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Phoenix Ownership - Rob says FTFFA

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Posted October 15, 2014 22:04 · last edited October 15, 2014 22:06

Loving the great discussion in here over the last couple of days.

On the supporting an EPL team issue, I have been an Arsenal fan my whole life. This mainly started due to originally being from North London and being very close with my Grandfather who attended matches from the 1930s to 1990s (my first visit to Highbury was doing the stadium tour with him as a kid and that's one of my most cherished memories). They have always been on of my biggest passions and, as sad as it may sound, not many things in my life mean more to me.

After my family emigrated to NZ I grew up in Auckland so when the Phoenix started I always watched the games on TV but didn't support them as I didn't feel any connection to Wellington having only ever been here once on a school trip. Then in 2009 I got a job here and moved down. I started going to matches initially as a football lover, having always dreamed of being a match going fan but not having the option with my team. I tried joining in with chants and I celebrated goals etc but it didn't immediately affect me in the way Arsenal do. It did take a few games to come to terms with the idea of calling another team "us" and "we" because I had never imagined the possibility of supporting another domestic team. Even in any other sport I have generally just supported the England national team but not been able to feel anything for any domestic team.

The day I'd say I officially became a fan was the playoff penalty shootout win against Perth as it was first time I got completely absorbed in the match and celebrated the winning penalty as if it was Arsenal in the Champions League. It was also my partner's first game having just joined me in Wellington and she enjoyed it so much she kept saying "please, we have to come next week" and I kept having to explain that they needed to win for there to be a next week. Now we're season ticket holders. 

Understand everyone has different reasons. The quality of play, results or prices were never the main things for me, it's mainly getting to be a regular match going fan.

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ajc28 edited October 15, 2014 22:06

Loving the great discussion in here over the last couple of days.

On the supporting an EPL team issue, I have been an Arsenal fan my whole life. This mainly started due to originally being from North London and being very close with my Grandfather who attended matches from the 1930s to 1990s (my first visit to Highbury was doing the stadium tour with him as a kid and that's one of my most cherished memories). They have always been on of my biggest passions and, as sad as it may sound, not many things in my life mean more to me.

After my family emigrated to NZ I grew up in Auckland so when the Phoenix started I always watched the games on TV but didn't support them as I didn't feel any connection to Wellington having only ever been here once on a school trip. Then in late 2009 I got a job here and moved down. I started going to matches initially as a football lover, having always dreamed of being a match going fan but not having the option with my team. I tried joining in with chants and I celebrated goals etc but it didn't immediately affect me in the way Arsenal do. It did take a few games to come to terms with the idea of calling another team "us" and "we" because I had never imagined the possibility of supporting another domestic team. Even in any other sport I have generally just supported the England national team but not been able to feel anything for any domestic team.

The day I'd say I officially became a fan was the playoff penalty shootout win against Perth as it was first time I got completely absorbed in the match and celebrated the winning penalty as if it was Arsenal in the Champions League. It was also my partner's first game having just joined me in Wellington and she enjoyed it so much she kept saying "please, we have to come next week" and I kept having to explain that they needed to win for there to be a next week. Now we're season ticket holders. 

Understand everyone has different reasons. The quality of play, results or prices were never the main things for me, it's mainly getting to be a regular match going fan.