Oldham fan.

Nani supported FC Porto as a kid.

Mr Alan

stovelid wrote: »

There's nothing like abject fandom for making people act stupidly.

who you tellin'!

shane86

carlop wrote: »

I think i remember hearing that the nicest guy in football was a big liverpool fan and that he got into an argument with an everton fan pre-season a few years ago that ended with barton stubbing out a cigar in someones face, i could be wrong though.

IIRC the cigar incident happened at a Man City christmas party. The Everton fan was attacked in a pre season trip in Thailand or thereabouts.

The allegiance of the fan he attacked is irrelevant, Barton could get into a fight with himself in the mirror.

Fairly sure around the time it became apparent he was getting the boot from MC there was talk Everton was his dream club.


This may seem a stupid question but every English person Ive ever met supported a prem team (or a team that dipped between c`ship and prem regularly), bar one lad from norf landan who supported Watford all his life (and its been a while but I think he had an Arsenal leaning). Just re what said about Scholes, is it common for people from around Manchester to support the likes of Oldham and Stockport in their respective leagues but also support Man U/City in the prem?


Also, Arshavin has been claiming a lifelong affiliation to Barca. While Ive no idea how wealthy his family are, was Spanish footy really that accessible on free tv to working class Russians in the 80s and 90s? hmm.....


I think Robbie is also a joint Celtic fan like many pool supporters. Read it before Im fairly sure.

carlop

shane86 wrote: »

IIRC the cigar incident happened at a Man City christmas party. The Everton fan was attacked in a pre season trip in Thailand or thereabouts.

The allegiance of the fan he attacked is irrelevant, Barton could get into a fight with himself in the mirror.

Fairly sure around the time it became apparent he was getting the boot from MC there was talk Everton was his dream club.

Yeah just had a look on wikipedia there and you're right he grew up an Everton fan, also the Everton fan he attacked in Thailand was only 15:eek:

5starpool

I'm fairly sure that Robbie Fowler was an Everton fan as well until he joined Liverpool as a young fella. He's gotten over it now though

MuPpItJoCkEy

Gotta say, I do like this thread!

SantryRed

shane86 wrote: »

This may seem a stupid question but every English person Ive ever met supported a prem team (or a team that dipped between c`ship and prem regularly), bar one lad from norf landan who supported Watford all his life .

Do we not count as regular? We've gone up and down twice since the millenium

Seaneh

Maldini: Fanatic Milan fan as a kid, but that's bucause of his dad and ****s.
Ambrosini: Local boy, milan fan.


Nesta: Fanatic Lazio fan, only left becuase the club needed him to.

Gilardino: Juve

F & P Cannavaro: Napoli
Cassano: Napoli

Totti: Roma to the bone.

carlop

Seaneh wrote: »

Maldini: Fanatic Milan fan as a kid, but that's bucause of his dad and ****s.
Ambrosini: Local boy, milan fan.


Nesta: Fanatic Lazio fan, only left becuase the club needed him to.

Gilardino: Juve

F & P Cannavaro: Napoli
Cassano: Napoli

Totti: Roma to the bone.

Surprised at that one, Cassano's from bang in the centre of Bari, which would traditionally have quite a big rivalry with Napoli. Still, knowing Cassano, this is probably what made him be a Napoli fan!

Mad Dog

anonymous_joe wrote: »

If I remember rightly, Frank Lampard doesn't like West Ham anymore, because of how the fans treated him.

It was because of how the club sacked his father.


Also Mark Hughes = Chelsea fan.

Peter Crouch used to have a season ticket at Stamford bridge, I think his father still does.

thusspakeblixa

Jurgen Klinsmann was a Stuttgart fan
The tosser then went to Bayern, and his kids support them now.
Just annoys me, as he was a ''Stuttgarter Kickers fan'' when he was with them, a ''VfB Stuttgart fan'' when he was with them, and a ''Bayern fan'' when he went to them.
:mad:

OPENROAD

Theo Walcott is a Liverpool fan.

mayordenis

OPENROAD wrote: »

Theo Walcott is a Liverpool fan.

I looked throught the whole thread to see if anyone had posted it - and I get to that last post . . . . I should of started at the end.

Seaneh

carlop wrote: »

Surprised at that one, Cassano's from bang in the centre of Bari, which would traditionally have quite a big rivalry with Napoli. Still, knowing Cassano, this is probably what made him be a Napoli fan!

****, typo, yeah he's obsessed with Bari actually.