Now is probably as good a time as any to mention it – just in case someone out there is taking notes – but I no longer watch English football.
I haven’t watched it in a serious way since 2005, when Malcom Glazer and his family took control of Manchester United in one of the grubbiest chapters in the history of the English game.
Before then, like so many Australians, I was a devoted follower of English football – to the extent I was a member of one of the international chapters of the Manchester United supporters’ club.
And like so many Australians, my decision to support one particular team over all the others was completely arbitrary.
When I was about nine, my Mum bought me a copy of ‘Match’ magazine which came with a full-colour poster of Lee Sharpe.
I had never heard of Sharpe before, let alone the city of Manchester, but I liked United’s red jersey and that was enough for me to become a fan.
I didn’t know United hadn’t won the title in years – the first season of English football I actively followed was the last of the old ‘Division One’ – and I probably didn’t realise the magazines I started reading were freighted to Australia months out of date.
But I followed United faithfully for years, watching their fortunes on the ABC’s old highlights show, then on SBS, until English football eventually pitched up on Fox Sports.
It was around then the A-League kicked off and coinciding with the Glazer takeover at Old Trafford, I realised I had lost my passion for the English game.
I became a member of my local A-League club and later joined a club in Japan and although I was a casual observer of the Premier League on Japanese satellite TV, I found my football interests laid far away from Old Blighty.
The trouble is, every time I mention to someone I watch football, they invariably ask who I support in the Premier League.
It’s a fair question and I certainly don’t begrudge anyone who follows the league, but by the same token I really don’t know what to say.
I’m starting to wonder if I should start actively following a team again just so I can take part in conversations.
But who should I support? Should I go the Fozzie route and declare myself an unrelenting fan of Brendan Rodgers and his tiki-taka football at Swansea?
Or maybe I should be like one of those fans who claim they support a ‘minnow’ like Fulham or Wigan Athletic – even though they’re bankrolled by millionaires.
I suppose supporting Scunthorpe United in whatever division they’re in impresses nobody, but it seems like every fan and his or her dog supports one of Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool or – bizarrely – Chelsea these days, with a couple of Tottenham and Aston Villa fans thrown in.
(No one likes City, sorry Simon).
I used to be no different. And now I’m eager to get back into the game and once again reassert my total football credentials by supporting an appropriate Premier League team.
I’m throwing the floor open to suggestions, so leave a comment and just like in school, don’t forget to be specific and support your answers.
It’s also my 30th birthday today, so free free to leave your warmest birthday regards as well – especially all you Melbourne Victory fans!
And with your help, maybe by the end of the season I can re-live the football of my youth and get back into the Premier League groove.
Even if I end up just the same as almost everybody else and start supporting Manchester United (again).
John Seabrook
Guest
Mike, why the 'bizzarely' Chelsea. I've followed them for eons. A few years in the old second division only served to make me appreciate the successes of late. Every man and his dog in this country claims they support Man U, Liverpool, or Arsenal! Why pick on Chelsea?
PeterK
Guest
Congratulations Mike, not only on the 30 years, but also on providing us with the spark for some of the most fun posts I've read for a long time. "My team" in pommie-land is "The Posh" (Peterboro United) -- chosen for two reasons: (1) my name is Peter (!) and (2) also as a kid of 9 I was taken to England for a year and a half (1952-1954), and we lived at first in the small town of Elton which is not far from Peterborough. My main memories of playing football in England (at boarding school in Worcestershire) are of throwing snowballs at the ref when his back was turned! These days I'm an ardent fan of the A-League despite not having (or ever wanting at current prices) Pay-TV -- I only wish I still had a team in NQ here to support -- and I follow the fortunes of clubs with ex-Fury players. My favourite overseas league is the Bundesliga, but I also like watching Serie A. It's hard to get hold of "Posh" games, but I can follow their rise and fall on their website -- they've spent most of their time in the third tier (of various names over the years) but currently are doing reasonably well in yet another tilt at the title in the second tier (known as the Championship League these days). Have many more birthdays, Mike.
PeterK
Guest
Bundesliga is my favourite overseas league -- I love the style of play, and I love the refereeing.
