Me, Football and LFC

The seeds were first planted the autumn of 2002. I had moved to Australia, was in my early twenties, completely penniless and didn't know a soul. The world cup was also on and I could only get one channel on the grainy tv I had found that was the size of a small car. Reluctantly I settled in to watch my first game of football without the slightest understanding of the game. It was France v Uruguay in what I now know to be the group stages. Believe me, I tried to get excited about that game. I was alone, eating pasta (without any sauce - i was reaallly broke), couldn't afford even the most abrasive of wines and had nothing else to do. I tried really hard to get excited. I had no idea what a corner was but I kept trying to tell myself how interesting they looked... chaotic and energised... like something was about to happen... but it didn't. There were a dozen or so corners in that match, and each time I thought... this is it.. surely, the game is going to start properly now... but 90 minutes on it was a 0-0 draw. I watched a couple of other games during that world cup and none of them caught my imagination. I didn't even learn the rules of the game.

And then I the inevitable happened... I met a boy. He was english and quite the football fan. I watched Bolton v Liverpool with him in September of 2003 . He patiently explained the off-side rule, what corners were and why goalkeepers could sometimes pick the ball up and not other times. And I listened. I really liked him. Liverpool won that match 3-2 and that was me. Sold on football and not just because I liked the guy. I watched many more games that season and then something funny happened....

Halfway through that season I was confronted with the knowledge I had to pick a team get behind. Even though I knew it was normal to have a club to support why did I have to have one? Doesn't a true fan just want to watch games regardless? Probably. Couldn't I just love the sport? Yes, but you need to have a club too. Could my club be the EPL? Absolutely not.

So I spent the next 16 or so weeks dating clubs to see if they were worthy of my support. It was extremely difficult this new love affair of mine, how to pick one from 19 oh so deserving candidates (you'll have to guess the one I didn't consider). I wished I had grown up in England, or that my Dad had been a football fan and it would be so much easier. But alas... This was a decision that couldn't be made by default.

Could it be Chelsea? No Sir. They were ruled out immediately because of Roman Abramovich. I couldn't support the wealthiest club in the league afterall.

What about Newcastle? Their uniforms just weren't aesthetically pleasing enough for me.

Tottenham? A serious contender. I knew a Tottenham fan so I ruled them out because I didn't want to share.

Man City? Made it to the short list. Definitely worth the consideration.

Arsenal? Too arrogant for my liking.

Birmingham? The accent.

Villa? Made it to the shortlist. Then the geography sunk in. That wretched accent!

Pompey? I met a older gentleman who was a born and raised Portsmouth fan during this journey and rather excitedly I explained my quest and that maybe Portsmouth could be the answer. He didn't think so. In fact, he was rather vague about anything positive about being a Pompey fan.

Weeks and weeks passed... I watched game after game... I visualised myself as a supporter of many a club... and then one day it hit me. Leeds!

Of course, Leeds!

I'll tell you what. By this late stage, there were about 4 games left in the season and Leeds were on the verge of relegation. There weren't many points in it and I somehow convinced myself that If I threw all my newfound fervent football support behind Leeds and blessed them with being my choice of team that they would win the last few games and stay up. It would be like a fairy tale and I would be a proud Leeds fan.

Alas, it didn't happen quite as I planned. Their last few games were heart-breaking. The loss against Bolton was like watching a slow motion disaster. I shed a few tears as the realisation of what was about to come sunk in. Kids in the stadium were crying. Adults in the stadium were crying. Some of the players were crying. Mark Viduka wasn't crying. He gave a nonchalent performance and received a red card. I still haven't forgiven him.

And that was that. Leeds were bankrupt, relegated and many dreams were shattered. Including mine. So I had only been a supporter for 4 weeks but hey, I was emotionally invested.

My woes deepened when I learnt that Australian TV didn't broadcast Coca-Cola League matches. You mean I picked a club whose games I can no longer watch? Boy did I wish I lived in England, at least I could go to the games and relegation would mean the tickets would be cheaper.

I entered the 2004/2005 season still carrying the loss of Leeds in my heart. I had dubbed the event 'Black Saturday'. I vowed to continue to support Leeds while watching as many other games as i could. It was still all about football and maybe everyone was wrong - Maybe I didn't really need a club whose games I could watch.

I don't know when it happened. Maybe it was the 3-1 win over Olympiakos. It could have been the 2-1 win over Juventus. It was more likely the heart, soul and passion of Liverpool that completely engrossed me. All I know is that by the time we beat Chelsea 1-0 and were through to the champion league finals I hadn't chosen Liverpool, they had chosen me and had swept me off my feet in the process. That was my first proper season of Football and of being a club supporter. It couldn't have been any better. The Champions League final is still, and probably will be, the best game of Football I have ever seen. It didn't seem to matter that we finished 5th in the premier league that year. Nothing seemed to matter. We were champions!

Supporting Liverpool is something I have never looked back on. There here have been sad times, glorious times and every game has sparked passion within me. I wonder every now and then what it will be like when Leeds make it back to their home in the Premier League and I want Liverpool to thrash them but one thing is for sure, I completely understand why Dad shouted at the tv while watching Rugby. I find myself doing it every so often... Carlsberg and all.

Official Liverpool Website

Goal.com

Official Premier League Site

Football news, views, gossip and more

Official Fifa World Cup Website