What we love about football is not so much the performance of individual players as it is the communities that teams spawn – and not just locally, but all over the world.
Travel to about any country in the world, and you will have Liverpool and Manchester City fan clubs and people feuding and defending the club's honour as if it were their own family name.
True now, over the years some of this behaviour has become excessive to the point that it has led to hooliganism, but football is thankfully past these darker periods of its history.
Today, going to the stadium and watching real football is more exciting than ever before, there are at least several good reasons behind that.
Football is a social activity – whether you are participating in the game, cheering, or just enjoying good food while watching the football spectacle unfolding before your eyes, it's all about being one with the crowd.
The mass of people streaming into the stadiums all come there with the same purpose – to cheer for their favourite teams and support them when they are less fortunate. In fact, football fans – as raucous as they can get – yearn to be part of their respective team community.
Even going and sitting in the midst of the opponent team's fans these days isn't such a bad idea as all football fans are there to enjoy a good time. None of the times of old when people would fight in the streets or let their passion for the game mar its beauty.
Football is a national pastime and there is no doubt about that. When you have kids, you will find even more reason to attend games and spend quality time with the offspring. Besides, teaching them football isn't too bad at all.
And if you think football stadiums are no place to take kids, then you'd be surprised as many clubs are very family friendly.
The country has some of the deepest-running traditions about the game and going to football is considered the norm, even if you don't like the event much. Knowing a thing or two never hurts.
Besides, the little nippers could actually turn out to be gifted footballers themselves and make history – or very well shape your family's football lineage. Of course, this is a bit like living in dreamland, but it definitely wouldn't hurt exposing your young ones to as much culture and sport as possible and let them decide for themselves.
Sports and betting are synonymous and there's no doubt there will be a lot of betting action throughout the country or probably world wide for fans watching the game at home or in person.
If you've ever tried to have a punt at a gambling site such as https://slotsandtables.com/ you'll know that although it's fun to win, it's much more exciting to see the game unfold in person and scream at players to help you win your bet. It's just much sweeter to win in person in front of your mates than at home with no one to share the thrill with.
Of course, you don't have to think of football stadiums as places packed with fanatics who would look down on you if you – God forbid – have a chat with your friends. Stadiums are amicable and sociable places.
Sure, there might be a bloke or two who is a bit too much into the game, and then again there are a pack of sworn fans, but you needn't worry about those chaps. Just socialise with your mates as you see fit and as long as you are not too much of a trouble to bystanders and other fans at the stadium, you should have any trouble passing the time, enjoying the game, and exchanging a few good stories.
It may seem silly now, but a true football fan does hope to get an errant ball flying out of the pitch. Whether it's a favourite footballer kicking it out of the field, it really doesn't make any difference.
So long as you get the ball, you will be about as happy as a fan can feel – even if their team just won the title. Besides, an actual ball that has been kicked out of the field feels much more authentic than anything you can pick from the store as well.
Don't worry though, even if you don't get a chance to get a ball, there are still other interesting situations you can find yourself in – such as high-fiving with a footballer rushing out to the fans after he has scored a goal.
Just like most hobbies and forms of entertainment out there, one's appreciation for football increases the more a fan gets more involved and familiar with what is going on. Of course who wins and who loses may be at least partially a matter of luck, but what matters is the fun you have along the way.
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My daughter's first ever football match - Orlando City v Atlanta United, August 2019. Written for Izzy to read when she gets old enough. Vamos Orlando
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