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by Sludgy6528/10/2025 09:38Tue Oct 28 09:38:59 2025
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Question for long distance fans (and those who can't get to games regularly)
Views: 912
Tonight's game is on Sky Sports+ and typically I'd go down to the pub to watch it, or at a pinch, pay the £15 to Sky and watch it on my phone.
For the first time I'm genuinely questioning if I want to spend the money, the time, and the effort to go out, or just sit at home and listen to the game on iFollow.
There's definitely some guilt attached but my rationale is, if I was able to go in person, to support the lads, I still would. It's just not the same.
Has anyone else recently started feeling a bit apathetic or drifted, in terms of watching/listening to games from afar?
This sounds more like a confession column than a post on a football board but, does this make me a plastic/fair weather fan now?
(For context I'm 400 miles away in Central Scotland so can't make it to games more than a handful of times a year)
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Re: Question for long distance fans (and those who can't get to games regularly)
Views: 323
Lucky you - 400 miles is safe . Hope you did watch it though, great performance last night and hopefully more to come .
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Re: Question for long distance fans (and those who can't get to games regularly)
Views: 448
Work means I'm away for long periods so don't get to many games now, watch on the TV when on. Never the same as being there, old ET but go in North now when I do go.
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Re: Question for long distance fans (and those who can't get to games regularly)
Views: 408
Are you in the navy?
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Re: Question for long distance fans (and those who can't get to games regularly)
Views: 354
Nah, but am on a cruise around the Antarctic and South America at the moment.
Work for the Caravan Club for 8 months then travel for 4.
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Re: Question for long distance fans (and those who can't get to games regularly)
Views: 331
Are you visiting South Georgia?🇬🇸
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Re: Question for long distance fans (and those who can't get to games regularly)
Views: 349
No, we was meant to stop at Falklands Islands but the weather prevented that as port Stanley was closed.
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Re: Question for long distance fans (and those who can't get to games regularly)
Views: 343
First rule of Caravan Club?
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1 person
Re: Question for long distance fans (and those who can't get to games regularly)
Views: 405
Don't tell people about the pay, if you only need to work for 2/3rds of the year to go travelling for the other third?
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Re: Question for long distance fans (and those who can't get to games regularly)
Views: 258
Minimum wage on campsites, have to rely on other means and save like mad in summer months to cover winter holidays, living expenses while not earning.
I earnt considerably more in my previous job but wouldn't go back to that way of life.
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Re: Question for long distance fans (and those who can't get to games regularly)
Views: 325
No idea 😁
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Re: Question for long distance fans (and those who can't get to games regularly)
Views: 315
One pump orgasm.
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1 person
Re: Question for long distance fans (and those who can't get to games regularly)
Views: 322
That's the other club
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Re: Question for long distance fans (and those who can't get to games regularly)
Views: 508
I lived in WGC, and then Harlow, and have been supporting the boro since 94 and was a season ticket holder for about 8 years, sitting right above the tunnel. After retirement in 2012 the weekends got busier so didn’t get there as much. I moved up to spalding about 4 years ago and I guess my interest in football changed and haven’t been to any football since. (Plus too much on the TV now) Also being on a pension means watching the pennies. Saying that I still listen to Statler and Waldorf on the commentaries when I can, and still a member of the supporters club.
Edited by Mike H at 23:12:00 on 27th January 2026
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Re: Question for long distance fans (and those who can't get to games regularly)
Views: 532
I grew up in Stevenage but moved to South London in 2008. My dad, who is in his 70’s now and still a ST holder, first took me in the 80’s. I Still go to 6-7 home games a year and most of the London away games. I bring my son with me, who’s now 15. He’s a boro fan even though was born in south London. My wife is from Malaga and we’ll probably retire there, I know the thing I’ll miss the most when we do is the football.
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Re: Question for long distance fans (and those who can't get to games regularly)
Views: 525
I grew up in Stevenage, but betterd myself and upscaled to Royston. Make the 30 mile round trip to see the Boro every home game.
