BBC reporters Jonathan Buchan, Nizaar Kinsella and Mike Taylor shared their own stories about what makes them proud to support their clubs.
‘A journey that links generations’ – Jonathan Buchan
BBC Radio Leeds sports editor Buchan says he forced his dad, who wasn’t a football fan, to take him and a friend on a half-mile walk from their home in Wortley to Elland Road:
“Personally, I owe a lot to that trip – a lifelong passion, friendships lasting decades… oh, and my entire career.
“Listening to the away games on BBC Radio Leeds ultimately resulted in me ending up in the role I find myself in today.”
Chelsea supporters ‘relentless and demanding’ – Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter Kinsella spoke of the “relentless and demanding” fans he has come to be familiar with over a decade of covering Chelsea:
“Blues fans travel in great numbers.
“Some of the supporters I could highlight include Cathy, who has not missed an away match for 47 years, Terry, who relocated from Japan to London purely to be close to the club, and Basil, described as a Chelsea Women superfan on the club’s own website – and one you can hear chanting loudly at Kingsmeadow matches.
“It is these people that make a matchday and enrich my role covering the club.”
Wolves fans are ‘a community’ – Mike Taylor
BBC Radio WM reporter Taylor praised the collective spirit at Molineux.
“Listening on the concourses, you are reminded that football clubs are so much more than scores and numbers.
“They are a community, drawn apparently at random from all classes and generations, united by one devotion.
“Like all relationships, it goes through times of strain – and faith can be tested – but the love remains.”
