George Sessions reports that divided loyalties have created a twenty-first century schizoid fan.
Instead of lifelong allegiance to a single team, the loyalty of today’s football supporter is divided among different teams at various levels of the game. On a Saturday afternoon in April 2014, I observed a single football fan who was supporting Manchester United, Real Madrid and Hornchurch – all at the same time.
The fan’s name is Ross. He is 32-years-old, from a working-class background, and he works as a painter. He spent the afternoon with three friends of a similar age and background – Gerry, Alan and Rocco. What follows is a timeline of their football-related activity on a typical Saturday.
13.30 Ross drives to Bridge Avenue, home of Hornchurch, arriving around 13.50.
13.50 Ross walks up to Hornchurch’s stadium while looking at Twitter to hear that Southampton have equalised against Manchester City. Then he scrolls along his Twitter timeline and sees City are now winning 3-1.
14.05 At Hornchurch watching players warm up, Ross meets up with Gerry, Alan and Rocco.
Ross checks to see Manchester United team news on Twitter – he looks first at the club’s official Twitter feed – and starts to talk with other participants about David Moyes not starting Spanish keeper David dea Gea.
14.30 Ross checks Manchester City score on Sky Sports Football App and reads about Stefan Jovetic’s goal, then checks Twitter to see the goal as Twitter account GeniusFootball has tweeted a link with a vine attached.
14.51 Ross finds out that Hornchurch teamsheet has been posted on Twitter. It is unchanged from the team that beat Carshalton Athletic on Tuesday. He and his friends all agree that it’s the best available starting eleven.
15.00 Kick-off to shouts of ‘come on, Hornchurch’.
15.09 Poor game so far which leads Ross to flick through Twitter to see latest info and he finds out Maidstone are 1-0 up at Bury Town after seeing club’s official Twitter feed retweeted. Ross then checks other scores via Ryman website and sees Lowestoft Town 1-0 up versus Hampton & Richmond Borough.
15.16 Dull game leads to more score checking and Ross finds East Thurrock beating Canvey Island, and Wealdstone winning at Met Police. The big news is that Bury Town are now level with Maidstone – Ross and all his friends are pleased to hear this. No Premier League scores yet, not even Ross’s team Manchester United, who are in action at Newcastle United.
15.20 Ross checks Sky Sports score centre and sees West Brom 1-0 up at Norwich. He also discovers that Bognor Regis Town are winning.
15.26 Hornchurch game has started to liven up, with Inigo Echepare saving from Hendon forward earlier, and now Ross’s team have been awarded a penalty.
15.27 Alan and Rocco lead conversation about George Purcell’s record in front of goal and then massive shout of ‘COME ON!’ from Ross and Gerry. Purcell does score, Hornchurch take the lead – this leads to all four friends celebrating wildly.
15.28 Bemusement and shouting towards Hendon players after they try to have meeting on pitch: ‘what was that all about?’ (Rocco); ‘they can’t do that!’ (Gerry); ‘sort it out referee’ (Alan). Hornchurch are playing well now so Ross can’t take his eyes off the game: he has lost interest in looking for updates online.
15.38 Ross is back on his phone now that the Hornchurch momentum has died down. Flicking through his tweets to reach the top of his timeline, he discovers Manchester United, his team, have scored.
A (small) fist pump from Ross, who informs the others that ‘the champions’ are winning. This evokes some friendly banter between the four friends.
15.48 Half time: Ross is delighted as both his teams are winning. Off to see latest scores on clubhouse TV that is showing Gillette Soccer Saturday.
16.04 Second half kicks off, Ross singing loudly from the start after talking previously about how important it is they hold on for the win.
16.06 Ross receives an update from Gerry telling him that Manchester United have scored again. But while Ross is following this up, Hendon score – and he doesn’t see the goal. Delight at Manchester United goal immediately offset by Hornchurch concession.
16.17 Ross shouting at referee after he awards Hendon a penalty. Alan complains: ‘it is all going wrong, what is going on?’
