English soccer teams' diverse players

[mtbc]

On the one hand many soccer fans seem fiercely loyal to some local team. On the other hand, teams seem to have managers and players drawn from all over the continent, even the world, rather than their being of largely local origin in any sense. I wonder why fans so identify themselves with a team whose main link with them is just that their current players happen to play together locally.

Comments

[damerell]

I dunno. I support Real Gothic, who play two matches a year in Whitby against what used to be the local newspaper team (who have unfair advantages like practicing, knowing each other, not being hung over, and knowing how to play). I'm led to understand they are not entirely typical of football teams.