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Re: Question for long distance fans (and those who can't get to games regularly)
Views: 307
Really made me 😂😂- very good - well done for the 30 mile round trip.
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Re: Question for long distance fans (and those who can't get to games regularly)
Views: 294
I walk.
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Re: Question for long distance fans (and those who can't get to games regularly)
Views: 550
I have Livescore and that's about it. Haven't been to a game since 2023 I think.
I am living in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada. Have been here for almost 12 years now. I have drifted into watching the Vancouver Whitecaps on and off. Go Whitecaps! They are my other team now and if I don't go to a game I don't watch them anywhere else either just follow them on Livescore.
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Re: Question for long distance fans (and those who can't get to games regularly)
Views: 336
Think there is at least one other Canada based of us , tag possibly Agent Eaves.
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Re: Question for long distance fans (and those who can't get to games regularly)
Views: 463
You've got to be up there as one of our furthest flung supporters. I'm sure I've heard somewhere of a few Boro fans in Australia, and I'm not sure about New Zealand, but Vancouver is some shift to get to games from!
When was the last time you were in the UK and able to see a game in person?
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Re: Question for long distance fans (and those who can't get to games regularly)
Views: 351
I had to look it up but it was Stevenage FC V Wigan Athletic 07 Oct 2023. I've been to the UK a couple of times since but it was in May so I didn't get to go to any games.
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Re: Question for long distance fans (and those who can't get to games regularly)
Views: 426
I know of one in Australia
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Re: Question for long distance fans (and those who can't get to games regularly)
Views: 590
I grew up in Broadwater (Turpins Rise) but immigrated to Great Ashby 15 years ago. Simply couldn’t be bothered tonight.
Feel quite ashamed about that.
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Re: Question for long distance fans (and those who can't get to games regularly)
Views: 452
Honestly for all my talk I'd make about how fans should go to local games through thick and thin it's a cold January Tuesday night in a sh*t economy and it takes you away from your family for the evening (unless they're along for games). I'm also hundreds of miles away and should be the last person to give any lectures.
Nothing for you to be ashamed of and hope the lads can keep things rolling after tonight to make those cold Tuesday nights more appealing going forward.
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Re: Question for long distance fans (and those who can't get to games regularly)
Views: 504
I lived on Turpins Rise for a few years in my younger days (Roebuck Court)
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Re: Question for long distance fans (and those who can't get to games regularly)
Views: 643
My dad moved up last year so I usually watch with him, which makes it more enjoyable. There are also a lot of fixtures we can go to in the North West. I haven't been to a home game in nearly a year, by far the biggest gap in my nearly 35 years of watching us.
I also prefer to go and watch my local Non-League side. Although they are lower in their respective table, their games are a million times more exciting as they actually try to win, score and play football. The whole Non-League experience is, for the most part, much more enjoyable than the Premiership/ increasingly Football League experience as well.
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Re: Question for long distance fans (and those who can't get to games regularly)
Views: 655
At last, a post aimed at me.
For those who don't know, and I bang on about it so there aren't many of you, I now live in France.
The disconnect happens gradually, but it happens. With Sky and ifollow and Borochat I can still connect and watch but it ain't the same. I miss the people I stand with and drink with more than the actual football, I can still watch almost every game, but TV ain't the same.
I quit Twatter so I miss that interaction too, so this place, even with all the idiots here, is an important link.
I've been back in rhe UK last t weeks so seen a few draws and had a good catch-up, but it's genuinely the thing I miss most about no longer living in the UK.
Anyway, onion soup, crusty bread and wine calls...
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Re: Question for long distance fans (and those who can't get to games regularly)
Views: 539
I must admit as a season ticket holder if it is a wet Tuesday and it's on Sky it's a toss up whether I go.