16.18 Hendon score the penalty and though Alan and Rocco start chanting for Hornchurch, Ross does not join in.
16.19 Manchester United get another goal. While disappointed with Hornchurch, Ross is now spending most of his time reading about the goals and chances United have created.
16.35 Ross screaming for penalty but referee doesn’t give anything. Hornchurch fans with arms up in the air looking flabbergasted.
16.42 Home side goes close again but Ross isn’t happy. Says to participant B: ‘let’s go – we are not going to do this.’
16.49 Ross checks other scores as hope for Hornchuch is fading away. He is annoyed to discover that Kingstonian have scored again, whilst Dulwich are now winning by two goals. The only positive regarding Hornchurch, is that Bognor are still drawing and Wealdstone are losing.
16.54 Full time and Hornchurch have lost. ‘What a load of rubbish, that was,’ Ross says. He leads the way to the clubhouse.
16.57 Ross finds out Manchester United final result and sadness turns to happiness as he starts talking about his top level team – he’s choosing to forget about the failure of Hornchurch.
17.01 After greetings with other fans, conversation turns back to Hornchurch game and what it means for play-off hopes.
17.21 After one drink, the four friends decide to go back to Ross’s house. He drives home from the stadium.
17.54 Traffic hold up only adds to their already dejected mood.
17.57 Ross turns TV on and sees Chelsea are drawing with Stoke at home.
18.05 Chelsea then score through Mohammed Salah. Conversation now turns to how good he is, and how he scored a few times when he was at Basel.
18.12 Another chance for Chelsea but missed by Andre Schurrle. Talk turns to ordering a take away.
18.15 It’s decided: Indian take away.
18.19 After ordering take away, Ross checks Barcelona’s Twitter feed and turns on notification app which will inform him whenever a score update Tweet is posted.
18.22 Barcelona Tweet notifying Ross that they have scored again.
18.24 Half time in Chelsea game – consensus is that this game is boring. Ross announces that Real Madrid game is on later. Excitement for that match offset by Barcelona conceding against Real Betis.
18.40 Second half between Chelsea and Stoke starts but Ross and friends are still talking about Real Madrid.
18.50 Not much happening in the Chelsea game but their take away arrives.
18.55 As food is being set out Chelsea win a penalty that catches attention. Frank Lampard scores and the food goes on hold for a minute. Conversation moves to whether or not Lampard should play for England.
19.00 Real Madrid against Real Sociedad – kick-off on TV.
19.20 Lack of excitement in Real Madrid game. The friends start talking about Hornchurch’s next game – away to Hampton & Richmond Borough on Thursday. Ross looks on club forum to see if anything has been posted already, and comes across a post discussing the lack of away support for Hornchurch and what can be done.
Ross says he fancies meeting at Hamilton Hall in Liverpool Street before getting train to Hampton on Thursday. He has a quick look online and draws up a plan which has the four friends meeting at Liverpool Street at 17.00, having two drinks and then getting a train towards Hampton at 18.00.
19.47 Illarramendi opens scoring for Real Madrid and Ross jumps up in celebration. ‘This will make up for Hornchurch being crap!’ he exclaims.
20.02 Second half between Real Sociedad and Real Madrid kicks off. Four friends Tweet their different predictions of what the final score will be.
20.10 Chances at both ends. Hush in the room as everyone is enthralled by the game.
20.24 Gareth Bale gets vital second goal for Real Madrid and beer is spilt in aftermath of celebration, leading to a temporary disagreement between Ross and Rocco. Flashpoint is brief but Rocco asks about cab number.
20.43 Pepe gets a third for Real Madrid. Ross is now sitting back happily as he knows there will be three points for another one of his teams today.
20.47 Morata scores Madrid’s fourth and now, after a few beers, celebratory hugs are shared all round.
20.52 Full time whistle, and Ross can celebrate two wins out of three for his teams.
I can’t say whether this typical Saturday was more exciting for Ross and his generation than going to a match down the road and walking back home in time to catch the end of BBC Grandstand with Len Martin reading the final scores. But these multiple loyalties – Hornchurch, Manchester United, Real Madrid (and even a bit of a thing for Barcelona) – are a big part of what it means to be a fully networked football in the twenty-first century.