Quote:
Originally Posted by ChicagoWhiteSox
Curious to hear how everyone became a fan of their respective clubs....
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What a great
great question! I'd love to hear everyone's story as well.
I came to support Manchester United in about as natural a way as any American can come to support a Premiership club. I played soccer from childhood through high school so I always had an appreciation for the sport. But my ties to Manchester United began quite by happenstance. In around 2000, Manchester United worked out a marketing deal with the Yankees Entertainment and Sports (YES) Network, which then began airing United's weekly Premier League matches on tape-delay. One Saturday I stumbled upon a broadcast. I didn't know who or what I was looking at, but I was instantly attracted to their attacking style and their winning ways. I tuned in again the following weekend, and so began my ritual of watching MU week in and week out. Before long, I knew the players and something of the club's character. I didn't yet know their well-decorated history, but I knew they were a joy to watch. Naturally, I began to develop an emotional stake in their results. You watch the same club week after week, it happens.
I guess you could say I caught the futbol bug. I wanted to experience matches in person. So when I could, I began attending Major League Soccer matches at Giants Stadium. The NY/NJ MetroStars had a young upstart goalkeeper, a New Jersey native named Tim Howard. Of course, he's famous now and enjoying great success at Everton, but back then he was just a local guy at an average club in a small-money league who was beginning to garner some attention. He began receiving regular call-ups to the U.S. Men's National Team. And he continued to excel. Jump forward to 2003, and hometown hero Tim Howard signed with the mighty Manchester United. MLS's Tim Howard, "Timmy," a local guy I'd met and chatted with, had signed with the famed Red Devils. This was
awesome! Awesome for all concerned parties. And it further strengthened my allegiance to United.
As if that weren't enough to make me forever United, Manchester United then announced, as a tuneup ahead of the approaching Premier League season, that they would do a summer tour of the United States, playing a handful of top European clubs, in a handful of major American cities, Giants Stadium being one of them. So, I was present, and with great seats, to see Manchester United play Juventus on July 31, 2003 when Tim Howard made his debut for the club. It was a packed house: 79,005. The atmosphere in the stadium was something I'll always remember. It was absolutely buzzing. Like a massive beehive. The match was buzzing too. Exhibition match or not, both clubs came to play. United won that contest in grand fashion, 4-1 with beautiful and varied goals from four United legends: Giggs, Scholes, Van Nistelrooy, and Solskjaer.
The following summer, MU returned to Giants Stadium for another pre-season warmup after signing yet another young American, defender Jonathan Spector. Again, I was there. This time, United lost a very entertaining match to A.C. Milan in penalties. By this point, my commitment to United was unshakable. How could it not be after all of that magic just kind of fell in my lap? A couple years later I would find myself standing among fellow Manchester United supporters in the away end at Stamford Bridge, but that's a story for another time. I haven't yet made it to Old Trafford. Not yet.
I'm sure that was more than
anyone wanted to know. But you asked, and I was happy to tell it.
