Thoughts from an American Blue Who Spent the Last Year in Liverpool

[COYB]

That's top support from an American [country so far away]
glad you enjoyed your time in Liverpool mate

 

[Roztitute]

Only just seen this! Amazing post mate.

 

[TX Bill]

Ah Joseph Nixon isn't all that !!!

I'm pretty sure I read in there somewhere that he just LOVES pineapple on his pizza.



















Just kidding. Welcome to GOT !!!

 

[bobbyrob]

Good on ya cobber

 

[Blue Cheese]

Really good post, glad you enjoyed your time here. Also students obviously have a lot of coin, what course are you on and what funding did you receive??

Only kidding, Welcome to being an Evertonian, get ready for the ride.

 

[Joseph Nixon]

I was not expecting all this reaction from my post, thanks to all who have taken the time to read and comment. Knew there was something special about all of this when I was watching Howard and Donovan playing on TV back a few years ago and its been even better being over here and living it.

 

[ijjysmith]

I was not expecting all this reaction from my post, thanks to all who have taken the time to read and comment. Knew there was something special about all of this when I was watching Howard and Donovan playing on TV back a few years ago and its been even better being over here and living it.

You seem a proper sound lad mate. If you ever make Southampton away you have a guaranteed drink.

 

[Columbo2]

I was not expecting all this reaction from my post, thanks to all who have taken the time to read and comment. Knew there was something special about all of this when I was watching Howard and Donovan playing on TV back a few years ago and its been even better being over here and living it.

A really good read and it comes across that you are now, and will be forever, a Bluenose. Z cars will evoke emotions for the rest of your life and I can guarantee that when you hear it again after 1, 5 or 10 years, it will bring a smile your face. Others will give you a "what you on about " look when you react to it, but they will never understand. I am so glad you experienced the highs we have all had with Roberto and not the deep,deep lows under managers like Gordon Lee or Mike Walker. The Howard Kendall years were good and well worth a bit of You Tube research.

 

[steken1]

I was not expecting all this reaction from my post, thanks to all who have taken the time to read and comment. Knew there was something special about all of this when I was watching Howard and Donovan playing on TV back a few years ago and its been even better being over here and living it.

It means a lot to the average Blue when someone with no real reason to support us just does anyway! When they come and immerse themselves in the club, the way you have, it's a boss feeling for us, as you can see by the reaction!

 

[griffla]

Hey everyone:
For those of you who don’t know me (which is probably most since I’m a rare poster) my name’s Joe and I have had the most incredible past year supporting the Blues while at the University of Liverpool... As they say, “Once Everton has touched you nothing will be the same”.

WOW what a post! Certainly brought a smile to my grid. Thanks for sharing your story, it sounds like you've had a boss time and a real adventure.

 

[Whatson]

Great post mate! Much appreciated. Enjoy the rest of your time here in Liverpool, I'm sure you'll be back

 

[evertoniano]

Great post, loved reading it, it bought back some great memories for me. I'm from another UK town and was fortunate at the age of 7 to be Chosen. Got to see them play occasionally as I was growing up and especially alot in 85 in my last year at Uni. As soon as I could l got a job in Liverpool for a year before moving abroad. I loved the city and the people and had a great time, but the highlight was definitely going to the matches; home away and Wembley. I'll never forget the experience, now I only manage to watch with the PC but listening to zcars still gives me goosebumps, that will never go away.

 

[Swartzy]

just read ur post mate and loved it and what made me love this post more than just the fact ur an american coming over here to support the mighty blues, its that i noticed ur coming over from pittsburgh area, now ive grown up in england obviously supporting everton which is a team from an area i have no background to but have spent my life hooked on but with a dad who grew up in america so i had my whole youth being brought round to the american sports, in which his favourite was baseball and he grew up in st louis so obviously not going along with my dad i for some reason chose pittsburgh as my adopted american home and so followed the pirates in baseball, the steelers in ur football and the penguins when it came round to ice hockey, now this affair with ur sports has ended in a way since growing up, but i still always feel like i have some sort of affilliation with pittsburgh! so this is why ur post amazed me, cos of all the places u could of said it was pittsburgh!

