Who does everyone follow or support then?

[Vladimir]

I'm an Arsenal fan myself...

[Byronic]

1. Ah, home at last

The close season grinds on slowly here in the UK. I miss football already. I think I am getting withdrawal symptoms. One eye furtively checks the calendar each morning, hoping for a sign that the days are indeed ticking by until that first pre-season friendly; each evening the local paper must be checked to see if we have actually bought any decent players (I am usually disappointed)

I think I shall make myself comfy here in this new group. An oasis for football fans everywhere.

I bet I am a supporter of one of the lower football teams to be discussed in this group (I shall remember to tug my forelock in deference, when Manchester United, Liverpool, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and AC Milan fans pass this way) for I am that rare species, a fan of a non-league football team.

I support Newport County in South Wales who play in the Nationwide South (the league below the Conference; so we are two promotions away from football league status) but have a keen interest in the English Leagues as a whole.

So for all supporters of giants out there, have a good season, but spare a thought for we poorer folk. We may be laughed at for watching a team whose attendances could sometimes struggle to fill a phone booth, but we, like all football fans, are the dreamers of dreams.

It's just that our dreams are a little more impossible than most. Which in my opinion makes them just that little bit more glorious.

Hope this group is a big success!

[Byronic]

2. Oh,

and MANY thanks to Redsoxliberal for getting the ball rolling on this group. I salute you, sir, and may your Shankly forever smile down upon you!

[redsoxliberal]

7. no problem, I felt someone had to!

[Telly Savalas]

3. Living in North America...

following a lower division club, much less non-league would prove difficult since I'd never get to see them play. So I may be a whore because of it, but I'm a Milan fan. (Although Milan won the same amount of hardware this year as Newport County so I'm not that big a bandwagoner. :-) ) TLN typically airs 4 Serie A games a week, so with my basic cable package I can see Milan play almost every weekend.

Locally, there the Toronto Lynx that play in the United Soccer League. It's hard to have anything more than tepid interest in the club since their stadium is a monster to get to from home (being a long ways away in a public transit-unfriendly location) and the lack of a promotion/relegation system in North America limits the scope of a fan's dreams. There's been a bit of talk of MLS expansion into Toronto, which would be especially cool if they were to play at the Rogers Centre which is easily accessible via the subway.

[nickgutierrez]

4. They almost won a rather big one...

...but I'm sure you don't want to be reminded of THAT day.

[Vladimir]

5. Best final ever!

Man, that was fun... as a neutral, I almost switched over at half time because I thought Milan would shut up shop and be boring as fuck - am I glad I didn't!

[Telly Savalas]

8. I'm not real sure what you're talking about.

My memory just doesn't work too well.

:(

[redsoxliberal]

9. a little reminder...

Milan badly choked after being ahead 3-0 to a less talented, but more spirited Liverpool side.

Oh, and Shevchenko choked... three times.

YOU'LL NEVER WALK ALONE!

[Telly Savalas]

10. I still can't seem to recall what you're talking about.

[redsoxliberal]

11. hold on I think I can help you...

[Telly Savalas]

12. Nope. Still drawin' a blank.

:)

[redsoxliberal]

6. great post... not that I'm not a supporter of a giant,

but your post made me feel for ya!

Liverpool here, You'll Never Walk Alone!

[anakie]

13. Everton

just breaks my heart that Liverpool may not be able to defend their Euro champions leagues title and that we will be the 4th English team competing next year. NOT.

[redsoxliberal]

14. actually we have been asked to defend it next season by UEFA

It's good to see that your information is as good as your team is.

How does it feel to have never won anything. Ever?

[nickgutierrez]

15. My guess:

Not nearly as good as finishing above your guys in the league.

Pwned. B-)

[redsoxliberal]

16. who cares we're the champions of europe.

thanks.

[Anarcho-Socialist]

17. Newcastle United... and England

:)

[Tweed]

18. Celtic

[Spider Jerusalem]

19. Arsenal supporter here, too...

just found this group; I expect we'll be seeing a bit more activity here in a few weeks once the Premiership season starts...

Just watched the preseason friendly against SC Ritzing; 5-2 Arsenal, and Hleb looks to be a good addition to the team so far...

[SunDrop23]

20. I've several

I am a soccer fanatic and I follow a team most every major division.

My all-time favourite, if I had to pick only one is Liverpool.

Here are the others:

Scotland - Celtic
France - Monaco
Spain - Barcelona
Italy - Juventus
Mexico - Pumas
Germany - Hertha Berlin
Australia - Perth
US - L.A. Galaxy

[Codeine]

21. I follow a number of clubs world-wide

...Blackburn Rovers, Spurs, Eindhoven, Inter Milan, and others.

But I *support* only one club -- the mighty Los Angeles Galaxy!

[tkmorris]

22. Crystal Palace!

I'm an American and a DC United fan but there is nothing like English football.

Go Eagles!

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

23. Botafogo of Rio de Janeiro

Home of Garrincha. Gonna play tomorrow for the Guanabara Cup (Rio state championship).

[Kire]

24. Honestly? The Red Bulls

Go ahead. Laugh.

Maybe it's because I'm new to Soccer/Football, and that's why I haven't picked an English or other foreign team that's in a far superior league than the MLS. But The Red Bulls are my home team, and "Root Root Root" they say. It is a shame, because they aren't even winning.

I went to their home opener in April, and I couldn't help rooting for them. The reason I went had nothing to do with the team (I actually despise the whole concept of "energy drinks"); it was because Shakira was playing the half-time show. LOL. Pele was there, too. So that was nice.

It was scoreless, and last time I checked they haven't been winning much. So I'm not all that invested, but if I get to go to a game, it'll probably be them again and I'll root for them.

I love watching Premiership League and I can't wait for the World Cup (and I know the USA won't win, but I'll root for us anyway). Why should I have any particular preference for a team a world away? I just love watching the game, no matter who is playing. Like Skinner says, it is most beautiful.