new to the forum. american gooner here

ArsenalSooner · Post by **ArsenalSooner** » Sat Feb 20, 2010 5:38 am

Just wanted to say hi and that I look forward to being a part of this community. I'll briefly share my story and then I promise I'll stop wasting forum space with useless threads like this one.

I started following Arsenal in the '06/'07 season. However, before 2006 I had never even heard of Arsenal or many other European club teams for that matter (shame on me). Obviously it's well known that football is not big in the states. During the summer of 2006 I sat down on my couch on the opening day of the World Cup and said "okay, I'll give this a shot". When I finally opened up my eyes to the game I couldn't believe the passion and atmosphere I saw during every match. I quickly became enthrawled by it. After the Americans crashed out I kept with it mainly following France and in particuliar a player named (and maybe you've heard of him) Thierry Henry.

I was sad to see Henry and France lose in the final as I had enjoyed their run, but didn't think too much of it. As the months went by I found myself to actually be missing the game. I thought I'd just wait another four years for the World Cup at first, but I just had to have more footy. By the time I finally got my **** together I scoured through many different internet sites, researching the players I remembered watching and reading about their club teams. Of course Henry played for Arsenal still so I thought I'd try to catch some of their matches. I found where I could get games online and to my surprise even found that I could get some of the matches on TV over here. I watched quite a few epl matches during that season and narrowed it down to Arsenal and Fulham (Fulham had McBride and Dempsey at the time so I liked watching the yanks), but I knew Fulham wouldn't always have Americans playing for them so I decided I didn't want to choose a team based on that. By this time many of the other Arsenal players had grown on me like Hleb, Toure, Rosicky, RVP, Clichy, and mostly Fabregas (the first Arsenal shirt I ever bought had Fabregas on the back).

I really liked Arsenal, but my true journey as a Gooner really started on one single day at one single moment. Arsenal were hosting man utd in a league game. I remember Arsenal were already considered to be out of the title race, but I was pretty revved up about it. Rooney scored first, but RVP later equalised in the 81st min or so. The game was coming to an end when Eboue and Rosickly did a quick give and go on the wing and Eboue then crossed. When the ball went into the net off of Henry's header I went about as nuts as I can remember myself ever being. I was running around the house. I didn't know what to do to contain my excitement. I had cheered on teams in the past of course, but for some reason this was very special to me. I felt so much passion and such a sense of pride. Of course Arsenal did not win anything that year and Henry left us shorty after, but the damage had been done. This American had become a Gooner.

I don't think I can be called a glory hunter because Arsenal haven't ever won anything since I've supported them and my love for the club only gets stronger with each passing day so I hope I am welcomed here.

Cheers

Arsenal 'til I die!

franksav63 · Post by **franksav63** » Sat Feb 20, 2010 6:19 am

Welcome to the forum A.S.

You made a very wise choice my friend. I suggest though that you purchase some DVD's of Arsenal's history, then you can understand why we all feel the same.

The best one that I can recommend to you is this one:-

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Arsenal-Official- ... 518c9d6f47

Happy viewing, and welcome once more to you.

Reg Niseth · Post by **Reg Niseth** » Sat Feb 20, 2010 9:22 am

a journey of a 1000 miles starts with one step.

Take a look at the ArsenalAmerica website and they'll be able to help you out if you ever decide to make a trip.

Big_G · Post by **Big_G** » Sat Feb 20, 2010 9:53 am

Welcome to the forum

corkbarry · Post by **corkbarry** » Sat Feb 20, 2010 10:29 am

HI and Welcome, the Majority are away at the moment playing the Sunderland fans I'm sure when they get back you will get a PROPER welcome

There is a few more United States Citizens on here, ye might be living close to each other, like only a Thousand miles away

Bring Back Pires · Post by **Bring Back Pires** » Sat Feb 20, 2010 10:32 am

Great post. Thanks and welcome!

GallasVoice · Post by **GallasVoice** » Sat Feb 20, 2010 10:41 am

welcome pal.

Post by **g88ner** » Sat Feb 20, 2010 10:51 am

Welcome to the forum, mate.

Great first post, by the way

Dan_85 · Post by **Dan_85** » Sat Feb 20, 2010 11:35 am

Great story! Welcome to the board. I remember that Utd game well, an inch perfect cross from Eboue, thumping header from Titi & pandemonium in the stands. Good times!

treygoony · Post by **treygoony** » Sat Feb 20, 2010 11:59 am

Welcome!

Yeah there are a couple of Americans on here, one of them was actually coming down to see us play against Burnley.

All the best

digger · Post by **digger** » Sat Feb 20, 2010 1:20 pm

franksav63 wrote:Welcome to the forum A.S.

You made a very wise choice my friend. I suggest though that you purchase some DVD's of Arsenal's history, then you can understand why we all feel the same.

The best one that I can recommend to you is this one:-

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Arsenal-Official- ... 518c9d6f47

Happy viewing, and welcome once more to you.

Very nice Fwankslop, but it won't work in america

olgitgooner · Post by **olgitgooner** » Sat Feb 20, 2010 1:48 pm

Welcome to the forum, AS

Great post

Which part of the States you in?

olgitgooner · Post by **olgitgooner** » Sat Feb 20, 2010 1:58 pm

digger wrote:
franksav63 wrote:Welcome to the forum A.S.

You made a very wise choice my friend. I suggest though that you purchase some DVD's of Arsenal's history, then you can understand why we all feel the same.

The best one that I can recommend to you is this one:-

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Arsenal-Official- ... 518c9d6f47

Happy viewing, and welcome once more to you.

Very nice Fwankslop, but it won't work in america

Oh yes it can!

Lots of ways to defeat area codes, like this for your pc..

http://www.softpedia.com/get/CD-DVD-Too ... ller.shtml

DVD players can be over-rided, too.

digger · Post by **digger** » Sat Feb 20, 2010 2:05 pm

That's assuming of course that his NTSC DVD player and TV can upscale to PAL

olgitgooner · Post by **olgitgooner** » Sat Feb 20, 2010 2:09 pm

digger wrote:That's assuming of course that his NTSC DVD player and TV can upscale to PAL

Big foot mouth in it

Play will work on US pc though, right?