Fans Supporters are the 'lifeblood of football'. They provide money for the clubs they support and they create atmosphere on match days with singing, chanting and shouting. Football teams inspire a loyalty which is like a kind of patriotism.
Some supporters regularly travel long distances to see their team play.
True fans are those who support their team even when they are not winning. The relationship between football clubs and fans is not always an easy one. Many football clubs, particularly in Britain, have been slow to realise that even though most fans are loyal, they still need to be treated well. With the increase in money coming into the game it is only recently that facilities have been improved in many grounds. In some cases fans have helped the club survive financially and in others 'fan power' has led to the resignation or sacking of managers and board members.