October 23rd, 2011 - Football at Fullham

Today was utterly fantastic! 

In England they have Football Clubs which include the home pitch, team, and the crazy and exuberant fans! We got tickets - and we paid Peter 10 pounds to go - for Fullham vs. Putnam.

 

Go here to view uploaded footage: http://www.youtube.com/user/LoonyLunarLuna17 

Let me tell you... No words could describe the excitement I felt attending my first professional football (soccer) game. Even though I haven't seriously sat down and learned the intricacies of red cards and professional football rules (I am going to - then I will pick teams (after the 'American Team' and Chicago Fire) to support during football season - I'm thinking of going with Finland, a Scottish Team, and a British Team) but I seriously enjoyed myself.

To impress upon you how serious the safety of everyone it taken - they confiscated the cap off my water bottle  rendering the bottle useless. They wanted to make sure the cap didn't end up as successful and quite painful projectile. There was police control outside and inside the club - luckily nothing dramatic and unnecessary happened.

Taken from my seat. Minus heads in front you can see why I am thrilled these were my seats. Net seats are actually the best because you can see the whole field -which is slightly on an angle.

 

I was decked out in red and black Fullham's colours for the home jerseys. However, I had my silver and blue ( Ravenclaw/Harry Potter) hat and scarf - which meant I was dressed perfectly neutral- for silver and blue are Putnam's colours. 

Myself and H^2 at the end of the game. It truly was  a great day1 We are so happy to be there and to have shared an amazing afternoon at our first professional football game ever!

I was lucky enough (contributed 10 pound I did ) to sit behind the goal (although it was on the Putnam side) during the game. That means I had a perfect view of the whole pitch. 

Now - I have to impress upon you my elation - having played A.Y.S.O. from grade school through senior year of high school - the pure joy and fabulous energy flowing for  myself and the Fullham and Putnam fans. The whole stadium - which was Fullham home pitch (or Fullham Club) was filled to the gills with fans of both teams- some of the more rucous (drunk) fans would stomp feet and chant team slogans and songs. 

The coolest thing about the match... for the fist 46 minutes (one minutes was added to the first half) I got to witness the sheer power and skill of the goalie - decked out in camouflage gear. This was the very same goalie who played for the American 'Team' (as you know (if you follow World Cup - America's team is compiled of athletes from all countries) in last years world cup. Not only did he save goals but he had an extrodinary leg- able to kick the ball in a controlled spin or roll it in with a blast of his arm to the right player. 

Here is Camo-Man - the goalie for Putnam. He made a fantastic save  in the second half when he tipped the ball out of  the goal. He played for the American Team in the World Cup recently.

This is a second half  picture - but I made a  joke to H^2 that he was like a beacon. I nicknamed him  'The Green Beacon' . He made really good saves as well, allowing for  the game to be tied in the first half.

Well Camo-Goalie and Green Beacon are apart of pretty well-matched teams - except that Fullham was ground into the dirt by Putnam. Putnam scored the fastest goal I've ever seen (and I watch plenty of Football in Spanish while muted and during the Cup to know) bringing the score to 1:0 well under the twenty possibly even ten minute mark.  

The action accelerated from there with much screaming and angry exclamations from me when obvious fouls and trips were not called or dealt with. However, even though an additional three minutes was added to the second half Putnam still managed to score two goals within the last minutes of the second half making the game enjoyable and the crowd go crazy with glee (Putnam (and myself for seeing such a great match played by them) and sorrow (for Fullham (and myself for seeing a team lose on their home pitch).

I have to say I was pleased with the match and the atmosphere and the sunny weather. It was the best first football match I could have dreamed of. Yet another first in London that fuels my love for England and Europe. 

Also I highly recommend you get tickets (even if they aren't net seats) for a game when you're in England. Even if you aren't an enthusiast the game itself it a great way to experience culture and get in a fun and amusing day. 

~ H.C.