First and foremost I support the US Men’s National Team. (I guess that clears up which side of the club versus country debate I come down on.) Everyone else comes in behind them.
In the old NASL days of US club football, I was a fan of the New York Cosmos. Oh, I liked the Detroit Express and followed their exploits, but as a young, easily influenced footy newbie I was drawn to the star-studded Cosmos lineup. (Yes, I know. The Cosmos ruined the NASL. That’s not my fault. Well, not directly anyway.)
In MLS, I support DC United. My interest in DCU came about for two simple reasons. 1) Detroit didn’t have a MLS entry. 2) DC United “sounded” like a more traditional soccer name. It made me believe that they were serious about being a football team. (Like anyone would gravitate towards the NY-NJ Metrostars. Please.)
I realize choosing DCU upon the Cosmos makes me look like a front-runner. In the case of the latter, I stand guilty as charged. Hey, I was young. In the case of the former, it’s not like having a good name or even a good plan assures anyone of success. I jumped on the DC United bandwagon at the start and have stayed put. Although, I admit that’s easier when they have lots of shiny bits in their trophy case.
While I don’t envision bailing on DCU, I do reserve the right to support a Detroit-based Major League Soccer entity. Assuming that ever happens. I should point out that I do follow our United Soccer League PDL affiliate, the Michigan Bucks.
About five years ago, I decided to try and follow the English Premier League. My initial hunch was to support the only club I really had any inkling about, Nottingham Forest.
(I’ve come to believe that NFFC had stuck in my head because they were very successful around the time I followed the NASL and as they were the club that purchased then-Detroit Express star Trevor Francis.)
Alas, when I went looking through the Premier League, Nottingham Forest were nowhere to be found. Technically, the Reds were a few flights down. I have kept tabs on them throughout, but that didn’t solve my problem of wondering whom to support in the Premiership.
At the time, the only player I had heard of was Wayne Rooney. The young Mr. Rooney was then applying his trade for Everton FC. I followed the Blues for the remainder of that campaign. However, it would be Rooney’s last season at Merseyside. Between the loss the Rooney, the Toffees financial mess and the inequitable world of international football, I became disheartened that summer.
However, when the next EPL season rolled around, I found myself still keeping a watch on the Blues’ progress. Unable to bring myself to root for any of England’s Big Four and really not comfortable jumping ship on Everton just because their best player bolted, I’ve remained loyal to them.
I’m hopeful that Nottingham Forest will get promoted to the EPL and force me to pick sides. Here again, I reserve the right to alter or add to my choices, if I learn what part of England my family has connections to. (Yes, research is being done.)
[Update 7/26/09: I've learned that my family's English roots are from Berkshire and, thus, Reading FC has been added to my favorite sides. I won't go into the specifics, as I've posted about this development, but the Royals are now one of my teams, as well.]
With ancestors coming from France, Belgium and Germany, I may opt to follow club sides in those countries someday, as well.
Finally, I should admit that I have a soft spot for Real Madrid. No, not becaue of Kaka. Or CR9. Or any other summer transfer addition. I just wanted a club to support in the Champions League. It’s not like I knew they were going to go on an epic shopping spree.