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Re: Question for long distance fans (and those who can't get to games regularly)
Views: 628
I had no idea you were over in France. What region are you in?
I'm over there whenever I can to visit my Dad (who got me started with Boro over 20 years ago now).
Honestly since I moved up to Scotland in 2017 it's been hard for me not drift generally as well.
I hated that I started paying more attention when results were good because I just don't like when fans are like that but when the distance is involved it's hard to feel anchored.
I used to stand on the East Terrace about halfway up, halfway between the centre and the north stand.
The few times I've been down (I seem to get to more away games than home ones) I still try to stand there. It would feel weird going anywhere else.
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Re: Question for long distance fans (and those who can't get to games regularly)
Views: 617
When I'm back I stand mid ET, immediately North of the central passage, have done since 2009.
I'm 40km due North of Limoges, since 2020.
I'm usually in the UK for 5 weeks from early December.
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Re: Question for long distance fans (and those who can't get to games regularly)
Views: 601
That's really close to my Dad's region. He lives about 40km south of Poitiers, near the Vienne.
Small world.
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Re: Question for long distance fans (and those who can't get to games regularly)
Views: 586
Gonna be less than half hour from me at a guess... postcode?
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Re: Question for long distance fans (and those who can't get to games regularly)
Views: 593
It an 86 code, I can't remember the rest. It's about 15mins from L'Isle Jourdain or 30mins from Confolens if you know those places.
I tend to fly into Poitiers when they open the seasonal route from Edinburgh.
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Re: Question for long distance fans (and those who can't get to games regularly)
Views: 554
We are 87.
About 45 minutes east of Confolens
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Re: Question for long distance fans (and those who can't get to games regularly)
Views: 439
Very much in the neighbourhood then. I won't be over there now until July but do hope to be back and forth over the summer.
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Re: Question for long distance fans (and those who can't get to games regularly)
Views: 685
It's a 2 hour drive for me from work. I was going to go tonight, but im tired, and with the weather today decided to just come home and chill. Obviously the decision was made easier by our current form. And to be perfectly honest, the last game I attended was Chesterfield in the cup. I'm a season ticket holder, so its been a bit of a waste of money this season, but work, illness and a bit of apathy have been behind my absence.
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Re: Question for long distance fans (and those who can't get to games regularly)
Views: 631
300 mile round trip for me -- been to three home games this season and yet to see a Boro goal.
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Re: Question for long distance fans (and those who can't get to games regularly)
Views: 694
Definitely doesnt make you plastic. Anyone who travels outside Stevenage or the local area to games should be apaulded especially with the shit that’s been displayed recently on the pitch.
Don’t win tonight and we’ll go 4 months without a league win at home
(on 4th February)
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Re: Question for long distance fans (and those who can't get to games regularly)
Views: 660
I have always been a keen away fan - 20+ years on the road for Boro - but these days I only really attend home games or London/Luton matches. I used to enjoy away games but the combination of cost, miserable performances and no one to really go with I don’t bother now. Can watch it at home so generally just do that. Shame really, there’s no substitute for actually being at a match but I’m not inspired to travel these days.
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Re: Question for long distance fans (and those who can't get to games regularly)
Views: 657
I assume the cost and lack of company are the main factors at play there?
Because we have the fifth-best away record in the whole division, only behind Cardiff, Stockport, Lincoln and Plymouth, so any aiming of us being poor away from home preventing attending when previously people would is very unfair on our management and players, we are normally considerably worse on the road than this!
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Re: Question for long distance fans (and those who can't get to games regularly)
Views: 470
Yes that’s a good point and well-explained. I suppose its not performances as I used to travel everywhere even when we were dire. It’s more the thought of a long coach or car trip back from a Cardiff or a Stockport or whatever if we’ve lost and I’m depressed about it. Plus, although I can probably afford most away trips if I’m honest, if its a case of £25-30 on the coach, £25-30 to get in, food etc, versus staying at home and watching it on tv from behind a cup of tea, I think the £70-80 spend and several hours out isn’t such good value any more.
