Now that I’ve settled into London, I’m starting to see what all the fuss is about. Although my first impressions of London soccer didn’t exactly sweep me off my feet, I’m beginning to see that there’s something very special about it. I arrived in London last Tuesday, so my first football Saturday came this past Saturday. It wasn’t well-planned and ended with me in an ordinary pub watching Arsenal defeat Hull City. It was an engaging game, and the pub was rather full, however, it wasn’t the euphoric religious-like atmosphere that I was expecting to find in a London pub on a Saturday. But the mood was warm and the atmosphere was light which made it an enjoyable experience overall.
Today I decided to take a field trip to Stamford Bridge. I’ve always been fond of Chelsea, and have argued that it’s the team that Americans can most identify with in the English Premier League. Many people make the New York Yankees-Manchester United comparison, but the New York Yankees are hated by a majority of Americans, and aren’t symbolic of true American ideals. Chelsea has had a hard-luck history with few successes until just recently when it burst onto the scene as a powerhouse. They’re an appealing sexy choice, with international superstars and larger-than-life characters. Using this as my logic, I made my way out to Stamford Bridge for a stadium tour. I started off in the museum where I became more familiar with Chelsea’s history. Chelsea hasn’t always been the powerhouse that it is today, and has found itself in severe debt several times. Despite this they’re produced several world class players including Zola, Peter Osgood, and current England skipper John Terry, and have won several pieces of hardware, including the FA Cup four times and the Premiership title 3 times. The museum had everything from Jose Mourinho’s famous coat to Petr Cech’s head gear and a life size replica of Fatty Foulkes, an overweight goalkeep who played for the Blues in 1905.
My tour was led by Helena a funny and charming woman that gave us real insight into the stadium and the team. Before the tour began she had everyone that wasn’t from England state their Nationality. There were people from France, Italy, South Africa, Brazil, and Australia. I was the only American. So much for my logic. The tour took us from the visitors section seats into the visiting and home locker rooms, through the tunnel where the players run out onto the field, and up to the highest part of the stands, where you can get some great pictures. There was a certain simplicity to the stadium as a whole. Unlike an American sports franchise, this was truly the definition of a club, even though it was a multimillion dollar one at that. There was true character and a genuine appreciation for tradition, which is not easily found in American sports leagues. After absorbing the history of Chelsea, and seeing their home, the Blues have won me over. I purchased my long sleeve jersey and cap, and I’ve locked into Chelsea for life. To check out the pictures from my field trip,
go here.
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