Bandwagon Jumpers?

[ancientpie]

An often used insult to any new fans of a recently successful club, but when does a "bandwagon jumper" become a loyal/proper fan? If we look over the river the vast majority of their support in the 70s jumped on the bandwagon but many of these fans & their offspring still attend even though they have won nowt for years, are they still bandwagon jumpers or are they loyal fans? Our own support were probably inspired by some sort of success whether that was the Lawton era, the Jimmy & Jack era, the Munto era or something similar, we all need something to fire our interest. I am as guilty as the next for deriding bandwagon jumpers but perhaps we should be talking about "ardent fans " & "potential fans" when describing these paying customers? I have no doubt that no owner would turn their nose up at 10,000 or so Bandwagon jumpers in fact any club that wants success relies on them. I am not having a pop at anyone here it's just that BFPs post on the Lincoln thread got me thinking, I still have no time for local fans who follow Man U,Man City, Chelsea or even worse imo Celtic, that's got to be the height of glory hunting??? at least these "bandwagon jumpers" are following their local lower league clubs... Thoughts.

[andy6025]

An often used insult to any new fans of a recently successful club, but when does a "bandwagon jumper" become a loyal/proper fan? If we look over the river the vast majority of their support in the 70s jumped on the bandwagon but many of these fans & their offspring still attend even though they have won nowt for years, are they still bandwagon jumpers or are they loyal fans? Our own support were probably inspired by some sort of success whether that was the Lawton era, the Jimmy & Jack era, the Munto era or something similar, we all need something to fire our interest. I am as guilty as the next for deriding bandwagon jumpers but perhaps we should be talking about "ardent fans " & "potential fans" when describing these paying customers? I have no doubt that no owner would turn their nose up at 10,000 or so Bandwagon jumpers in fact any club that wants success relies on them. I am not having a pop at anyone here it's just that BFPs post on the Lincoln thread got me thinking, I still have no time for local fans who follow Man U,Man City, Chelsea or even worse imo Celtic, that's got to be the height of glory hunting??? at least these "bandwagon jumpers" are following their local lower league clubs... Thoughts.

I started supporting in the Munto year, and in the new year I'll be traveling 3,500 miles to see two games. People can call me whatever they want, but you can call me 'daddy.'

[ancientpie]

I started supporting in the Munto year, and in the new year I'll be traveling 3,500 miles to see two games. People can call me whatever they want, but you can call me 'daddy.'

I don't like "daddy" will pops do?B)

[keldsyke]

I started supporting in the Munto year, and in the new year I'll be traveling 3,500 miles to see two games. People can call me whatever they want, but you can call me 'daddy.'

So a lefty socialist, jumped on the fake money gravy train??

[Bohinen]

So a lefty socialist, jumped on the fake money gravy train??

With people like you around, I doubt we will attract many bandwagon jumpers.

[JoePass]

I don't like "daddy" will pops do?B)


You can call me granddad ;D

[andy6025]

So a lefty socialist, jumped on the fake money gravy train??

It was actually coincidental... but if it makes you happy then sure, we can say that's exactly what I did.

[irishpete]

Well, at least you stayed & didn't jump ship when it all came out,about Munto.

[keldsyke]

Well, at least you stayed & didn't jump ship when it all came out,about Munto.

Yep I'll go along with that too 🙂

[BigFatPie]

An often used insult to any new fans of a recently successful club, but when does a "bandwagon jumper" become a loyal/proper fan? If we look over the river the vast majority of their support in the 70s jumped on the bandwagon but many of these fans & their offspring still attend even though they have won nowt for years, are they still bandwagon jumpers or are they loyal fans? Our own support were probably inspired by some sort of success whether that was the Lawton era, the Jimmy & Jack era, the Munto era or something similar, we all need something to fire our interest. I am as guilty as the next for deriding bandwagon jumpers but perhaps we should be talking about "ardent fans " & "potential fans" when describing these paying customers? I have no doubt that no owner would turn their nose up at 10,000 or so Bandwagon jumpers in fact any club that wants success relies on them. I am not having a pop at anyone here it's just that BFPs post on the Lincoln thread got me thinking, I still have no time for local fans who follow Man U,Man City, Chelsea or even worse imo Celtic, that's got to be the height of glory hunting??? at least these "bandwagon jumpers" are following their local lower league clubs... Thoughts.

