Expanded! Part of my New Signing intro:
New to the EPL, not to Football. Since my parents got us into playing soccer early in life, our whole family became soccer junkies. We all played! Only sport I ever liked playing.
My older brother and I started first in 1980. Dad helped start a youth soccer league, studied the game, coached, refereed, and played in men's beer leagues. I also started reffing kids games at age 10 or so. My brother at a point was on 3 to 4 teams at once (including indoor teams). Most of our friends were teammates or made from rival teams. It took our younger sister till high school to get the bug but once she did she didn't take crap off those bitches. Even mom played on an over 30's women's team.
There were not many pro teams to go watch growing up and never on TV. I remember seeing the Dallas Tornados once in 1981 and the occasional the Dallas Sidekicks (indoor) but the league folded mid-80’s. So even since the MLS started I just haven’t gotten attach into any team. FC Dallas was close, but I have a general disliking for most things Dallas, plus that was many years after a moved away for college. If Fort Worth ever got a team, I would be a diehard fan.
We got to go see some of the world cup qualifiers and friendly’s in early 90’s then attended 5 1994 WC matches. The only team I ever care about was the US National Team. Since Klinsmann took over, I have loved the play the team is achieving. And I guess I needed more, and my slipped disk prevents me from playing anymore.
So this year I finally decided to follow the EPL and see what team I gravitated towards. Many reasons lead me to Everton. First I enjoyed tracing my history and wanted to choose a team based in the area of my family's ancestral origin Ol' Lancashire and close to Bolton. Bolton was considered but relegation and some things I read about Bolton fans I didn’t like. Second team maybe?? So out of the teams in the Manchester/Liverpool, Everton stood out. I am not a bandwagon and big money team chaser. After reading the history of Everton and the Anfield owner, my personality took the Blue’s side. Plus Liverpool is owned by Boston Red Socks, which I can’t stand them either. And it didn’t hurt I do enjoy rooting for my fellow Americans (Timmy). Everything thing I read about Everton, good principles, great fans, I loved. I think also while I was watching the Confederation Cup this past summer, I kept seeing Martinez and liked what he had to say.
So with all those things, something just snapped in me, and I knew I was a Toffee. My jersey has been ordered, and I was hitting F5 over transfer window just like everyone else.
I am sure if there was a football team before 1816, my family would have been Toffees. I am planning to come over sooner than later to catch a match, and explore the area of my ancestors.
Born to play football! Finally have a team to love!