What's with the Benfica's pennants?
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McEwansExported — 16 years ago(January 30, 2010 12:38 PM)
I've no idea what team he supports and care even less.
As for Belfast catholics and Man U, absolutely. Man U are an 'Irish' team that came about from Manchester being one of the cities on the mainland Irish catholics emigrated to due to its proximity to the main ports on both sides of the Irish sea. Glasgow and Liverpool were the other main destinations and both these cities have an obvious immigrant population.
Certainly there were other social economic factors that played into which team they ended up supporting but Man U is regarded as a 'legitimate' team for catholics to support. Put another way, you don't get as many loyalists following them despite one of their own, George Best, being perhaps their most famous player of the time.
Things nowadays are less clear cut due to the younger generations being more swayed by success than politics. Got be a go thing. Also, the global branding of the club has introduced a truly global following which, in turn, dilutes the impact of the traditions that diehards may still publicly cling to. Compared to Glasgow, where one team was founded specifically for the benefit of the immigrants, the past associations are a lot less well defined but can still be seen when that Glasgow team come and visit but is more of a novelty factor with the younger folks than a deep routed idealology. -
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ag67-182-841889 — 10 years ago(February 25, 2016 07:46 AM)
In Gerry's book "Proved Innocent" he talks about asking a prison warden just after being moved to a new prison what the Man United score was that day, so I think it is safe to assume his favourite teams were Celtic
and
United, which is a very common occurrence. -
kellehc — 16 years ago(October 08, 2009 02:26 AM)
Gerry is obviously a football fan, probably a United supporter, but like most Irish football fans he would have a 'soft spot' for different clubs on the European mainland. Benfica must be a particular team on the mainland whom either himself or Guiseppe have a liking for.