Originally posted by Scrooge
What about Ice Hockey, Rugby or Cricket shirts ?
Ooooh! That's a good point!
Especially in the US, where it's deemed 'hip' to wear sportswear as part of being a rapper (American Football, Baseball and Basketball) or in a Heavy Metal band (Ice Hockey and Baseball).
I suppose it comes down what you feel comfortable and do you care it attracts attention.
I've been know to wear Ice Hockey shirts and footie shirts BUT if i'm going to a game but I would wear a Rugby shirt or Cricket shirt anytime.
Saying that, the last couple of times of going to the Lane (Spurs), I've worn non football related attire, mainly if I go drinking in the West End most pubs will refuse entry.
I do believe it comes to the antics of few inexperienced travellers who don't realise that if they act up because they've been drinking too much that if you're wearing a football shirt then it's not too difficult to know where they come from.
I also suppose it comes down to what people want from their holiday. You will get people who want to go away to escape from the usual surroundings, to get a tan, be able to get their creature comforts and eat food they are safe with and not interact with the locals apart from the police. Then you get the other travellers, who take in the local culture and attempt to interact with the locals.
An example, I can give is when my wife and I went to Barcelona a couple of years ago. We went to a bar for breakfast, we had the local dishs of doughnuts with chocolate dipping sauce (can't think what the name was) and coffee. Across from us were a group of english lads and from their shirts where from Birmingham eating the full english with beer.
They finished before us and were arguing over the bill which they thought was expensive. They paid up and left grumbling away, we finished our little breakfast and a waiter came up to us and offered us more doughnuts free of charge. It helps that we tried to speak to them in Spanish/Catalan and they seem to appreciate the effort.
However, there is no way I would wear a football shirt on a plane, I want to maximise all my chances for an upgrade (well, I can wish!).[;)]
