Friday, March 29, 2024

Foreign supporters are REAL Supporters too!

football_fansI know a lot of our readers are supporters of Premier League clubs and are not actually from England. I think that it’s great you show such support for your club by buying the shirts, watching the matches and taking time on here to talk about YOUR club.

Idiot

The reason I am writing this article is because I heard an idiot on the radio criticising people from England for wearing the football shirts of Real Madrid, Barcelona and AC Milan. To be honest it made him sound like a person that knows nothing about football or anything really.

As a foreign supporter of Barcelona I felt insulted. Just because I don’t live in Spain and I’m not able to attend the games doesn’t mean I can’t support the club. I buy the replica shirt every year and also watch every game I can.

Love

My love of Barcelona came from an early age from a trip to Spain and the atmospheric Camp Nou. Ever since that moment I have always supported Barcelona. I must admit they are my second team, but as a football fanatic I have affection for a club in most European leagues.

However Barcelona are second only to my beloved Everton. If the two clubs meet in the distant future, then I’d have to support Everton but it would be a close call. There is one advantage that the Catalan fans of Barca have on me and it’s that they have grown up with the culture of the club and city.

Television

The blanket coverage of European football has won clubs fans from around the world. That can only be good for the clubs and the game. A lot of foreign fans who support Premier League clubs are from countries who don’t have a top league in their country.

The likes of the Premier League, La Liga and Serie A are broadcasted all over the world. That gives foreign fans the chance to experience top level football. Not all foreign fans choose the clubs that are always winning either. I remember hearing about a fan who travels all the way from Belgium every other weekend to watch West Brom at the Hawthorns.

Experience

Coming from Liverpool, I have experience of seeing lots of Irish and Scandinavians coming over to watch Liverpool. I know lots of people who are fans of Everton, Liverpool and Manchester United in Ireland.

In fact I know a few Liverpool and Everton supporters in Ireland who come over regularly to go to the match, including my auntie and uncle. One is a blue and one’s a red, they show just as much passion for the two clubs.

Global

Football is a global sport and people shouldn’t be restricted to which team they support by which city or country they live in. Football is about emotion and passion. I can watch a game as a neutral and cheer for a goal being scored and I don’t know why. I have no connection to either side but that moment produces emotions deep inside of me.

Football like life is about freedom. People have the freedom to choose whichever club they wish to support, no matter what others may say or do.

Special

Most football fans support a particular club and there is usually a reason behind that choice. I decided to choose Barcelona because it’s much more than a football club. It’s a special institution, which has no rival around the world.

Other people will have their own reasons behind the selection of the club they support but I’m sure they have chosen their club for a good reason. However sometimes a football club just grabs your attention and pulls you in and from that time on you’re hooked.

I’d like to know from our readers where you are from, who you support and the reason behind your choice of club.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

David Nugent


David is a freelance football writer with nearly a decade of experience writing about the beautiful game. The experienced writer has written for over a dozen websites and also an international soccer magazine offline.
Arguably his best work has come as an editorial writer for Soccernews, sharing his good, bad and ugly opinions on the world’s favourite sport. During David’s writing career he has written editorials, betting previews, match previews, banter, news and opinion pieces.

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  • Brad

    0 0

    odd, i thought that was a dragon on Chelsea’s insignia. . . CFC Fan is a true fan, if you think otherwise you should go reread his comment above. it’s a good one.

    I finally got fifa 10, but I play as the Galaxy and Crew more than United and the U.S., and I’m kicking butts with both teams in my “The League” profiles. . . mainly cuz I’m still on semi-pro, I’ve been on world class in 09 for months and it’s hard, even when playing as United.

    crap, way off topic. . . I wonder when ESPN shows another Manchester United game. . . hopefully it’ll be the derby against Liverpool, and this time we’ll win. . .

  • Chelsea FC Fan

    0 0

    Nice Dave…another outlet to let out the inner soccerholic in us…

    FYI – i’m from Toronto, Ontario, Canada and I love and support Chelsea FC.

    I chose Chelsea b/c my favorite color was Blue and I liked the Lion in the old CFC logo…also, I took to Chelsea b/c they were not the beloved clubs like Man U, Liverpool or Arsenal – I guess you can say I took them in (my heart) b/c everyone else around me rejected them and I am living to see Chelsea earn the rank as best-of-the-best, which will never be complete without a Champions League win.

