I haven't posted on that board in I think 5 years or so. A bunch of us were banned and started our own board. But my love of Arsenal has continued on without it. More answers from a previous thread: https://www.bigsoccer.com/community/threads/so-how-did-you-become-a-gooner.1279114/
Came to study a post graduate degree in London in 97 and have lived in England ever since. Lived in Hampstead, and most of my mates were Arsenal fans, so the conversion was easy, I suppose. Besides, one of the lads I disliked the most from my course was a pathetic little spud, so that made it easier. I don't tend to post. I just lurk.
Not sure when but due to Fever Pitch, Bergkamp, Henry, Wenger. Supporting Arsenal because of family is probably the best reason of all: A primary teacher explains to her class that she is a Liverpool fan. She asks her students to raise their hands if they too, are Liverpool fans. Everyone in the class raises their hand except one little girl. The teacher looks at the girl with surprise and says, "Mary, why didn't you raise your hand?" "Because I'm not a Liverpool fan," she replied. The teacher, still shocked, asked, "Well if you are not a Liverpool fan, then who are you a fan of?" "I am an Arsenal fan and proud of it," Mary replied. The teacher could not believe her ears. "Mary, why pray tell, are you an Arsenal fan?" "Because my mum is an Arsenal fan, and my dad is an Arsenal fan, so I'm an Arsenal fan too!" "Well," said the teacher in an obviously annoyed tone, "that is no reason for you to be an Arsenal fan. You don't have to be just like your parents all of the time. What if your mum was a prostitute and your dad was a drug addict, what would you be then?" "Then," Mary smiled, "I'd be a Liverpool fan."
Seeing Thierry play. He was so elegant and graceful, he was my favorite player because of how graceful he was and I became a fan.
I was in high school in California in 95 and saw someone wearing a JVC jersey, so I asked him about it.
I'm from Central Ohio, so the question that caused much consternation was, "How do I decide on rooting interests for a club across the pond?" I began watching Champion's League football because I didn't have access to EPL matches. Watching UEFACL on ESPN I became a fan first of Henry and then later Arsenal. Loved the fact that the club incorporated players from around the world (little did I know that all big clubs do that). "Ooooh, a French coach? They're so cosmopolitan," I thought without knowing much. That Freddie, a Swede, was on the team didn't hurt either. I started following the season ('04-'05 was it?) before the UEFACL final.
XBOX/fifa '06 had a part to play too. Most Americans could be individually critiqued for not having the necessary cred. I mostly lurk which is why I am new member having joined four years ago. For selfish reasons I was really hoping Dempsey would be signed. One day an American talent will start for the Arsenal. I just hope I'm not dead.
In the summer of 1998 like most American teenagers I had only ever seen a handful of matches mainly from the 94 World Cup despite playing football throughout elementary school. For reasons I can't explain I was excited for the 98 world cup. Since we didn't have cable and ABC only showed a few games on the weekends I remember watching much of the tournament on a very grainy black and white feed on Spanish language tv. The Dutch mesmerized me and the victory over Argentina sealed my affection for Dennis Bergkamp. (I still get upset every time I hear a reference to Patrick Kluivert - in my memory he missed open goals at least 5 times in extra time against Brazil). After the World Cup my cousin got a copy of Fifa99 with Bergkamp on the cover and I learned who he actually played for during the rest of the year. After getting a few VHS tapes of champions league games I just knew that Arsenal was my team and I couldn't support anyone else. The local soccer shop was going out of business and I got an Arsenal jersey half price. Wearing it to my freshman high school soccer practice I found out that there were people who actually followed the EPL in the US. Unfortunately they were all ManU fans which only served to strengthen my fondness for Arsenal. I chose to study French as my foreign language because Arsenal had a French manager though made the mistake of taking the class name of Nicolas because of a dynamic young striker. Losing out on the title in 02-03 was the first time I felt truly crushed by Arsenal's failure as I finally started following results weekly online. Discovering online streams of soccer while in college in 05-06 finally got me watching the gunners regularly. I remember racing from class to watch the CL semi with Villareal only to see a penalty awarded when the stream kicked in. When Lehman saved I disturbed half the library with my celebration. The more I learned about the history and philosophy of the club the more I fell in love with it.
I've already told my story, but I must ask if any of the older fans miss the older Arsenal? I'm not even talking about the ridiculous glory years of 03/04, but rather, the times when Arsenal felt a bit more 'English'. Perhaps it seems a bit silly saying this now, since I had no problem in the Invincible years, but I do miss players like Keown, Seaman, Dixon and Adams. And of course Ray. I think I just miss Highbury more. I'm more tempted to watch the reserve games, simply cause they're in an old small stadium.