PeterK
Guest
Yes, yes! The A-League is OURS!
crip
Roar Pro
I did the same as you Mike. I can't remember how United became my team but have liked them before they became successful in the Premier League. I went off them when every man and his dog started following them as well. I liked Leeds for a little while when Harry Kewel's star shone the brightest it ever has but that all went down the toilet. I've since come back to Man U. Just because you support a team doesn't mean you have to religously like everything about that team. I'm not a fan of sir Alex for example. If politics is going to influence your opinion then you could rule out nearly all EPL teams or the League all together. Come back mate. City are the silvertails now. Check out George Best on You tube for inspiration(scoring goals that is)!
Stevo
Guest
Find a tangible connection to a place, then pick a club from there. If you can trace it and have English ancestors, where did they migrate from? A favourite Aussie player, past or present (I've always had a soft spot for Villa because of Bosnich's time there)? Or favourite player full stop. And don't limit yourself to the league that was only designed so the top few clubs could horde all of the money in English football, look at the football league too. If anything, I'd avoid going for the big teams or even mid-premier league teams, there's only so many times playing the same teams in Europe, or finishing 6th-12th in the premier league every year, can be exciting. But whatever you do, just don't pick Southampton...
AL
Guest
All the overseas games dont mean much to me anymore. Even the big games. I love the Aleague and I love SFC. Yes we can have our debates of the better league, quality, skill etc. Slowly but surley SFC scarf has replaced the Liverpool scarf in the spare room. I take my son to SFC games and we share the exeriance of "our" team in "our" home town where we are both born and raised. If SFC played Liverpool, I would be backing SFC.
Rhys
Guest
Become a blue tuckers, you know you want too ;-) p.s. happy birthday champ!
Mick
Guest
I been following Serie A more even with less coverage & there are alot of good matches, just do not tell the idiots at Fox Sports who think the game does not exist outside Australia & England Get yourself a Serie A side
clipper
Guest
Interestingly, Everton are the team that has spent the most number of years in the top flight, and I think Arsenal have the longest current stay in the top division.
nordster
Guest
i picked Newcastle in my 90s EPL phase too, for me Penrith is to Sydney, what Geordies are to London. No one can understand us westies either!
DaFunk
Guest
I religiously read Shoot too! I remember thinking Blackburn's strip was sweet and ALAN SHEARER was pretty much a god. Then he went to the magpies. What a LOSER! :) Manchester United were all over my wall... so that probably just made mho void ha ha ha!l
Mark Young
Roar Guru
Happy 30th Mike! You will love your Thirties, you finally get to slag off those darn twenty year olds! Hope you are having a few ales and enjoying the football.
Stevo
Guest
Perfectly put Cpaaa! I have no need for EPL except following the fortunes of Aussies in whatever team they play. On the other hand, the missuss goes for Sunderland - why I can hear Mike say? Well she's a James Herriot fan and he was a Sunderland supporter and that is that. So choose if you must, I don't feel the need. I'll be at AAMI tomorrow cheering on HEART against the Raw. 'appy birthday Mike, you young dude.
Qantas supports Australian Football
Guest
Sorry Mike I don't like birthdays... ;) I don't wish them on anyone especially my wife..
Cpaaa
Guest
H. B'day Mike, careful now, blink and it will be almost forty..free advice from your elders. As for your team heres what you do. Do not limit yourself to one team, have a few. An open relationship so to speak, with the premier league. Follow the aussies, and feel free to change teams each year when old and new ausssies are transfered to the EPL you dont have to turn your back completely on the EPL by becoming an Australian Football snob, afer all we are global citizens Remember the EPL never loved you as much as the A-League wants and needs you. your heart has found a new love in the A-League and there is no shame in that, you can remain friends and keep in touch with the EPL, but its time to let her go. Your energy is now focused in building a wonderful, passionate and prosperous relationship with your team right here in the A-League. for hes an a-league fellow, for hes an a-league fellow for hes an a-league fellowwwww...and so say all of us. Happy Birthday Mike.
Nathan of Perth
Guest
Works for me!
Nathan of Perth
Guest
Of all the stupid things, the English team that I have the most affinity for is Colchester United out of League 1, because I was trying to pick a team in Football Manager and that name stood out because it was the same as a nearby street....
wisey_9
Guest
hahaha +1!
wisey_9
Guest
being a bit younger - i got involved in the EPL when Harry Kewell and Mark Viduka were at Leeds. such awesome memories of them carving it up in the upper reaches of the league... but of course it was all downhill from there... I'm still a Leeds fan to this day - religiously checking out their scores on a Sunday morning. nice to see them slowly working their way up to the top again. (although losing Howson will just about kill off our promotion chances this season...)