That's the point though, all clubs get bigger support when they get better results. In my experience the difference between Notts and smaller town clubs like Lincoln is that our less regular fans don't spend their time when they're not going claiming to be life long fans of Liverpool/Man Utd/Chelsea or whoever else happens to be doing well. While not giving a flying fart about their local team.

That's what makes them bandwagon jumpers.

[irish_pie]

That's the point though, all clubs get bigger support when they get better results. In my experience the difference between Notts and smaller town clubs like Lincoln is that our less regular fans don't spend their time when they're not going claiming to be life long fans of Liverpool/Man Utd/Chelsea or whoever else happens to be doing well. While not giving a flying fart about their local team.

That's what makes them bandwagon jumpers.

Agreed BFP, here in Ireland everyone is obsessed with teams like Man Utd, Liverpool and bloody Celtic!!! the look on a persons face when I tell them I'm a Notts fan is priceless :) but to be honest every time i walk into my local (countryside pub) the amount of people who secretly follow Notts is gaining pace and fast! :)

[SolSigns]

Agreed BFP, here in Ireland everyone is obsessed with teams like Man Utd, Liverpool and bloody Celtic!!! the look on a persons face when I tell them I'm a Notts fan is priceless :) but to be honest every time i walk into my local (countryside pub) the amount of people who secretly follow Notts is gaining pace and fast! :)

You're a trendsetter Irish... or an Irish Setter, trend. :?

[Old_pie]

And there's me thinking this was about a new club initiative for folk wanting to sit in the Pavis in their new bandwagon cardigan/jumper with invisible squad names!

[tarquinbeech]

So a lefty socialist, jumped on the fake money gravy train??

That was a bit nasty Kels.....the guy has just paid over £1,000.....to watch 2 games?.......he's OK in my book

ps His politics stink, but he gets a free pass

[SwalePie]

I'm a Sirrel era bandwagon jumper and proud of it.

[andy6025]

So a lefty socialist, jumped on the fake money gravy train??

Actually now that I think on it even more, I didn't start supporting until after Munto fell apart - same season though.

[i961pie]

Well you can't call me a bandwagon jumper, I watched Notts from 1959 until 1978 then due to personal reasons and a falling out with football in general stopped going. A mate at work asked me to go to the Spurs cup game in the early 90s we won and I gradually got the bug again and have been going ever since about 1996. I haven't seen Notts in the top flight or at Wembley but did enjoy that 2-0 defeat of the reds at the City ground when we were in the old div. 2.

[SmiffyPie]

Back on the wagon.
Like my old mate 61pie first went in '59. Never missed a game even if it meant hanging around outside and listening until the gates opened for the last 20 mins or so. Left UK in '70 and didn't return until '90. Missed all the glory years in Div1 but followed through the UK press when I could get it. NCFC heart never missed a beat in all that (this) time. However I fell out of the habit through being away and when I returned to the UK and moved to Chester it was ingrained to just follow and not attend. Munto was like a bolt of lightening for me, after years of reading about failure after failure something positive was actually happening at The Lane. Climbed back on board and now get over as often as possible and as many away games that are within 100 miles of me. I have to admit though that I haven't been over yet this season, had the wind knocked out of my NCFC sails a little towards the end of the Trew era.
I suppose the lesson to be learned is that there are many like me out there that have had the stuffing knocked out of them over the years and especially after the initial Munto surge and the quick return to struggle (please don't come out with the "Real supporter" bull****!! If I lived in Nottm I would go every game). All they might need is to see some signs of sustained progress and desire on the pitch. Heard a comment on the wireless last week about the lower divisions and the falling attendances, the commentator said "Where is the incentive for supporters when the club says "Consolidation year after year". Yes it's difficult and yes, we are showing a glimmer of progress and fingers crossed Big Al will be able to build on the start we have.

P.S.

I love KN

[upthemaggies]

The term "Bandwagon" is a raw nerve for many of us here because of what happened in the late 1970's, but I can't imagine it would be something that supporters of most other clubs would concern themselves with. That term should only apply to certain fans of certain teams in the Premier League. Maybe it's something Leicester now acknowledge but for almost everybody else it is just a case of local people being given enough of an excuse to come out and support (or reconnect with) their local team.

You can't blame people for not being motivated to leave the armchair by the prospect of a Morecambe, Crawley or Stevenage coming into town, especially when your team struggles to beat those clubs. The 3rd tier isn't really any more attractive on the whole, it's only when you reach the 2nd tier when it feels like the real deal.