Following on from Myles thread:

I'm sure everyone has had a "second team" or has had a team they had a soft spot for but is it possible to be loyal to two teams in all seriousness? Let me explain my background, from Berkshire (Grandad's company office moved out of the smoke during WW2 - he was from SW4, both parents are CFC fans) so unsurprisingly had a soft spot for the Royals. I would have considered myself sympathetic to Reading up until recently but now obviously with the Petr Cech thing and this Jason Roberts attention seeking muppet I f**king hate them. Had mates who followed Charlton so I quite liked them and went to the Valley a fair amount when Chelsea were away in the 90s also.

Now I've noticed the older I've got (34) the more blinkered I am towards only Chelsea, anyone else same? Now I feel like even having a remote soft spot would be an element of disloyalty whereas before I might have been inclined to watch out for the results of the aforementioned two teams.

Also I don't even bother with England either - is this a siege mentality complex I've developed, again have others seen the same changes to being a more "fundamentalist" type of fan (for want of a better way of describing it) ?

i think we can always have a soft spot for a team, for example i lived close to charlton so i have a 'soft' spot for them and i like to see them do well but when it comes to loyalty and that sick feeling when you lose or the feeling of elation when you win, surely you can have only one team that makes you feel like that ?

If you live in a place like Asia i can understand the two team concept as we you want to support a team that plays the best football in the world as well as your local team.

as for the England thing i'm certain its because Footballers are now amazingly rich, live like rockstars, play like legends for their club, put on an England shirt and since Euro 2004 have been utterly f**king sh*t !

Like both above I lived close to Charlton and when I was a wee one in the 90s used to go to quite a few of their football holiday programmes. Would always turn up in my Chelsea kit of course (yes and that was fully equipped with Chelsea shorts and socks (you can get away with that when your 7)) but have always followed their progress and was quite sad to see thier plummet down to league one a few years back. Saying that not really too fazed, if they got promoted back to the prem then i would be happy for them but take no interest in whether they win, lose or draw on a weekly basis.

I love Chelsea and Rangers equally, always have always will.

I'm not sure how that would work should we be drawn to play each other in Europe (won't happen for a few years at least) - in the 1985 Bradford Appeal match I was in the Rangers end but cheered all five goals in Chelsea's 3-2 win

Never in the same competition, playing against each other frequently.

I think if you're a Chelsea fan that moved to say Newcastle, you'd probably have a soft spot for one of the teams in the local derby, but there's no way you could genuinely feel for them if it came down to a competitive fixture. I'm sure many Chelsea fans also hope that Everton finish above Liverpool or that Real Madrid beat Barcelona.

However a team in Scotland or on the continent, with very little chance of them playing against each other (hello Rangers), yeah I think you can genuinely support them wholeheartedly.

For me it's easy, Chelsea and Sydney FC have very little chance of ever playing against each other competitively. If it did come down to it, however, i'd be happy for either result. Although I have to admit I am much more attentive to Sydney and the local league compared to the A League. I have no qualms about missing or watching a replay of a Chelsea game, but wouldn't even dare to miss a Sydney game home or away.

Following on from Myles thread:

I'm sure everyone has had a "second team" or has had a team they had a soft spot for but is it possible to be loyal to two teams in all seriousness? Let me explain my background, from Berkshire (Grandad's company office moved out of the smoke during WW2 - he was from SW4, both parents are CFC fans) so unsurprisingly had a soft spot for the Royals. I would have considered myself sympathetic to Reading up until recently but now obviously with the Petr Cech thing and this Jason Roberts attention seeking muppet I f**king hate them. Had mates who followed Charlton so I quite liked them and went to the Valley a fair amount when Chelsea were away in the 90s also.

Now I've noticed the older I've got (34) the more blinkered I am towards only Chelsea, anyone else same? Now I feel like even having a remote soft spot would be an element of disloyalty whereas before I might have been inclined to watch out for the results of the aforementioned two teams.

Also I don't even bother with England either - is this a siege mentality complex I've developed, again have others seen the same changes to being a more "fundamentalist" type of fan (for want of a better way of describing it) ?

This ^

I 'follow' Rangers, and watch their games passionately on TV (i would like to go to Ibrox for a big game one day)but, the only club that can genuinely 'hurt' me is Chelsea.

The only football team that can make so me so sad i cry is Chelsea..

The only football team that can make me so happy i cry is Chelsea

The only football result that can really f**k up my day is Chelsea losing (for Moscow, many days)

I've had soft spots for various teams in the Prem over the years (Newcastle under Keegan for example) but as soon as their manager or one of their players does or says something against Chelsea it's gone in an instant (same applies to ex-players, Burley for example).

My occasional 'softspot' for me doesn't count as disloyalty, as it comes and goes depending on many variables, but (other than Rangers) i couldn't go to any other clubs game and get into it, and/or be affected by the result.

I totally agree with your seige mentality and fundementalist attitude, with all the sh*t we take it's not suprising really!!

Alan

PS I no longer give a flying feck about England, simply because the way Chelsea players are treated by the FA and the England support.

There are many fan girls on twitter supporting Chelsea and Real Madrid. Sernando fans !

I follow Inter failry pastionately only becasue I lived there for a few years and my employer offered me season ticket for AC or Inter, I chose Inter on the basis that they were Blue.

