Post by Young Ireland on Mar 25, 2015 22:49:40 GMT
I was always a contrarian. Back in the eighties, when Liverpool were winning everything under Kenny Dalglish, I declared myself a Manchester United fan, just to be different from everyone else in my class. Then, in the nineties, I decided to be a Liverpool fan as they were stagnating in the Souness era (as they have been since). I even wrote away to them for autographs, and acquired a Liverpool annual and jersey (I liked the jersey very much; it was a nice turquoise colour).
I suppose I am still a 'Liverpool fan' to the extent that I take a very, very mild interest in their fortunes, all these years later.
I visited Hull for five days in 2005 (I think), since everyone was telling me I had to travel. I decided I would indeed travel, but-- just to be a contrarian, again-- to the least likely destination I could think of. Also, I was going through a Philip Larkin phase at the time, and he lectured there. Anyway, Hull City got promoted to the Premiership some time after, so I perk up my ears when I hear them mentioned.
I can definitely understand where you're coming from, Maolscheachlann. Even as a child, I would take an interest in following the fortunes of Barnsley and Sheffield Wednesday to name a few. Leicester is another club I've an interest in for some reason. Today, my interest in English soccer is mainly in non-league, Newcastle notwithstanding. Did you get many autographs?
Hibernicus, that's a very interesting story about the Stadium of Light. Re Newcastle, I've been doing a bit of background reading myself on them, and it seems that they had connections to the Dominicans, and that's where the name of St. James' Park comes from. What a shame that Mike Ashley decided to distance the club from its roots by renaming the stadium. The Sports Direct Arena doesn't have quite the same ring...