Who Got You Here?

RE: Re: RE: Who Got You Here?

I would also like to mention that the Fulham fans, on the whole, are a different breed. Always appreciate a 'foreign' fan and have done nothing but be friendly and welcoming to myself and all of the 'yanks' that pass through their doors. I hope that those of you who have made the trip had great experiences.

CRAVEN COTTAGE also me make my decision. No other ground like it in the world.

Finally, a huge shout to Gentleman Jim. Fulham through and through and when there was my FSC, he was the man who brought me Fulham every morning.

 

I actually struggled with whether I would follow the Premiership at all, to be honest. I wasn't going to go the route of the usual folks, and I couldn't ever justify liking any teams just for the hell of it. It made no sense.

Fulham obviously got me for the Americans, naturally. It also helped that black and white are my favorite color combination (who DOESN'T love B&W??) and so it all fell into place for me.

Started following game by game, heading out to the bar, slowly but surely consumating this marriage. Most of the first season was spent sitting by myself somewhere looking inconspicuous but the support base in NYC has evolved this year, and I hope it continues to evolve next year as well.

The end.

 

It really wasn't a player for me. Don't get me wrong, Ironhead and Bully are favorites, and I appreciate opportunities presented to American soccer players as much as the next Yank, but the whole of how Fulham does business and their fans are what really hooked me into it. Now I'm a lifer. I have been lucky enough to have my American sports teams win a few championships -- Pittsburgh Steelers, Carolina Hurricanes -- and my old HS football team has won it three times, we won it three tiiiiiiiiiiimes (1984, 2005, 2006, Steubenville HS, Steubenville OH, near the OH-WV-PA border, Dean Martin's hometown, for those of you over a certain age), and our beating the drop in incredible, Fulhamish fashion was as exciting as when my teams have won it all.

I already indulged my ego about how I bacame a Fulham fan on a thread I posted a few months ago so I won't do that again, but suffice to say there is a family atmosphere around Fulham that few teams in any sport have. Who cares if we won't win the double next year -- I've been on that side of the fence, and I enjoy myself more here. An emailer to 606 said it short and sweet -- he said "We have a beautiful ground, friendly fans, a distinguished and gentlemanly coach, and a batty chairman. What more could you want?"

Also, about this site, I heard about it via the soccernet article a year ago, when I was supporting another team. I lurked for a long time and now probably spend more time here than I should :twisted: .

UP THE FULHAM!! Preferably to heights above an all out relegation scrap next year, that was a little too much drama for me!

 

My best friend lived in SW6 for a couple of years and got me following them. So, it wasn't necessarily the players that got me hooked, but support for a friend. Then visiting the cottage while on our vacation, though closed, was truley an awesome experience. I really can't put it into words. My wife was confused and happy for me at the same time. as we were walking away, i kept turning back to look. Every time, I would just smile. Hell, I get all choked up just thinking about it. I can't wait until next season. I'll get my crying like a little school girl out before I show up at the Pub though.

 

That was my first post on the FUSA message board. Dempsey and McBride weighed very heavily in my decision to support Fulham but the kind folks from this board clinched it. I had narrowed my decision on teams to support down to London based teams because one day (later rather than sooner I am afraid) I intend to visit London and I wanted to be able to watch my team when I finally make the trek. I visited a few message boards and found this one to be the most informative and interesting. Mike, Tom and all the others who make this site what it is converted yet another PL newbie to the ranks of Fulhamites.

 

Ormondroyd's site first got me into Fulham. What made me a fan was the culture surrounding the club: the concept of "Fulhamish" and the rather unique tie the club and supporters have with Craven Cottage.

 

McBride was the guy I noticed the most during re-runs of EPL soccer on FSC last summer. I knew I was hooked when I woke up at, like, 7:45 AM on a Saturday instead of sleeping in to watch Man U whack Fulham 5-1 and my reaction was, "Hey, Fulham wasn't that bad. I will hope they will do better." Since then, I found FUSA and started buying into the Fulhamish concept, which is easy as a NY Giants football fan (except for the Giants it's more if they are winning it'll be the hardest way possible and it yields more successes...sometimes)

I found this site through BigSoccer.

 

I remember that game, that was the first time I developed any sympathy for Fulham because I was rooting for the Big Bad Bullies then, and I remember thinking that there was a certain charm and pluck to Fulham. 4-nil United within 20 minutes, it looked like the field was sloping down towards Niemi. Ferdinand scored an own goal, the only time Fulham found the net.

 

I still say Helguson scored that one.

 

RE: Re: RE: Who Got You Here?

McBride and Dempsey for me. After attending my first match at the Cottage my loyalty was signed, sealed and delivered.