Having said that it does not compare to Chelsea, makes and breaks my weeks like a lot of you have said. When we met Inter in the CL it made it clear in my head where my passion lies !

Other teams I have been following the progress of late is Swindon (I work here, god forsaken place !!) and Bristol City (I live not far from their ground) and attended a handfull of matches and enjoyed them

BumsteadCFC - I was bought up near Reading and some of my family have followed them, I can't stand them for many reasons, the main reasons... they tried to kill our keepers, they have 1000's of JCL's and cant stand that Jetski bloke and of course Jason Roberts.

My only loyalty is to Chelsea, but like most I have soft spots for other teams.

Charlton, my whole family supports Charlton, my dads best mate wrote the history of Charlton Athletic, and its dedicated to my Grandad, who died on his way to a game, so I will always follow their results.

Bury, which is a strange 1 I grant you, I met a load od Bury supporters when I was on holiday in Cornwall as a teenager, and ever since I've looked out for their results and been pleased when they've done well.

I can't feel anything for any clubs in a different country though, just total indifference!

I'm loyal to two teams and also support one in Sweden.

Leyton Orient are my second team. I watched them knock Fulham out in 2006 which was special. I was also there when they lost to Charlton and drew with Arsenal a couple of years ago.

Basically I'm a glory hunter as I only turn up for their big games. If they met Chelsea, I would sit in the Orient end for a laugh and I would cheer on Orient. Gotta share the love.

Yes, Chelsea & Hibs

I love Chelsea, and I love Brisbane.

Chelsea were the first team I supported (in any sport). Moving to England when I was 8 weeks old and living there for 7 years, I started supporting Chelsea when I was 5-6 years old (and actually understood what it meant to be a fan). I got back to Australia, but Chelsea stuck with me (though it was hard to show any sort of active support at the time).

Brisbane on the other hand...born in Brisbane, lived in Brisbane most my life. As soon as the A-League kicked off, I was a Brisbane fan (but it was kind of inevitable, because I support Brisbane/Queensland in everything).

They're very different kinds of support, but I feel invested in both of them. I've supported Chelsea for so long, and although I only got to go to a few matches before coming back to Australia, it's always been high degree of fandom (though now it's more about waking up/staying up to ungodly hours to watch us play). Brisbane I have active support for. I am a season ticket holder, standing in the home end, doing all the active support activities ..being there for the finals, and just generally having a good old time.

But they are my 2 teams, and always will be.

I was born in Rome so i grew up supporting Roma, but for the last 16 years i have also supported Chelsea, i now watch more CFC games than Roma's, i love both clubs!

and Bristol City (I live not far from their ground)

I knew as soon as I met you that you were a right pikey! Sheesh!

Chelsea and no other.

One life, one club.

Chelsea are my club and there is no one I would support over them regardless of the circumstances.

However I have an extremely soft spot for Charlton. I had a season ticket for 8 years; saw them promoted, relegated, promoted and then I left as I got a job and could afford to go to Chelsea.

It's easier (I think) if you come from a different country but I couldn't imagine supporting another team like I do Chelsea.

I always look out for how Brentford are getting on. My grandad used to follow them when he went to London many moons ago , but its always been Chelsea for me.

Always had a soft spot for Brentford and every year I hope we draw them in the cup. No question where my loyalties lie though.

Chelsea is #1 for me always above all other but I do have favorites in other countries, in other leagues.

Rangers

River Plate

Chicago Fire

AC Milan

Not for me, there is no way I can love any other team as much as I love Chelsea, I sure do have a soft spot for IFK Göteborg here in the Swedish league but I could never for example support Real Madrid and Chelsea, seen lots of people on twitter who do that, mostly girls though - im not judging them at all, each to their own I guess.

The Rangers and Chelsea link is another story though, I do want them to win and do well and find their fans generally friendly and see them cheering for us whenever we play - a very special link between the two clubs.

NO..Should be one team

Can you be loyal to 2 wives?

You can support one club. Follow others, if they aren't in the same league, or at least that my viewing of it. Nothing comes over Chelsea though. Like I might follow Werder in the Bundesliga, or Atletico Madrid in La liga, not going to be disappointed if I miss a match or whatever, whereas with Chelsea it's a totally different story. you could say it's just a favorite team in another league, nothing more..

Depends on the circumstances, but it's certainly more than possible for someone to be loyal/support two teams.

It's easy for me but whenever I explain it to others most don't really get it so I don't bother anymore. I was born in Portugal and followed Porto. Moved to England when I was still young and naturally supported Chelsea because of the history between the two clubs. Can't say I support one more than the other, if it wasn't for Porto I would never have got into football in the first place but Chelsea were the club that really got me to invested a lot of time and support into the sport.

People say it must be hard when both teams play each other, I personally love it and wish it happened more often.

Always had a soft spot for Wimbledon followed their progress from non league, up through the football league divisions then to their amazing Cup Final were they outplayed and beat comprehensively their opponents to record a lucky win 1 - 0, also they supplied us with Dennis and Vinnie, still look for their results as MK Dons.

But it is only Chelsea that can fill me with a thousand and one emotions

Edited October 24, 201213 yr by mbh