Why do so many Irish people support English and Scottish football clubs?
395759
Irish clubs have nothing like the money, the numbers of supporters or the talent pool available to UK clubs. Ireland has a population of 4 million compared to 60 million in the UK, and soccer is not even the biggest sport here. Consequently the Irish clubs cannot afford to pay their players the large wages available in the UK, and  because the wage differences are so high, any good Irish player will jump at the opportunity to go to the UK to play for a big club. As a result very few top-class Irish players continue to play in the Irish leagues. \n\nIn fairness though, many people in Ireland support local soccer teams while also supporting a major UK club like United or Celtic etc.
1177520
I think people have misunderstood your question, realitly check you dont have to be scottish to play for a scottish team. not sure how many but it is a shame they didnt qualify.
1055492
im english , and i agree that a)  england are over-rated and b) all the hype bowt 66 is embarasing  and c) we wont win the world cup. but....... that aint really a basis for scottish people to slag them off, even the most proud scottish person would have to accept the national teams crap and the leagues a joke. must say though they have produced some awesome players in the past... just not at the mo..
537601
Because of Celtic's irish roots, and support for the republic of ireland, rangers fans fly union jacks as a retort.  The "england" flags you see are actually Northern Irish flags, which are similar, but are now banned from the stadium.  Rangers fans have taken up british nationalism basically to wind up celtic fans, pure and simple.\n\nGod Save the Queen and Rule Brittania are played at Ibrox before every game, and are sung by the fans, much in the way celtic fans sing "fields of athen rye" (an irish folk song).\n\nBoth are scottish teams.  but its all about the rivalry - the idea that it is associated with northern ireland has no basis - sectarianism shown by both sets of fans has nothing to do with nationalism.
925823
It's not just teams from the antipodes. Just look next door to Ireland or France. Being Irish, I think that the introduction of soccer and rugby were probably the most positive results of the past 800 years. Thank you sincerely.\nThere has been a decline in British standing in the sports that it gave to other countries. While I'm not Au fait with the situation but I think you should look at your youth policies over the past , say, 20 years. Have you noticed any trends that distract youngsters from sports other than computer games.\nHaving taught so many of us to play your games, should you come and see how we have developed them. Ask why Rugby has flourished in countries with relatively small populations - N.Zealand, Australia, Ireland.\nIs Rugby Union still classbound in UK?\n\nCome on. Get back to your old standards. We don't really like beating the "Auld Inimy" when he's down.
1051164
The English don't have a lot to be patriotic about, on the other hand the Scottish,Welsh.and the Irish do!\nSt Georges flag has now become a symbol of the BNP (political fascist group ) and lots of England football fans are very sympathetic to this group of racists .
186495
Outside of their own country, soccer fans always love to root for underdogs. Ireland aren't in the World Cup this year, so go T&T!
555069
None of these im afraid. The real football fans in England support their clubs because they live near the club or because they were brought up supporting them by their peers. Fans who support a club who are the best even though they live miles away are not real fans. So the answer is \n6. Brought up to support that club because its in your blood
1183799
Ireland is a close neighbour to England.\nJoin in with the spirit of things and wear the kits, rather than being the outsider.\nPeople who don't live in Manchester support Man U & wear the kit, you live in the U.K, you live in England it's totally acceptable to wear the kit
604341
HEY,ITS THE DESPERATE CLOWN HERE.YOU ANSWERED MY LOVE QUESTION............i'm an irish clown from DERRY...lol.\nits great the way the Irish get behind there national teams in all sports.Always praising no matter what!!Not like the Brits who slag there teams at every oppertunity
778349
Hey I have major respect for someone who is a die hard supporter of a club that might not necessarily be a powerhouse. Though I don't really follow Scottish Football that much, It takes a lot to be the kind of supporter that you are.\n\nI support Borussia Dortmund in Germany.\n\nHope your team does well this season!
1159545
Agreed.  \nBut then look at Ireland... Soccer is a sub sport (Eiercom League) compared to GAA.  Granted the Ireland International squad consists mainly of premiership or Championship Div. players and is decent although didn't qualify Euro 2004 or World Cup 2006.  But Gaelic sports are still No. 1 here.
1001518
the teams are more used to the conditions and field and they have the support of the european people which always helps.
456626
The 6 counties are not a part of England. They are a part of the United Kingdom which is something different. The UK is comprised of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.\n\nGaelic games are only shown on televisions in Northern Ireland and Ireland as well as some satellite channels, so few people are able to follow them outside Ireland. However it would be reasonable to expect that some people who are not Irish are big fans, just as a small proportion of Northern Ireland protestants follow the games also.
381727
You are entitled to your opinion but there are plenty of Scottish football fans who feel otherwise. The Scottish Premier League is a competitive professional league just as the leagues in many other countries. If you paid any attention to the standings this season you would see that Hearts is actually ahead of Rangers in second place. It's not much different than the Arsenal, Man U and Liverpool domination of the English Premier League. It has only been in the last two years that Chelsea has come to power after its Russian oil millionaire owner basically bought the League title.
381320
It comes from the fact that football as we know it is actually association football, as opposed to rugby football or gaelic or aussie rules.  "Soccer" comes from association.
710804
They Premiership or the English FA should never even think about allowing Celtic or Rangers to go straight into the Premiership.  They should start from the bottom like everybody else.\n\nCeltic may have beaten Man U last week, but this was literally a hit and run.\n\nSorry but neither team are upto standard.\n\nThey look good in the SPL because it is basically catered for them.  They have the monopoly on TV apprearances, sponsorship etc.  All the other teams just fight over the dregs.\n\nHearts had a chance to become a good team, but Romanov has broken the team.