I’m already 21. But the beauty of football was unknown to me until I tried watching the 2006 World Cup. It may have been simply because of the hype where the whole world closely follows each game from Germany. I can’t imagine being left out. After all, I’ve already been left out for 21 years of my life, not knowing how wonderful football is as a sport. That’s supported by the fact that I was NEVER interested in sports.

Yet when the World Cup started, just like everybody did, I picked my teams. Because I didn’t have previous knowledge of which teams and players are good (well maybe except for Brazil), I had to rely on instinct. So I chose England first, then Germany, then Italy and finally, a toss between Ukraine and Holland. I closely followed each of these team’s games, sometimes sleeping at 6am just because there was a PK. Apparently, I gradually fell in love with the game. I’ve never felt that excited over an upcoming and ongoing game. I never saw myself cheering for a team until then. I knew that the moment the World Cup ends, my love for the game continues.

And then came the EPL. Again, being new to the world of football, I struggled to pick my favorite team. But I thought, it might be sensible to pick one based on the players I liked in the recently concluded World Cup. Most of my favorites came from England and Germany. But of course, I also had picks from the other teams I liked. Yet the few ones that stood out were: Lampard, Cole and Terry of England; Klose, Podolski and Ballack of Germany; Robben and RVN from Holland; and Shevchenko of Ukraine. The question in my mind was, where can I find these players?

What a surprise! I found 6 of them in one team. Chelsea. I am unlike many people who had vivid chilhood memories of football and the live games. But this I know for sure, when I’m old and aging, I will have my own share of that. Even if it started when I was already out of college.

The journey of the late bloomer has just begun with Chelsea.

I haven’t seen this team play in the EPL since May of 2000 and have only seen them play on TV during the League 1 playoffs in 2004. I’m in front of my computer at 10EST every Sat. to listen to the BBC Radio Sheffield while you guys get the privilage of watching your teams on Setanta or FSC.

I wouldn’t trade it for the world though mate and one day I’ll get to see my team on the TV here in the States. I’ll probably shed a tear.

I was told, “Don’t wear ANY red to the game”; and boy was I glad I didn’t! I am unfamiliar with security guards walking us into a Stadium. That is a foreign concept in the states…unless you wear black pinstripes to a Yankees/Red Sox game. With fans on both of sides of us, harrassing us as United fans, we approached our seats near the United bench.

United ended up losing the game 1-0 on a poor decision by Roy Keane, but I absolutely fell in the love with the “Beautiful Game” at that point. The atmosphere (crowded house and a wonderful old park), singing (”Chelsea Rent Boys….”), the pitch (reminded me of a finely groomed putting green), and the feeling like I was surrounded by an angry mob, really made my adreneline rush.

Since that game, I have had the honor of attending a Champions League match at Old Trafford against Milan. I can say, without hesitation, that until you attend a meaningful match in an English stadium, you will not truly appreciate the magnitude and passion that the game of football holds for any fan base.

We all piled into one of their cars and made out for the stadium, a short 30 minute drive away. As we approached, the first thing to impress me was the magnitude of the stadium, it was huge. As we approached the entrance we were required to decide left for the red team and right for the green. As we made our way up to our seats, I was umprepared for what came next. Inside Maracana were 125,000 combined flamengo-fluminense fans, all waving their flags dancing the samba firing off pyrothechnics, oh my god! Maracan is unlike any other place in the world, at the time you could fit 200,000 plus for a game. Upper levels were just concrete slabs fit as many as you can, seats were in the covered lower sections, and standing in the ramp beyond the mote that was around the pitch to protect the players. The stands were dissected by a fence so the opposing supporters were kept apart. It is a unique, wild place to watch some of the best players do their thing.

Thank god we choose correctly and sat on the flamengo side! That night I saw a young Zico for the first time, dont know who won the game but ill remember being part of an amazing experience.

I know its not epl but their is life outside of britain.