The 17 Bus I cant see how anyone can "become a fan" I was born in Reading, they are my only team, always have been, except for the Seventies when as a teen I looked out for Leeds as well, tho most kids I knew had a top team as well as Reading.
I could not become a fan of any other team, regardless of where I lived.
The size of past crowds is no indication of number of supporters, when we were getting 4k in Div 4, there were still fans who had gone before, but stopped going for reasons that they thought were good enough, for special games they came along tho, even though they did not watch every home game.
So most of the new viewers used to be fans and now have decided that regular attendance is worthwhile, any that are there for Prem football though can sod off IMHO.
so you were conceived as a Reading fan then...
I struggle to see how anyone could change their allegiance once they've been bitten, or have multiple teams... That just isn't possible for the way I feel and I think many others do as well. But there has to be a beginning.
It's natural that the majority of those beginnings are going to be at points of success.
It's not when or how you start suppporting a club that matters, it's whether you stick by them through the hard times thats important. It's not how many games a season you go to. It's that you've been there at some of the best games and some of the worst games. At some of the mediocre games. That you've been there when you can, and you cared the whole time.
I've seen a handfull of games compared to many on here, but I've still been to some of the most horrific Royals performances and some of the best over the last 10 years. I've behind the team all the way even if I couldn't make a game. I may not have contributed as much financially as many, but I've invested plenty of my soul. I don't see how I'd be any less of a supporter than someone who's been to every game for the last 20 years, or someone who's been to 10 games over the last 5 years. Nor do I think I'm a better supporter than someone who has been to one game ever and taht was this season. That person may turn out to be a Loyal Royal for the next 80 years.