 

[bol-uk]

Hey everyone:
For those of you who don’t know me (which is probably most since I’m a rare poster) my name’s Joe and I have had the most incredible past year supporting the Blues while at the University of Liverpool. It has been an absolutely eye opening experience for me, apart from the occasional trip to Windsor, Canada to drink and gamble when I was 19 and 20 and the one spring break I took to Mexico I had never really been anywhere outside the USA before in my life. I was watching the Goodison Derby back in October of 2012 while I was debating whether or not to go back to school, and thought why not have a laugh and apply to Liverpool? Well one thing led to another and I moved to Liverpool back in mid-September and it has been one whirlwind of a year that I will treasure for as long as I will live. So I thought I would give a little recap of the past 9 – 10 months for anyone who might be interested in an American’s perspective.

First off my year in Liverpool by the numbers:

11: Times I got goosebumps hearing Z-Cars blast out of the speakers as the Blues walked onto the field at Goodison.

9: Away matches I was fortunate enough to get to ranging from a FA Cup tie in Stevenage to sitting in the away stands at the Emirates, Stamford Bridge, or in the other side of the Park. Also the number of away matches I came away from with bruises from either celebratory or pre-match limbs.

3: Times I enjoyed a basket of gravy chips outside the park in the middle of winter.

4: The different stands I sat in at Goodison, with behind goal in the Gwladys being my favourite spot of them all.

14: Wins I witnessed

6: Losses I witnessed

5: Number of Players I was able to meet – Howard (who is half the reason I realized I was a Blue), Seamus, Ross, Ossie, and Jags.

0: Times I was hassled or treated different by anyone for being American. I think this is the most important number for me. While I knew that most of the fans I would encounter would be nothing but happy to meet a fellow supporter (even one from 3,500 miles away) I still was unsure if I would come across anyone who would take issue with me. I honestly could not say enough about how great everyone I met has been. Whether it’s been the random supporters I’ve met in the Winslow, the Oak, or the Brick, or especially the supporter’s club that has taken me in and treated me like I’m part of the family, everyone has taken me in and treated me like an adopted Scouser.

It was a season where I experienced the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. Nothing I’ve experienced following my American teams has ever come close to making me feel the way I have during my time here. I thought at the time watching the Pittsburgh Steelers win a few Super Bowls would be the greatest feelings I would ever have as a sports fan, but it paled in comparison to the feeling of absolute joy I felt after Newcastle away or United at home. In the same vein I never thought I would ever as feel deflated after I did after the across the park derby or after falling out of the FA Cup against Arsenal (made even worse by losing a bet with a gooner mate back in the states). While I always felt the highs and lows watching the matches on television, being at the match has been something completely different. There is just something special about Everton that I can’t put my finger on to define, but I feel it through and through.

This year was also a chance to notice all the things that make match days different here in the UK than they are in the US. First I couldn’t get over the police presence at all the matches, especially the derby. I have to say I don’t think I’ve ever felt so violated as I did in the queue to get into that god-forsaken stadium, but it was funny seeing the confused look of the policeman’s face when he heard my American accent while he was interrogating me about how much I had to drink or if I had any pyros. Second, I guess I never realized that you couldn’t take a beer up to your seats here, as I was told by the stewards during my first match. Luckily the Goodison stewards were good sports and laughed when I apologized and headed back under the stands to finish off the pint. Finally, I found out just how great the away followings are here both through my experiences of being in the away section and seeing them at Goodison. It is a great addition to a matchday atmosphere, and that level of noise just isn’t something you get at an American sporting event.

But more than anything I just wanted to take the time to let everyone know how boss of a time I have had here in Liverpool getting to know the city and the people who make it so great. It is going to be a sad day when I have to leave in September, but at least I will have two final matches before I head home. I can’t say enough good things about the city and club, it truly has become a home away from home these past 10 months, and I am looking forward to being a regular visitor in the future. As they say, “Once Everton has touched you nothing will be the same”.

What an amazing post!

I'm going to save it and use the words next time someone questions my love of football or the blues.

 

[TheValley]

Awesome post that makes me extremely jealous. One day I will make it over for a match. The passion of the game and fans is what hooked me. NFL, NBA, MLB don't seem to have the intense passion. But go to Death Valley, Clemson SC for a night game and you will fall in love. It's the most comparable thing to Everton for me.