Saw an EPL match by chance here in 2000 or so, liked the team in yellow as it was my favourite colour and they played well and had an interesting name to boot. Probably not the best way to pick a club to follow, I'm guessing
I really miss Highbury. Loved the feeling I got when you could see the houses outside through a corner. Made the relationship with the community real. Loved being able to see the roof when they zoomed out. Made the place feel intimate. I also loved that I had been there and it felt more tangible to me. The new place is, in my opinion, coldly efficient. Like today's teams, it lacks lovable flaws and character that hasn't been processed through a marketing filter. Is miss when luxury boxes and the prawn sandwichers were the worst thing to happen to football. I miss Keown playing with a bandage on his head and a massive goose egg underneath. I miss someone scything down an opponent as retribution for what that opponent had just done. I miss players thinking that showing pain was a sign of weakness, not a ploy to use on the referee. I miss referees who didn't need play acting to feel justified in making a call. I miss players who are also fans. I miss owners who never miss a match. I miss owners who would trade their wealth to be a player instead. I miss players who drank something other that energy drinks. I miss Ray's curls and Seaman's ponytail. I miss Freddie's red hair and his bald head. I miss Wenger's glasses. I miss Theirry's imperiousness. I miss Dennis' smirk that let you know he had even impressed himself. I miss Tony's acceptance that he had, in fact, nailed the piss out of someone and his focus on positioning his wall over whining to the ref. I miss Nigel's ridiculous long range efforts that rarely paid off but when they did... I miss Kanu's weird coordination that seemed to be a combination of grace and impending collapse. I miss Rocky. I miss Charlie George calling an opponent "fat" on a broadcast. I miss guys having muddy uniforms after games. I miss the morass of mud and dead grass in front of the goal mouth. I miss uniforms without player names. I miss uniforms that were the same for a decade. I miss pins on hats. I miss scarves being the dominant form of support over kits. I miss player celebrating for each other and not for the camera. I miss players who wanted to hold a cup, any cup, over a position in the table. Sorry, I guess I miss alot.
That's my vote for the greatest WC goal. de Boer's pass is equally legendary. Plus you've got the great announcer, if you listen to the Dutch version...
No apologies. The game back then was serious, but seemed alot more fun and playful. Plenty of character. Now it's like one big flashy Nike advert. It may seem snobby, but the amount of people who know about football is too much now too...because they know dangerously little about it.
All taking place in metro Atlanta... My parents thrust me into soccer at the urging of my Celtic-loving grandfather, a first gener in the States from Edinburgh. Around 1980 I qualified to play with a traveling club and Grandpa began sending me magazines and video clips he'd received from family in England. While the London connections weren't affiliated with any club (they were rugby folk), I had access to plenty of info about Arsenal, Charlton, WHU, etc. As fate would have it our team jersey's were made by a company called Cannon, and their logo was a simple, cartoonish cannon. To a 10-11 year old that was a "perfect" match to what I saw in the magazines, so I began to focus on Arsenal and learned about their players and then took to the field daydreaming I was a Gunner right along with Graham Rix and David O'Leary! And since Arsenal seemed defensive oriented that was a double plus because I traditionally played the front of the diamond. By 82' I started receiving my first Arsenal gear and have been hooked ever since. Up the Gunners!
I went to a Colorado Rapids game in 2008, saw the "Arsenal Cannon Corner" in the corner of the stadium and thought to myself "Oh, I've heard of Arsenal, maybe I'll follow them." The first Arsenal game I managed to see was this one. ...And I was hooked.
Last Spring I was the first 40+ yo to play in my high school's annual alumni game. Suffice to say I was there for comic relief and to spell the actual athletes.
I always love reading/hearing these stories of how we are drawn personally and emotionally to sports teams that are not from our local area of birth. Grew up in Chicago (huge pro sports fan) never really watched college nor footie. We were visiting a couple that we were friends with one afternoon (2002ish). Husband is English (Rugby born and raised and life-long Gooner). I saw that soccer was on TV and out of my ignorant American gob came, "Soccer, really? Who watches this stuff?" His jaw dropped and he said, "sit down and learn, you silly Yank." It was Arsenal at Highbury, can't remember who they were playing, but I loved the pace, skill, passion and intensity of the players and crowd. In the next year or so, caught more EPL matches and learned more about the game. Eventually, right before 2003-2004 season started, told myself ok yutz, you really should just pick a club and go for it! These are the reasons I was drawn and fell in love with the club, some may sound lame or odd, but it's reality: 1) I love London! It's one of my top 3 favorite cities. I have been since age 5, a HUGE Anglophile, thanks Dad for all the Monty Python + Fawlty Towers (especially love British TV programmes, history, etc). We honeymooned there in October 1999 and fate would have it, my wife and I were so very close to Chelsea and never knew it then. 2) Red and White were my high school colors. 3) Love their style of play and cast of fascinating characters assembled in 2003-2004, my favorites initially were Henry, Vieira, Parlour, and Bergkamp. 4) Loved the name 5) Highbury! Love how close the fans were to the pitch, being in a neighborhood, the tight, fast, world class pitch (North London Pool Table!) 6) I was in Artillery in the US Army, as was my grandfather in WWII (he was forward observer in Big Red ONE) 7) Finally, our good friend Dave (Englishman from Rugby), was also a supporter. He was shocked at my passion and growing knowledge. We still text, talk and catch a few matches a year at a pub together or on TV at either one of our homes. Perfect reason for the families to get together.
Redleg here too! What were you on? M110 8" SP here. Always been a weird coincidence for me (was a Gunner before I was a cannoneer).