Question to our England-based friends...

[KevTheGooner]

Wondering how you got connected with BigSoccer? How did you find out about it?

Also, I would think it would be less "necessary" to have a forum like this for your thoughts since you live in a country where you can chat up just about anyone about the sport....therefore I also wonder:

What keeps you coming back?

Just curious during this lull in the Gunners' campaign...

[Senor Askew]

I may not count as being in Britain any more but I was still in Scotland when I came across Big Soccer.

My excuse is one day while trying to come across some info on MLS expansion I came across a website with a link to bigsoccer. The link had a what's happing now on bigsoccer type feature and one of the topics piqued my interest.

I went to the website, thought it looked interesting, signed up, posted a few times and promptly forgot about it.

When I moved here I was desperate to talk soccer with someone, anyone and then I remembered BS.

And the rest, as they say, is history.

[kygunner]

Im not English either but I used to talk footie on the AOL UK football chat room. It was nice to talk footie with people in the UK but it seemed more people wanted to talk trash and flame one another than actually discuss the teams. Also, many people in the chat room assumed I knew absolutely nothing about football and would not bother talking to me. This is a good question as Ive wondered the same thing.

[Goonerette]

I found this website when someone advertised their website on my guestbook, so I went to that website and I found the ArsenalAmerica website via their link section and clicked on the message board. I was bored since it was during the summer, so I thought I'll start posting on it. I was also surprised to see an American based Arsenal fan club cos I didn't know Americans liked the Premier League! lol the last time I've heard about the Americans when it comes to football was during the '94 World Cup when it was in USA. It was when the BBC asked people in USA the same question 'What is the World Cup?' and no one has heard of it! One of the guys even thought it was a truck and I presume that's because he was driving one! lol

I also remember during the World Cup '98 (?) when USA was playing against one of the Middle East teams (can't remember which country it was but it was a bit political) and I was watching the USA team. I must say - they were very entertaining! LOL I remember the time when the whole team were on one side of the pitch and everyone were trying to score, 'till a player from the other team managed to get the ball and ran to the other side of the pitch where there were no defenders except for that goalkeeper, but that guy still managed to miss the goal! LOL I think it was Casey Keller who saved it. He's the only player I knew from that team, since he plays in the Premier League. Since then, I like watching the USA team whenever I can, but unfortunately they did improve during this year's WC, so they were a bit boring lol.

[Jeff L]

Got into "BigSoccer" via ArsenalAmerica. I will probably be moving to Florida in about 4 years time, (only hesitating because of missing Arsenal!). Didn't know what (if anything) would be on offer to me once Stateside, so thought about getting "something off the ground" for when I got there. Then, in one of the matchday programmes, (can't remember which one) there was a feature on "ArsenalAmerica" by RIck Liebling, so I got in touch, and the, as they say, "the rest is history".

[dwinkler]

Originally posted by Jeff Lancaster
I will probably be moving to Florida in about 4 years timeYou know what you're doing in 4 years? Sheesh, I have a hard enough time figuring out what I'm having for dinner tonight. No wonder you're "the man" when it comes to sorting out Arsenal tickets.

[Coach_McGuirk]

Originally posted by Jeff Lancaster
I will probably be moving to Florida in about 4 years time,

And what is it about Englishmen and Florida? My ex-wife's uncle (can a relationship be anymore tenuous than that?) is a HUGE Leicester supporter from England and he lives in Florida (that's where he met my ex's Aunt). He's a great guy, though, and oddly enough he's divorcing the ex's aunt, too. After both of our marriages fell apart he would come by when he was visiting his kids, and we'd just watch FSW for hours. He hates Arsenal, though, and wasn't afraid to let me know it.

[Goonerette]

One of my friends asked me to come to Florida with her and her friends for a holiday next year, but I doubt it cos I know what my mum is like, so I wouldn't like to ask her. She's one of those parents who worries a lot. She'll be saying things like 'No, no, it's too dangerous - too many guns on the street!". It's the bad time to ask her at the moment as well cos of the Washington shootings!

err... sorry to put you off Jeff! ;)

[Jeff L]

I have been to the States many times, and my "best buddy" lives in north Viriginia, and I have been to Manassas quite a few times too.
The reason for Florida? It's called, (with apologies to Nick Hornby)... "It's all about a ... "Girl"! (Wife).
(That's where she's from!). Just a shame that the "Mutiny" folded!

[Jeff L]

"Coach M": To answer your question, "What is it about Englishmen and Florida?". It's called "SUNSHINE".
Over here,there's more chance of seeing silverware at Spurs than there is the sun, but Florida is just like the Arsenal trophy cabinet; "Bright and Shiny every day!!"

[dwinkler]

Originally posted by Jeff Lancaster
"Coach M": To answer your question, "What is it about Englishmen and Florida?". It's called "SUNSHINE".
Over here,there's more chance of seeing silverware at Spurs than there is the sun, but Florida is just like the Arsenal trophy cabinet; "Bright and Shiny every day!!" The sunshine thing is astonishing to me. I was looking through the DK guide to London in preparation for the trip, and I noticed that in January, London gets an average of 1.5 hours of sunshine/day. 1.5! Coming from sunny Colorado, that's going to be quite a shock to the system.

[Senor Askew]

Originally posted by dwinkler
The sunshine thing is astonishing to me. I was looking through the DK guide to London in preparation for the trip, and I noticed that in January, London gets an average of 1.5 hours of sunshine/day. 1.5! Coming from sunny Colorado, that's going to be quite a shock to the system.

Heh, that's nothing.

Try living in the Hebrides (inner or outer doesn't matter really) in the months November through March. There might be an average of 1.5 hrs. of sunshine per month. And even that might be stretching it.

But contrast this with the summer months when it's like the Caribbean, no it's true. The water is only a bit colder, yet still swimable (is that a word?).

[Jeff L]

"Yes sir, you betcha!!!" That sounds about right, except I think that 1.5 hours a days is looking a little on "the bright side"!! (Didn't think we got as much as that!!).

[KevTheGooner]

Well to any of our British friends coming to Florida, I must warn you: the place is also exceedingly popular with Germans!

And yes it is sunny there but DAMN is it muggy. I'd take Arizona over Florida anyday- much less people there too.

[Jeff L]

"Don't I know it" Part of the reason for stopping going to Greece and Spain, and choosing Florida (other than the family visits) was to escape them!! Down in the Fort Myers area there are lots of them. My father-in-law who is in the construction industry knows of many places that "they" are building and taking over.
One area is referred to as "Germantown".
Going into "local" and not "tourist" stores, and you can hear them speaking German! What a shock!
(Good job we beat them 5 - 1 !!!!!!!)