True Supporters/Fans - Your definition

[Mike_B]

For as long as RWO has been around, the words "true supporter/fan" have been bandied around too. So I thought that this actually deserved a thread of its own. So please post what defines a "true supporter/fan" in your opinion!

[katie-scarlett]

Waiting 72 years?

[ScottH]

Supporting through the bad times. - Which for me was the early nineties, 3 spoons on the trot.

[Glenn]

Sticking with them in the good times and bad, and getting to the games when ever you can (not everyone can attend every game, but makes them no less a "true fan")

[NMWBloods]

I think it's different things to different people.

That it's not the most important thing in your life doesn't make you less of a supporter.

I agree with Scott - it's simply continuing to support during the downs as well as the ups.

Since I've been following the Swans I've seen 4 wooden spoons and 10 bottom fours in total.

My dad's seen an impressive 9 wooden spoons and 33 bottom fours in total, or thereabouts.

If you haven't seen any bad times, then the test will come when the bad times do, and they will.

[Glenn]

Seeing the bad times, makes seeing the good all that much more sweeter.
Unfortunatly will always get the bandwagoners that get off when things don't go so well, and then back on when things pick up again

[Sanecow]

True supporter / fan: Nothing to do with your "Keep South at South" bumper sticker, cheersquads, memberships, "collectibles" you bought off eBay, the crappy trivia you remember from games gone by, who you pick in tipping competitions or your alleged ability to spot a champion as a rookie.

It is about one rule: To be "true", once you get on the bandwagon (whether by tradition, Capper, Lockett or the Premiership), you never fall off. You might not post on RWO and you might only watch the first half of the game on the telly before you start reading a book but as long as you don't jump to the latest hot thing (see: World Cup futbol, West Coast Eagles) instead of the Swans then you're alright.

[goswannie14]

Originally posted by NMWBloods
I think it's different things to different people.

That it's not the most important thing in your life doesn't make you less of a supporter.

I agree with Scott - it's simply continuing to support during the downs as well as the ups.

Since I've been following the Swans I've seen 4 wooden spoons and 10 bottom fours in total.

My dad's seen an impressive 9 wooden spoons and 33 bottom fours in total, or thereabouts.

If you haven't seen any bad times, then the test will come when the bad times do, and they will.

Just doing some research here. Bloods, did you count the wooden spoons in your bottom 4 finishes?

[wheels27]

"Thunderous applause"

Couldn't have put it any better, Sanecow!

[Ruck'n'Roll]

I really don't know, on the one hand I cringe a little when a "new member" tells the ref he's blind, but on the other hand some of the "true supporters" are a tad elitist. Does it matter what anyone thinks apart from the supporter themselves?

[NMWBloods]

Originally posted by goswannie14
Just doing some research here. Bloods, did you count the wooden spoons in your bottom 4 finishes?

Yes.

It seems most people agree that the key thing is to maintain support (in whatever way you do it) in bad times as well as the good.

[desredandwhite]

Grizzled veteran, bandwagon jumper.. Who cares, as long as they don't jump off when the wheels fall off!

Without bandwagons, we'd hardly get any new supporters - If I never jumped on in 1997, I wouldn't be here slaving over a hot pot of badly coded PHP for all you smelly ingrates. Maybe another pack of evil-smelling ingrates elsewhere, but I digress.

It's not about how many games you go to. It's not about how much merchandise you buy. It's not about how many autographs you've gotten. It's not about how long you've been around.

Whether you're at the ground, listening on the radio, watching on TV, reading the scores the next day.. If every goal scored against us hurts (important distinction, it's never "them" or "they", but always "us" and "we"), then welcome to the club.

[goswannie14]

Originally posted by NMWBloods
Yes.

Ok on that formula I have seen 6 wooden spoons, and 17 bottom 4 finishes, but looking back since 1968 there appears to have been more finals appearances than that, although I didn't do a proper count.

I do remember when we only won 2 games for the season back in about 1974 I went to two games that season, both against Geelong, and we won them both.

I think being a true fan encompasses alot that has been posted here, but I think Sanecow's definiton is the most accurate for me.

Despite having seen many bad years as a Swans supporter and the "loss" of being able to see my team play live every week, I know that the club only survived by relocating, and the Premiership victory last year makes all of the wooden spoons fade into insignificance.

BTW I am in the "stay until the final siren" camp whether we win lose or draw.

[NMWBloods]

Originally posted by goswannie14
I do remember when we only won 2 games for the season back in about 1974 I went to two games that season, both against Geelong, and we won them both.

1975 - that was my first season as a supporter!

[jude_boltons_babe]

going to a game when you are in pain to support your team