I’ve been a fan of Chelsea since about 1972, so I can’t be accused of being a fan only after they became successful in recent years. Oh good grief, no: I remember all too well the Mediocre Years, when the Blues seemed simply content to be the perennial #5 in the league (after Man U, Liverpool, Arsenal etc). No, having suffered all that time, I’m enjoying their recent successes (European Champions League and English Premier League winners). Obviously, I’ve always wanted to watch The Lads play, and as such it’s very definitely on my Bucket List.
Today I’m going to Wembley Stadium as the guest of Longtime Brit Friend Mr. Sorenson to watch Chelsea play against hated north London rivals Arsenal in what is essentially a replay of this year’s F.A. Cup Final — which Chelsea lost (!) — so excuse me for being a little excited. I even have my old Chelsea hat, bought lo so many years ago.
Go The Blues!!!!
Update: We lost on penalties after a 1-1 tie at full-time. Ugh. But I captured a flag.
Actually, I don’t care about the result. A Bucket List Event with a good friend, with beer and good times: pure gold. Thanks, Sor.
Have a great time.
Sorry for being a Yank about this but . . . no riot?
No. Actually, the crowd was better-behaved than in some parts of the stands at Lord’s, when I was there a while ago.
And the cricket was exciting in comparison.
IIRC, you were still in South Africa in 1972, so affiliation to an English team would not be that weird.
What I consider weird is the number of Americans who have become supporters of English Premier League teams. I don’t think anyone expected that. Soccer enthusiasts predicted great growth of US soccer but it’s never happened.
I see a fair number of Chelsea jerseys around, also Arsenal; I had a Man U supporter as a coworker. But I never see any MLS jerseys. Oddly, while there is some support of Real Madrid and Barce (Messi jerseys), there seems to be no interest at all in Serie A, Ligue 1, or Bundesliga.
>I see a fair number of Chelsea jerseys around, also Arsenal; I had a Man U supporter as a coworker. But I never see any MLS jerseys. Oddly, while there is some support of Real Madrid and Barce (Messi jerseys), there seems to be no interest at all in Serie A, Ligue 1, or Bundesliga.
Around here (“here” being Las Vegas), of the people I know who are soccer fans, one follows Man U and the other follows Bayern. You’re more likely to see the colors of Mexican teams, however, worn by the immigrant hordes.
As for me, I’ve never been a huge fan of spectator sports, though I’ve tagged along with friends to a couple games of the local minor-league baseball team and not found it totally obnoxious. I suspect it’s more who you’re with than what you’re watching.