REVEALED: How football fandom has evolved from match-day supporters

Long gone are the days football clubs were simply supported by local residents, family and friends. True football fans were considered match-day regulars but that is no longer the case. With non-stop news and coverage at our fingertips, football has evolved into an international game. It’s why pre-season tours for Premier League clubs are as much to do with tapping into emerging markets as they are preparing for the season ahead. 

Managers would have it differently, mind. They would much rather focus on preparing their players with tactics and instructions than the commercial obligations that accompany gruelling trips to the likes of Asia, United States and Australia. There are clearly better ways to prepare for a long, hard season, but it is now part and parcel of the game. The way football clubs are supported is now completely different.

Football teams like West Ham now have genuine, hardcore supporters all over the world and it’s important those fans get to see their teams up close and personal. Pre-season tours to countries like Australia and China are designed to deliver exactly that. There are fans across the world that wake up in the middle of the morning just to watch league matches for the likes of West Ham. Some even spend their money to fly to England and attend a game live.

Our partners Betway have delved into this exact topic to find out more about the modern day football supporter and what it means to people outside of England to support a club such as West Ham. The results may surprise a few…

Credit: Betway Insider