I think this forum is quite blokey. Think there are definitely female fans out there...
I'm not sure that fandom is in general. There is also a section of the population that supports teams from a family point of view.
I had an argument about being a fan requiring some kind of participation with like minded people, a dedication to not missing games and dressing or requiring some kind of outward display of loyalty or affiliation. and anything else was someone who followed a team, was kind of interested in them.
Sent your email to a friend who IMO is a fan of Stoke, but a follower of the NYY, using my own definitions. Hope he'll follow through. I used to be a...well probably fan of Manchester from Brian Robson on...but stopped after I finished school with Rooney and Ronaldo and lack of Sky/coverage I guess...Follow overseas teams who have Kiwis, but don't have an affiliation to any overseas team...
Think football is interesting here as it is a minority culture, has no real local culture that is unique (think the haka or that kind of thing) and is nice in the way that a cup of tea is as it is a reminder of Ron Manager...what gets a bit of mockage, but football in Britain...which we are closely linked to...
being a fan here is in large part echoing the culture of British teams or having a touchstone to a treasured part of British culture (apologies to the YF fans with European heritage!)
Wait, wait here you go...fandom involves belonging to an imagined community. Actually, started my first two years of Phoenix fandom while I was living overseas- I left the country on the day of their first ever game...
You have found yourself a copy of the book 'The Soccer Tribe' right? Loltastic in a serious funny way, but I guess that is all kinds of football studies! Hard to take it too seriously (but it is!!)