Comments on: Which Football Clubs Do You Support?

By: Jon Dorsey

Jon Dorsey — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 01:33:23 +0000

I played as a youth, just a little informal suburban league in and around Denver Colorado (we won the title in my last year!), but I drifted away from the game after that unfortunately. I was always meant to be a close follower of the beautiful game though, and flash forward to 2007, and the credit for getting me back in would go to an unusual place (or perhaps not so unusual): EA Sports. My best friend and I sat down in front of his old used Nintendo Gamecube (that’s right) one innocent afternoon, just bored and looking for something to play, and I noticed the equally used copy of FIFA 2002 he had. “Ever play this?” I asked. “Not really. What is that, soccer?” he replied.

(He had inherited a small pile of used games from a friend who sold him the Cube and some controllers, and thankfully, memory cards. He had never actually loaded up FIFA and tried it).

So we loaded it up, started the 2 default teams it gives you for a quick friendly, and kicked off. The teams? Manchester United and Arsenal of course. After some awkward moments getting our bearings and figuring out who we actually were controlling, we were rolling.

After a couple minutes I had broke through on his keeper and managed to slot it past Fabian Barthez with someone named Henry. I did it again a few minutes later with someone named Bergkamp. This was fun, I thought.

I know it was just a video game but there was some providence in those first few matches. A keen rivalry developed between us, and many seasons and manager modes and newer (thankfully!) versions of FIFA followed. He quickly became very attached to the Red Devils, and I became very attached to beating them as often as possible. The game had uncovered something about me buried deep down: I was meant to be a Gunner fan. No doubt about it.

Of course my experience of the game has gone way past video games, and I’m in my 3rd full season of being an Arsenal supporter, and follower of the world game in general. After getting into the real teams and the culture surrounding them, I have become a huge fan of the English game, and especially the philosophy Arsene Wenger uses to push his boys forward.

In an interesting twist, there is a local connection to the Gunners here in Colorado. The owner of my beloved Colorado Avalanche Hockey Club, (and the Colorado Rapids), Stan Kroenke, is a major shareholder of the storied London football club.

It’s destiny really. Go Broncos. Go Avs. And go Gunners!!!

Peace and love football fans,

~Jon from Denver

By: Richard

Richard — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 12:21:33 +0000

PL: Arsenal

Football League: Watford (Jay DeMerit)

Ligue 1: Marseille

MLS: FC Dallas (Don’t really follow them but I used to work in the organization)

National: USA and once we go out I support France because Theirry Henry got me into the game.

By: Cam

Cam — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 00:05:43 +0000

Premier League: Manchester United, my Grandma bought me an Eric Cantona Shirt when I was 6…I’m now 23 and I still have the shirt, a little worn out but I will never let it go!
Turkcell Super League: Fenerbahce S.K.
La Liga: The obvious is Barca but I really rate Athletico Madrid as well
Major League Soccer: None, If I had to choose it would probably be Galaxy purely because of Beckham…but it is still the most boring league, much like the American commentary, and I dont think I will ever watch a game.
Serie A: I could never and will never support an Italian team…makes it easier to hate when they kicked my lads out of the last World Cup =(
National teams: Australia, my birthplace and a team that is going from strength to strength. Watch out for us next year!! If not Australia then I’m gunning for the Poms

Teams I dislike: Chelsea (especially of the Mourinho era), any Italian team including the national team…bunch of cheats, Real Madrid and Man City, they are ruining football and making it all about the money.

By: Kautzie

Kautzie — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 23:38:12 +0000

EPL: Arsenal- Been a diehard gooner since I read Fever Pitch after the 94 World Cup. Arsenal til the day I die!
SPL: Celtic- Lots of reasons, mainly because I hate Rangers.
Bundesliga: Stuttgart- it was Bayern Munich until they hired Klinsmann last year, can’t support a club with an ex-spud as manager even if they did sack him.
Ligue 1- Lyon- been a fan since Essien was there.
MLS: Toronto FC- Although I hate the league I love TFC because of their fanbase.
Favorite Players: Bergkamp, Adams, Henry, Parlour, Ljungberg, Keown, Cesc, Mad Jens, Essien and Oliver Kahn.

Teams I hate: Sp*rs, Liverpool, Hull, Bolton, Rangers, Real Salt Lake, and the two most evil clubs on the planet AC Milan and Real Madrid.

By: Mike

Mike — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 21:11:43 +0000

I am amazed how much comment is on here about Fever Pitch (the original and only). Didn’t know it was even heard of here in the States. Anyone picked up on Subbuteo because of it?

My teams:

EPL: Only team I root for at the moment is Liverpool, plus I like Villa and have a deep down ok-factor with West Ham as my ancestors are from there.
Championship: QPR! This is my #1 team anywhere

Now defunct: Walthamstow Avenue, formerly of the Isthmian League, they were swallowed up by what has now become Dagenham & Redbridge, whom I despise with a passion. I watched the A’s play against teams like Wycombe Wanderers, Dulwich Hamlet, Enfield, Hendon, Tooting & Mitcham, Sutton, Leatherhead… ahh those were the days. They were the first game I ever saw live in person and they are the first thing I will spend millions on if I ever win the lottery – re-establishing the team in the town and taking them up the rankings like AFC Wimbledon, just with less of a dormant support.

Other teams:
TSV 1860 Munich (BOOOO to Bayern!)
BSC Young Boys Bern (only match I have ever seen on mainland Europe was at YB)

National team:
England, and Northern Ireland, my birthplace and paternal ancestral teams respectively.

I don’t have an MLS team yet as I support Detroit pro teams and refuse to get involved with the Fire – who are just as far away to watch – with the expectation that a Detroit team will happen at some time. And that’s not anywhere near happening in today’s economical climate.