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Re: Question for long distance fans (and those who can't get to games regularly)
Views: 405
Watching the odd game with you is a real bonus Jamie but my eyesight isn't up to a five-hour round trip for evening matches any more (I live about 15 miles East of Yeovil). Loved it when we briefly played in the South-west league (Yeovil, Bristol Rovers, Exeter, Plymouth, Forest Green and Swindon). I spend some chunks of time in Montenegro so have an overseas Ifollow viewing ticket. I hardly ever miss a game, but absolutely agree watching on a screen isn't a patch on being there, despite once driving over 1000 miles in the dark days of Sampson without seeing us score, let alone win.
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Re: Question for long distance fans (and those who can't get to games regularly)
Views: 309
Bless you matey. Let’s hope I see you at many more.
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Re: Question for long distance fans (and those who can't get to games regularly)
Views: 304
Look forward to it. Apart from Luton away we are unbeaten!
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Re: Question for long distance fans (and those who can't get to games regularly)
Views: 602
Yeah it would have been me on my own tonight. It's hard to get my mates out on a work night and over to Stirling.
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Re: Question for long distance fans (and those who can't get to games regularly)
Views: 700
And on the flip side, only one defeat, all season.
Edit: I am not suggesting our lack of wins is fun, or fine because we aren't losing, but we have had winless home (and overall) runs like this in the league a number of times, and they have often been far worse than this and included lots of defeats. It was only three years ago we lost five consecutive home matches, scoring just once and conceding ten times in them. Short memories some people have of how bad things can actually be for us. This is not even comparable to those, it really isn't.
Edited by Chuds at 17:41:27 on 27th January 2026
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Re: Question for long distance fans (and those who can't get to games regularly)
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Alex Revell likes this comment
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Re: Question for long distance fans (and those who can't get to games regularly)
Views: 724
Felt that way about football (and other live sport) on TV more generally for a while. Maybe the fact that so much of it is on TV now has devalued the novelty for me at least.
Still find it worthwhile to go to matches in person but I've had very limited time to do so this season.
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Re: Question for long distance fans (and those who can't get to games regularly)
Views: 698
I'm feeling increasingly jaded toward the top end of the game as well. I barely give a jot about the PL and now I'm weighing up if I even want to watch the World Cup this year, because it leaves a bad taste in the mouth with everything going on there and feels like a breaking point after Qatar and Russia.
I've watched every World Cup religiously since 1998 when 6 year old me had a weird obsession with the Nigerian team (no idea why).
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Re: Question for long distance fans (and those who can't get to games regularly)
Views: 691
There should be no guilt to this , sure many having same feelings.If we get our arses together a bit more, signs of it Sat, sure we will all feel better and get bums on seats etc
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Re: Question for long distance fans (and those who can't get to games regularly)
Views: 660
I’ll be watching on TV from North Norfolk, but only because I’ve nothing better to do. I have missed the odd TV game because of something else to do. It should be that the football takes priority and if the games were more entertaining then undoubtedly it would. I’ve actually watched one or two games on TV and thought to myself what a waste of of a couple of hours, mainly the 12.30 games where normally I don’t believe in watching TV in the middle of the day.
Hopefully tonight will be worth watching!
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Re: Question for long distance fans (and those who can't get to games regularly)
Views: 550
Strangely enough, I'm also called Ian, live in Norfolk and seem to have most of the same views you've expressed. Been going to Boro for over 40 years, used to have a ST but don't go much now. Probably 6 or 7 times this season.
I know we're in a position that's better than it's ever been but a combination of lots of games on TV and the fact that I think the football is not exactly exciting, doesn't encourage me to make the effort as often as I otherwise would.
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Re: Question for long distance fans (and those who can't get to games regularly)
Views: 546
How many Ian's are there on here...? Me too.
It must've been popular back in the day....
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