Sense of community

I think you can get a sense of how strong the community is around a sport by how the fans refer to the players.

For example at Old Trafford you’re most likely to hear surnames being used (Fernandes, Rashford etc).

Which makes sense, there appears to be a big gulf between the players and the fans. The players are pretty much millionaires who drive flash cars and live in mansions.

They feel out of reach and untouchable.

Whether as you sit in the stand at Croke Park and hear the fans praise/scold the players on a first name basis.

Which also makes sense because the GAA players are amateurs who live and work with the fans.

The fans feel that they know the players.