Thanks for reading and for adding to the post (through gritted teeth!) I'll take a look at your article later this morning when time and life allows, thanks. Take it easy.
North American here. I think I can relate to the bit about Chelsea supporters being loud. Back in the day, I went to London once and heard that Arsenal was about to play Leeds at Highbury—not far from the train line at Piccadilly, and that pub in what used to be the Regent Palace Hotel. So I went. It was great. But the play was awful—even by lowly North American standards. That was quite shocking, really. But the thing I remember most about that match is how loud the Leeds fans were. I’d never seen—or heard—anything like it in my life. They were definitely louder than the home teams' fans, way louder. But maybe that was because Arsenal got their asses handed to them that day. As I recall, the score was 4-1.
It was the Liverpool fans who were being loud (Chelsea fans booed the Guard of Honour) but regardless, English football has a long held tradition for fans singing and being vociferous and (largely) without the aid of American style PA systems. Watching baseball as I write this so no slight on American/North American sports as I'm a sucker for baseball/football, but the singing tends to be more organic/crowd driven here. In my match going days I went to Highbury 4/5 times and as you mention Leeds, I went there 3/4 times. Chelsea was my bogey ground as I went there 4/5 times and never saw Liverpool win! Thanks for reading.
Great read, Stephen. Even as a UTD fan, I’ve got to admit that I loved the passion and humour in this.
That “Arne Slot’s Champions” line made me smile (through gritted teeth, of course).
Btw I also wanted to share with you a short story I wrote whose plot revolves around soccer and community.
I sent the link to your inbox, when you have some time you can give it a read.
Thanks for reading and for adding to the post (through gritted teeth!) I'll take a look at your article later this morning when time and life allows, thanks. Take it easy.
North American here. I think I can relate to the bit about Chelsea supporters being loud. Back in the day, I went to London once and heard that Arsenal was about to play Leeds at Highbury—not far from the train line at Piccadilly, and that pub in what used to be the Regent Palace Hotel. So I went. It was great. But the play was awful—even by lowly North American standards. That was quite shocking, really. But the thing I remember most about that match is how loud the Leeds fans were. I’d never seen—or heard—anything like it in my life. They were definitely louder than the home teams' fans, way louder. But maybe that was because Arsenal got their asses handed to them that day. As I recall, the score was 4-1.
It was the Liverpool fans who were being loud (Chelsea fans booed the Guard of Honour) but regardless, English football has a long held tradition for fans singing and being vociferous and (largely) without the aid of American style PA systems. Watching baseball as I write this so no slight on American/North American sports as I'm a sucker for baseball/football, but the singing tends to be more organic/crowd driven here. In my match going days I went to Highbury 4/5 times and as you mention Leeds, I went there 3/4 times. Chelsea was my bogey ground as I went there 4/5 times and never saw Liverpool win! Thanks for reading.