More than the Score, More Than The Score, Can you ever stop supporting your football team?

More than the Score

More Than The Score

Can you ever stop supporting your football team?

26 March 2026

23 minutes

Available for over a year

Whether it’s self-made or forced upon you, the decision about which football team to support is usually taken before you learn to ride a bike or even tie your shoelaces. But can ever stop supporting your football team?

The BBC’s Nesta McGregor is joined by lifelong Manchester United fan Deborah Henry and psychologist Dr Richard Simpson. Deborah tells us it’s a case of “never say never” in terms of whether she could ever turn her back on United, but she doesn’t believe a fan can stop supporting their club.

Dr Simpson claims to support three different football teams, and explains the emotional bonds that fans build with their teams – and why, despite those bonds, he does believe fans can turn their backs on their clubs.

Every Monday to Friday, More than the Score tells stories beyond the scoreline from all over the world of sport. From Formula One to netball, MMA to figure skating, and Grand Slam tennis to Diamond League athletics. We've got interviews with extraordinary athletes like para-skiing star Menna Fitzpatrick, Winter Olympic legends Johannes Klaebo and Arianna Fontana, South African football icon Benni McCarthy and cricket superstar Smriti Mandhana, as well as the experts working behind the scenes, from football super-agents to the coaches keeping athletes in peak form. Plus, we've got the expertise of the BBC's top journalists, who share their insights from decades of covering sport at all levels.

And if you've got your own take on the stories we cover, we'd love to hear from you. Email morethanthescore@bbc.co.uk, or WhatsApp us on 0044 800 032 0470. You can find more information, along with our privacy notice, on our website: www.bbcworldservice.com/morethanthescore