The 30 signs that you are a true football fan have been revealed by an in-depth study.
How much of a football fan you are has been a long debate throughout the ages, with some having a litany of different reasons why they are bigger fans of the sport than others.
There isn't really a true answer, as such - although many will suggest that going to see your team's games in person makes you a bigger fan. But there are plenty of reasons why fans can't go to games, ranging from living in a different region, to working or even, in the case of major clubs such as Manchester United and Liverpool, being stuck on a season ticket waiting list that you may never reach the front of.
A study of 2,000 fans conducted last year has revealed that there are 30 signs, in their view anyway, that you are a true football fan.
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According to the study, among the 30 signs are that you go to at least five games a season, and know where all of the stadiums are in different cities - we suspect this relates to the upper five regions of the English football pyramid at the very least.
In addition, you need to own multiple football shirts (and a full kit), be able to explain the offside rule (it doesn't specify whether this is pre or post-VAR) and cancel all your plans to watch important games.
Other signs include being a season ticket holder at your club every year, knowing all the football chants/songs for each club, and - of course - complaining about VAR. Unless you support a lower league team, with the Championship and below yet to accept the use of the technology.
Perhaps the biggest one, though, is knowing which substitutions a manager is going to make before they make them.
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Below is the full list.
30 signs you are a 'true football fan'
- Being able to name the starting XI of England's World Cup-winning team
- Playing football yourself
- Going to at least five games every season
- Owning multiple football shirts
- Able to easily explain the offside rule
- Owning a full kit
- Supporting your local team
- Knowing where all the stadiums are in different cities
- Knowing what substitutions a manager will make shortly before making them
- Watching games other than the ones your team is playing in
- Knowing the ins and outs of players from different teams from 30 years ago
- Knowing the name of ends/stands at different stadiums
- Planning your weekends around the football schedule
- Cancelling all plans to watch an important game
- Going to away games
- Keeping track of scores on your phone if you're not at home
- Watching TV matches that don't involve your team
- Collecting souvenirs for your club
- Being a season ticket holder at your club every year
- Having pictures/prints/framed shirts up in your home
- Being as interested in the women's game as the men's
- Taking a day off work to watch a game
- Knowing all your club's chants and songs
- Refusing to wear the colour that your rival plays in
- Being inconsolable all weekend if your team loses
- Knowing the number of trophies each team has won
- Arguing with friends/partner over your favourite teams
- Filling your house with club merchandise
- Watching a game overnight while abroad
- Complaining about VAR
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Topics: Football
Ryan Smart