This article explores the impact of smartphones on the experience of watching football. It contrasts the author’s experiences as a young fan in the pre-digital age with the modern fan’s reliance on technology during live matches. The author argues that while technology offers convenience, it also breeds impatience, diminishes human connection, and potentially detracts from the immersive nature of being a true football fan, emphasizing the importance of presence and patience in truly appreciating the sport.
In the autumn of 1980, a young football enthusiast journeyed alone to Firhill, only to find an unsettling void in the manager's dugout. Unbeknownst to the solitary 13-year-old, Bertie Auld had resigned, a revelation that arrived belatedly via the Sunday Mail. This personal anecdote sets the stage for a broader exploration into how technology, particularly smartphones, influences our engagement with football.
Fast forward to a recent Thistle home game, broadcast live on television. The author observed a young couple engrossed in the very match they were attending, their faces illuminated by a smartphone screen. They were following the play-by-play action on their devices, offering real-time commentary on referee decisions to those around them. This prompts the central question: Is the omnipresence of smartphones eroding the authentic experience of watching football?
There's an undeniable irony: paying for a live experience, only to consume it through a digital filter. However, this behavior reflects the evolving dynamics of football fandom. Technology has infiltrated every aspect of the sport, from VAR controversies to club communications via social media. The way modern fans access football bears little resemblance to the experiences of previous generations.
It's not necessarily about lamenting the past, but rather an exploration of how technology has reshaped our minds, our patience, and our overall approach to watching football. As Christine Rosen argues in her book, 'The Extinction of Experience,' technology has personalized our lives, leading to diminished patience and a constant need for instant gratification. The Extinction of Experience highlights a critical shift in our collective behavior. The rise of smartphones has bred impatience, diluting the escapism traditionally associated with attending games.
Consider the historical context. Before modern transportation, traveling to away games was a daunting endeavor, demanding significant time and patience. Local teams like East Fife and Cowdenbeath once boasted attendances exceeding 20,000, simply because alternatives were limited. Now, improved infrastructure allows fans from across the country to converge at Ibrox or Parkhead, a convenience that was once unimaginable.
Yet, this ease of access comes at a cost. When our desires aren't instantly fulfilled, frustration sets in. This impatience manifests most acutely during transfer windows, with fans clamoring for immediate signings. Social media amplifies this sentiment, with knee-jerk reactions and calls for managerial dismissals becoming commonplace.
The core issue is not the disappearance of certain elements of the 'old game', but the shifts within ourselves. Modern apps streamline ticket purchases, making attendance easier than ever. However, the author reminisces about the camaraderie at the turnstiles, the human connection that initiated the matchday experience. These simple interactions are fading as technology increasingly mediates our lives.
Football, at its essence, provides belonging, comfort, friendship, and hope. While technology simplifies processes like ticket purchases, it simultaneously diminishes the human element. Instant updates from other matches flood our smartphones, creating a sense of being 'virtually present' elsewhere. This mediated experience can overshadow the present reality.
Furthermore, boredom, often viewed negatively, may be an essential component of the live experience. Football, by its nature, involves periods of relative inactivity, requiring patience and attention to detail. It is during these moments that those unforgettable, extraordinary plays become truly meaningful.
Embracing the unpredictable nature of a season – the unexpected turns, the slow starts, and the late surges – requires a willingness to accept the lack of control and simply 'go with it'. This acceptance fosters resilience and prevents rash judgements based on short-term results. Where we begin a season ever hopeful, we should be willing to go with whatever happens, to see where things pan out, allowing that season to go in whatever direction it will go. To wait and endure a bad start because it may get better after October. Or a slow burning season with a good run from February, understanding that it is all out of our control and we should just go with it.
The key takeaway is not to reject technology, which is ultimately unavoidable. Instead, we must strive to disconnect occasionally, engage with our surroundings, and reconnect with the human element of the game. It's in these moments of mindful presence that we rediscover the essence of true football fandom.
Ultimately, technology's pervasive influence on the sport warrants a nuanced exploration. It's about recognizing the subtle yet significant ways smartphones and the digital world are reshaping our engagement, potentially at the expense of patience, human connection, and the full spectrum of the live football experience.