Why do we do it?

[DV]

Why do we do it? Adrenaline, a sense of belonging, living vicariously through others, addiction.

My tipping point has been well documented. Paul Hart, despite popular (and idiotic) opinion it wasn't because we were shit and went down.

I can take being shit. I can take losing and I can take being relegated.

What I can't take is going down without a fight. Everything that season was defeatist from the start, selling Greer, selling Morrison, selling Austin, signing Benyon, holding onto Wilson too long and worst of all replacing him with Paul Hart.

Our team that season was far better than relegation. We had no ambition top to bottom. Stay up or die trying in my opinion. The attitude stunk, so if they couldn't be bothered why should I?

I didnt renew my season ticket.

Di Canio came and in my opinion was a breath of fresh air. He had drive, he had passion, he had desire and he lived for winning. He made sure the entire club lived by these rules, anyone who didn't was gone. Finally a manager not scared of player power.

In hindsight, somewhere along the like Black, Wray and Di Canio failed to keep control on the finances which seems to be costing us now.

Even with being fully on board the Di Canio circus train I still didnt that feeling. I went back a few times but it was never the same for me.

Now that train is over I have lost the little enthusiasm that it rekindled. Honestly - the Brentford defeat did nothing to me where as I still fucking hate those Brighton cunts for 04.

Rightly or wrongly - a sustainable 'happy just to be here' club that wins some, loses some, draws some, gets a few decent players who get sold after a season who ultimately go no where (see Oldham) does nothing for me.

It's not about taking part, it's about winning. Maybe it's a simplistic view but football is still a sport and the object is to win.

Don't think I will be going back anytime soon.

[herthab]

The amount of people posting on this thread about losing the enthusiasm to go anymore kind've proves my point. You may not go, but you're still attached to the club: you still post on here (and in the football related forums, not just general discussion). You'll always have the attachment.

[4D]

It's all the miseries reaching middle age.

[Reg Smeeton]

The amount of people posting on this thread about losing the enthusiasm to go anymore kind've proves my point. You may not go, but you're still attached to the club: you still post on here (and in the football related forums, not just general discussion). You'll always have the attachment.

People come in and out of supporting all the time....what I have noticed down the years, is that it's often the noisiest, seeminglymost ardent types who flake off first at the sign of something they don't like.

[Crispy]

As much as I don't want to quote such a shite film as Football Factory - 'What else are you gonna do on a Saturday? Sit in your fuckin' armchair wankin' off to Pop Idols? Then try and avoid your wife's gaze as you struggle to come to terms with your sexless marriage? Then go and spunk your wages on kebabs, fruit machines and brasses? Fuck that for a laugh! I know what I'd rather do. Tottenham away, love it!'

[Abrahammer]

I’m not missing it at all this off season.  Usually I’d almost be counting down the days until the first day of next season but I’m no hurry for the season to start at all.  It’s got nothing to do with anything happening off the pitch, there have been plenty of seasons where expectations on the pitch were limited that I’ve looked forward to.  I can only put it down to age.

I’ll still go to as many games next season as I always do and I’d imagine the excitement will come back when we are a couple weeks from the opening game.

[Bob's Orange]

My passion for football in general has waned a lot recently. I used to watch as many games as I could be it on the telly or at Swindon.

Be it the stupid amounts of money, the faux 'best league in the world' nonsense around English football, the players acting like kids on and off the field, it just leaves a sour taste in my mouth.

However, my escape from this is down the County Ground at 3pm on a Saturday. Whether we are Championship, League 1 or 2, I still get the buzz from meeting my dad at the train station, discussing our line up over a few pints, the walk up to the ground, the first whistle etc. The buzz may not be as strong as before, but its still there.

2 season's ago when we lost away at Accrington I got in a real huff and had an argument with with girlfriend. From this moment on I realised that life is more important than 3 points on a saturday and I try and not get too down when we lose.

Put simply. I do it because I want to do it, I enjoy it, and would miss it if it wasn't there.

[Crispy]

My passion for football in general has waned a lot recently. I used to watch as many games as I could be it on the telly or at Swindon.

Be it the stupid amounts of money, the faux 'best league in the world' nonsense around English football, the players acting like kids on and off the field, it just leaves a sour taste in my mouth.

However, my escape from this is down the County Ground at 3pm on a Saturday. Whether we are Championship, League 1 or 2, I still get the buzz from meeting my dad at the train station, discussing our line up over a few pints, the walk up to the ground, the first whistle etc. The buzz may not be as strong as before, but its still there.

2 season's ago when we lost away at Accrington I got in a real huff and had an argument with with girlfriend. From this moment on I realised that life is more important than 3 points on a saturday and I try and not get too down when we lose.

Put simply. I do it because I want to do it, I enjoy it, and would miss it if it wasn't there.

We beat them 2-0 

[Bob's Orange]

We beat them 2-0 

Nuts, just done some research and it was when we lost 2-1 at Shrewsbury. I think we played well first half and diablolical second half.

[Crispy]

Nuts, just done some research and it was when we lost 2-1 at Shrewsbury. I think we played well first half and diablolical second half.

Sorry to be so pedantic!

[Bob's Orange]

Sorry to be so pedantic!

it was a good spot! I wasn't convinced it was Accrington but just chucked it in anyway!!

[Loobug]

1) because I like to sing at the top of my voice and cant do that at home / work.
2) because it's better than Eastenders / Coronation street for drama.
3) Spend quality time with my son.

[RedRag]

Shrewsbury or Accrington, I still find my mood affected by Saturday's result and if it's a bad result I have to manage the disappointment so as not to affect others. 

In spite of my best efforts, "I may not always like you, but I do love you." is something said to me on occasion and it pretty much sums up how I in turn feel about STFC and why I do it.

The DMR approach of growing up and moving on is absolutely correct. 

We all do that with most "leisure activities", even if we retain an interest in the activity or a connection with an old club with which we were once closely associated.

For me and others afflicted, STFC is more however, and I think the reason is because it starts in childhood and becomes hardwired.   Not sure if there is still something extra needed such as a yet to be discovered "Swindon Gene".

It is relatively rare to share experiences of the intensity of Wembley 69 or 93 or the PO semi final wins achieved at the Valley or Prenton Park with thousands only to find no one else knows about this, let alone cares.  For me, the intensity of these experiences is informed by the mundanity, failure and scandal even of much that precedes (and follows) them. 

Sh*t golf club, you join another.  Simple.  Not so STFC