    I love Chelsea so much that i’ve stopped using Chelsea in my FIFA 10 games b/c I hate to see them lose…

    I can’t wait for the day to step through the gates of Stamford Bridge… I hope to see Drogba, and this current team, play live one day…that would be a dream come true as i’m very proud of the team Roman has put together, and proud to have Roman as a team owner, but i’m disappointed that they haven’t achieved everything that they’ve set out to do…I guess this is the beauty of competition and if there wasn’t so much to overcome, victory would not be as sweet as it is…anyway, a little off topic there – i’m still dwelling in this Champions League exit by Inter…

  • Brad

    0 0

    oh by the way, my choice of club David (responding to the bold print you left at the bottom of this great article) is pretty weird, but then again I was only 4 when I made the choice: Manchester United wear red. . . that’s my favorite color. it wasnt until just a couple years ago we found out i have relatives (though not with my surname) in Manchester. in fact, i think one might have even been a coach/player back in united’s early days. . . when they had just been renamed Man United anyway.

    • David Nugent

      0 0

      Thats not weird at all Brad people choose their team for many wonderful reasons.

      Pinoy as Brad said you are a real supporter and just because your unable to get to the games doesn’t mean your not a supporter. Don’t let anybody discourage you from loving your club.

  • Brad

    0 0

    The people here in America dont understand real football, of any kind (outdoor, 11 vs. 11, futsal, or arena football) as they have basketball, baseball, and women’s rugby (I call it that even though grown men play it and call it football! they wear helmets and pads lol, that’s not manly) as you “cant knock anyone down” but that’s stupid. . . you just have to get the ball before the man, so you have to be precise. . .

    as for being a Manchester united supporter, hopefully i can be more than that. . . what I want to do is start my pro career in the USL div 1 (with the Rochester Rhinos, if you remember that, David) then go on to play for either the LA Galaxy or the Crew in MLS, then, hopefully I can transfer to Manchester United and be a regular starter (something worth aiming for, as I can only think of Tim Howard who was a regular starter for MUFC and yet was an American, but it wasnt for long).

    Pinoy: You’re a real supporter hands down and hats out to you. I have to deal with time differences too- noontime in England is seven in the morning here on the East Coast- but I always get up early to watch any football match on ESPN, as they now show PL matches here in america now. It especially goes true for our team, Man United.

  • pinoy

    0 0

    I’m a football fanatic in a basketball dominated country, I’ve been supporting Manchester United since I was 9 because that was the time when I found football much interesting that basketball. People here says its boring but they couldnt see the excitement of beating the offside trap or having a good tackle.Since then I have been collecting jerseys,hats,posters,keychains or I may say to get a hold of anything United and everytime United is on tv,I wouldnt say no to it even if its late at night(difference between time here in the Philippines and in England). We dont have a National league here so I cant support a local club but I have supported my school’s team like I did for United. I may not have the money now to go watch a game in Old Trafford but someday I know I will. Am I not considered a real supporter?

  • kenmwu

    0 0

    I was born in England, but I currently reside in Canada, but ever since I was 5, I’ve been a true United supporter. Buying almost every jersey change, thanks to my parents. But here, getting a hold of jerseys with the player names on the back is absolutely impossible. So when I did visit London for the first time in 13 years, I got Cristiano Ronaldo’s United jersey, even if only I could wear it for one year.

  • David Nugent

    0 0

    Brad is a true United supporter and like he says he is unable to attend the matches. Circumstances prevent people from going to see their team and sometimes they can’t be helped.

    Yeah Brad, I’ve never really revealed much about my love for Barcelona on here. I have wrote a few articles about them but not really showed my true feeling’s.

  • Brad

    0 0

    I only ever pegged you as a Toffee, David. . . oh well, everyone always has a secondary club they support: for me, it’s Columbus Crew, as I have gone to a few games of theirs at the Crew Stadium. They have a record of (win-lose-tie) 10-13-5 with a score of 45-38 overall.

    As for my main club, Manchester United, unfortunately I cant go and watch em in Old Trafford, as I’m only 14 and live in the U.S. of A. However, from the age of 4, my room has been bedecked with posters and that kinda thing, with my fav players: Beckham, van Nistlerooy, Rooney, Ronaldo, the Nevilles, Evra (as he plays in one of my positions that I take for my club team), Vidic, Ferdinand, Soljksaer (I never really got down how you spell his name), Howard (now a Toffee GK) Fletcher. . . you get it, by now. The same thing with jerseys. . . I have loads.

