Ordinary Supporters in Contemporary Armenian Football

Research on football supporters has largely focused on ultras, hooligans, and highly visible supporter cultures, leaving the everyday, non-organised “ordinary” supporter comparatively under-examined. This study provides an exploratory empirical account of ordinary supporters of three Yerevan clubs—FC. Pyunik, FC. Noah, and FC. Ararat- Armenia—based on a cross-sectional online survey (N = 26) distributed via social media. Using descriptive statistics and inductive thematic analysis, it examines how supporters articulate loyalty, identity, motivations, and digital engagement, and applies Giulianotti’s [i] typology to the Armenian context. The findings reveal distinct club-specific profiles: FC. Pyunik supporters emphasise history and tradition; FC. Noah supporters prioritise performance, star players, and branding; while FC. Ararat-Armenia supporters express stronger personal identification with the club. Qualitative responses indicate that tradition, ambition, communication practices, and community frequently coexist within individual narratives, producing hybrid forms of attachment that cut across classical supporter categories.[i]. Richard Giulianotti, ‘Supporters, Followers, Fans, and Flaneurs’.