- Joined
- Mar 14, 2019
- Messages
- 69
- Supports
- Newport County
And neither should you have to. The beauty of an opinion is that anyone can have one any they can all hold equal weight, depending on how you view them. I respect your view but I don't buy that the opinion of fans born in Manchester have a greater value purely based on their location/how often they travel to games. For many it's just not financially viable to travel to OT multiple times a season but that doesn't make them 'lesser' fans.I consider it arrogant to think my opinion, as someone who is yet to visit Old Trafford, holds the same weight as the opinion of someone who is more invested in the history of the club, rivalries included.
That's just my viewpoint though. I don't care as much about the rivalry. But it's pretty important. Our greatest manager thought it was. The conflicted nature of supporters closer to the action is a reflection of that, and I won't dismiss it just because I can't relate.
I still remember watching my dad (a Leeds fan who's been to Elland Road about 3 times in his life) crying like a baby when they were relegated when I was about 14. Passion for the club has nothing to do with where you are, it's about yourself and how YOU feel attached to the club.
I wouldn't let anyone dictate how valuable my opinion is just because they live closer to the stadium than I do. I understand local fans saying that you don't understand the rivalry as you're not directly experiencing it every day but to discount your own opinion just because some people live closer than you do seems bizarre to me.