    And the same goes for the Crew and the U.S. mens national team. jerseys and posters of donovan, mcbride (U.S. and Crew), Barros Schellotto, I aint gonna bother going on, ahight?
    I also have Ronaldinho’s jersey (#80) of AC Milan, and I’ve gone to one game they had down at the Georgia (my home state) Dome in Atlanta.

    Just cuz I cant go to my beloved teams matches every weekend doesnt mean I cant be a fan. I cheer when we score/win, groan when we tie, and break down (not ashamed) when we lose. This goes for the Red Devils, the Yanks- or the Eagles, as I call em- and the Crew. That shows I’m a REAL supporter.

  • Jious

    0 0

    You are a glory hunter plain and simple

    Have you ever been to the stadium of the team you support? Have you ever been to the city and felt the vibe that everyone has around it?

    You saw your team on TV and rooted for them because they were popular and winning.

    If it was so random, why dont relegated teams have as many fans as United, Chelsea, and others?

    Face it, you are rooting for a team that you have little to no actual interest in other than the team winning and you want to be part of a winner

    • David Nugent

      0 0

      Well you obviously haven’t read the article properly. I’m sorry I missed some crucial facts out of my article. Like I have been to Barcelona and the Camp Nou on numerous occasions in the last 17 years. Its the vibe of the club and the city that keeps me coming back.

      I have been to a lot of European cities in my time travelling and Barcelona is my favourite. I love the city and the football club, thats why I will always support Barcelona.

  • Jious

    0 0

    You are a glory hunter plain and simple

    Have you ever been to the stadium of the team you support? Have you ever been to the city and felt the vibe that everyone has around it?

    You saw your team on TV and rooted for them because they were popular and winning.

    If it was so random, why dont relegated teams have as many fans as United, Chelsea, and others?

    Face it, you are rooting for a team that you have little to no actual interest in other than the team winning and you want to be part of a winner

    • David Nugent

      0 0

      Well you obviously haven’t read the article properly. I’m sorry I missed some crucial facts out of my article. Like I have been to Barcelona and the Camp Nou on numerous occasions in the last 17 years. Its the vibe of the club and the city that keeps me coming back.

      I have been to a lot of European cities in my time travelling and Barcelona is my favourite. I love the city and the football club, thats why I will always support Barcelona.

  • Brad

    0 0

    I only ever pegged you as a Toffee, David. . . oh well, everyone always has a secondary club they support: for me, it’s Columbus Crew, as I have gone to a few games of theirs at the Crew Stadium. They have a record of (win-lose-tie) 10-13-5 with a score of 45-38 overall.

    As for my main club, Manchester United, unfortunately I cant go and watch em in Old Trafford, as I’m only 14 and live in the U.S. of A. However, from the age of 4, my room has been bedecked with posters and that kinda thing, with my fav players: Beckham, van Nistlerooy, Rooney, Ronaldo, the Nevilles, Evra (as he plays in one of my positions that I take for my club team), Vidic, Ferdinand, Soljksaer (I never really got down how you spell his name), Howard (now a Toffee GK) Fletcher. . . you get it, by now. The same thing with jerseys. . . I have loads.

    And the same goes for the Crew and the U.S. mens national team. jerseys and posters of donovan, mcbride (U.S. and Crew), Barros Schellotto, I aint gonna bother going on, ahight?
    I also have Ronaldinho’s jersey (#80) of AC Milan, and I’ve gone to one game they had down at the Georgia (my home state) Dome in Atlanta.

    Just cuz I cant go to my beloved teams matches every weekend doesnt mean I cant be a fan. I cheer when we score/win, groan when we tie, and break down (not ashamed) when we lose. This goes for the Red Devils, the Yanks- or the Eagles, as I call em- and the Crew. That shows I’m a REAL supporter.

  • David Nugent

    0 0

    Brad is a true United supporter and like he says he is unable to attend the matches. Circumstances prevent people from going to see their team and sometimes they can’t be helped.

    Yeah Brad, I’ve never really revealed much about my love for Barcelona on here. I have wrote a few articles about them but not really showed my true feeling’s.

  • kenmwu

    0 0

    I was born in England, but I currently reside in Canada, but ever since I was 5, I’ve been a true United supporter. Buying almost every jersey change, thanks to my parents. But here, getting a hold of jerseys with the player names on the back is absolutely impossible. So when I did visit London for the first time in 13 years, I got Cristiano Ronaldo’s United jersey, even if only I could wear it for one year.

  • pinoy

    0 0

    I’m a football fanatic in a basketball dominated country, I’ve been supporting Manchester United since I was 9 because that was the time when I found football much interesting that basketball. People here says its boring but they couldnt see the excitement of beating the offside trap or having a good tackle.Since then I have been collecting jerseys,hats,posters,keychains or I may say to get a hold of anything United and everytime United is on tv,I wouldnt say no to it even if its late at night(difference between time here in the Philippines and in England). We dont have a National league here so I cant support a local club but I have supported my school’s team like I did for United. I may not have the money now to go watch a game in Old Trafford but someday I know I will. Am I not considered a real supporter?

  • Brad

    0 0

    The people here in America dont understand real football, of any kind (outdoor, 11 vs. 11, futsal, or arena football) as they have basketball, baseball, and women’s rugby (I call it that even though grown men play it and call it football! they wear helmets and pads lol, that’s not manly) as you “cant knock anyone down” but that’s stupid. . . you just have to get the ball before the man, so you have to be precise. . .

    as for being a Manchester united supporter, hopefully i can be more than that. . . what I want to do is start my pro career in the USL div 1 (with the Rochester Rhinos, if you remember that, David) then go on to play for either the LA Galaxy or the Crew in MLS, then, hopefully I can transfer to Manchester United and be a regular starter (something worth aiming for, as I can only think of Tim Howard who was a regular starter for MUFC and yet was an American, but it wasnt for long).

    Pinoy: You’re a real supporter hands down and hats out to you. I have to deal with time differences too- noontime in England is seven in the morning here on the East Coast- but I always get up early to watch any football match on ESPN, as they now show PL matches here in america now. It especially goes true for our team, Man United.

  • Brad

    0 0

    oh by the way, my choice of club David (responding to the bold print you left at the bottom of this great article) is pretty weird, but then again I was only 4 when I made the choice: Manchester United wear red. . . that’s my favorite color. it wasnt until just a couple years ago we found out i have relatives (though not with my surname) in Manchester. in fact, i think one might have even been a coach/player back in united’s early days. . . when they had just been renamed Man United anyway.

    • David Nugent

      0 0

      Thats not weird at all Brad people choose their team for many wonderful reasons.

      Pinoy as Brad said you are a real supporter and just because your unable to get to the games doesn’t mean your not a supporter. Don’t let anybody discourage you from loving your club.

  • Chelsea FC Fan

    0 0

    Nice Dave…another outlet to let out the inner soccerholic in us…

    FYI – i’m from Toronto, Ontario, Canada and I love and support Chelsea FC.

    I chose Chelsea b/c my favorite color was Blue and I liked the Lion in the old CFC logo…also, I took to Chelsea b/c they were not the beloved clubs like Man U, Liverpool or Arsenal – I guess you can say I took them in (my heart) b/c everyone else around me rejected them and I am living to see Chelsea earn the rank as best-of-the-best, which will never be complete without a Champions League win.

    I love Chelsea so much that i’ve stopped using Chelsea in my FIFA 10 games b/c I hate to see them lose…

    I can’t wait for the day to step through the gates of Stamford Bridge… I hope to see Drogba, and this current team, play live one day…that would be a dream come true as i’m very proud of the team Roman has put together, and proud to have Roman as a team owner, but i’m disappointed that they haven’t achieved everything that they’ve set out to do…I guess this is the beauty of competition and if there wasn’t so much to overcome, victory would not be as sweet as it is…anyway, a little off topic there – i’m still dwelling in this Champions League exit by Inter…

  • Brad

    0 0

    odd, i thought that was a dragon on Chelsea’s insignia. . . CFC Fan is a true fan, if you think otherwise you should go reread his comment above. it’s a good one.

    I finally got fifa 10, but I play as the Galaxy and Crew more than United and the U.S., and I’m kicking butts with both teams in my “The League” profiles. . . mainly cuz I’m still on semi-pro, I’ve been on world class in 09 for months and it’s hard, even when playing as United.

    crap, way off topic. . . I wonder when ESPN shows another Manchester United game. . . hopefully it’ll be the derby against Liverpool, and this time we’ll win. . .

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