Hello from a newbie

[EltonJohn]

Hello, I'm brand new to these boards and this is my first post. I love Britain, and, if I'm lucky, I'll get to live there someday.

I am just curious if you support a British football club of any kind. I like Liverpool and try to follow them as closely as I can, but it gets hard when you live in Texas. Americans focus mostly on baseball, hockey, etc., and we rarely get to see an EPL match on television. In fact, when I do happen to see a football match it's in the Spanish league, and the commentators are all speaking Spanish LOL.

Also, on another subject, do you support the monarchy? Why or why not? I've been to several websites recently, and this seems to be a hot topic in your country right now.

Pax,
Diane

 

[Terry&Janet]

I'm a fair weather football fan and 'support' my local team Birmingham City. They are in the EPL for the first time this year. So far they're holding their own in the league and look at the moment as though they will stay up at the end of the season. Another local team West Bromwich are looking like they're going down after only one season in the EPL. Tis a shame...

The important match so far this year was when we beat another local rival team Aston Villa !!

If you have a broadband or fast connection I can strongly recommend the BBC Five Live sports website to you. They run commentaries almost everyday on key matches. Undoubtedly Liverpool will feature at some point and you can probably listen to the commentary. The commentaries are so much better than TV ones that we quite often listen to the radio whilst watching the television.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/fivelive/sportsextra/

Happy listening..

Terry

 

[Terry&Janet]

Uh oh...

I've just checked this information and it seems that the link i gave you is like a top up to the main station which is Five Live. Here's the link for that one. There's a sports programme every night UK time at 7pm. This is the station that I normally listen to in the car when I'm driving.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/fivelive/index.shtml

There's a picture of Houlier on this page at the moment, so he might be featured at the moment.

Terry

 

[SpottyDog]

Hiya Diane, welcome to this litle part of Britain.

There are quite a few soccer fans here, though some understandably try to keep it quiet. I'm lucky in that I get to support the greatest Club in the world - Sunderland AFC. With regard to football on TV, we're spoilt for choice nowadays as there seems to be a live game on almost every night. So much so that I now rarely watch a live TV game unless Sunderland are involved. When live TV first started, it was such an event most people would make a point of watching whoever was playing.

As for the Monarchy, I'm not a supporter and it IS an emotive subject over here.Other than a tourist attraction, I don't see they serve any purpose and feel the cost of their personal security alone surely must outweigh any income made from them.

 

[EltonJohn]

Thanks for the great bbc site Terry, unfortunately I don't have broadband yet but I'll get it sometime in the future!

 

[Terry&Janet]

I was listening to Radio 5 this morning and it seems that the match last night was featured between Liverpool and Arsenal.

Arsenal were winning 2-1 into extra time and in the closing minutes Liverpool scored an equaliser from a corner kick and they played an excerpt from the commentary which brought a smile to my face as the equaliser was scored.

Arsene Wenger is an unhappy bunny this morning !!


Terry

 

[kazzie]

Hi,

I and all my family support Chlesea,although we live in north not west London I don't know why!

As for the Monarchy I think people usually feel very strongly one way or t'other. I feel strongly that the Monarchy is past it's 'sell be date!',except as a tourist attraction as Dave mentions.I think it is absolutely unbelievable that we are in the 21st century and we still have this family that people are bowing down to,with all their vast riches,they have money and own property,art,cars and various collections beyond anybodies comprehension.They live in a very privileged world of thier own,and I do not want to be of their subjects.

I do admire the Queen and Prince Charles as individuals, but not the whole shebang.

On that note,I would really like to have a decent national anthem that wasn't refering to the monarchy which I disagree with ,but about the country.But with the state of this country at present I believe many people including myself feel it isn't one to be proud of,and that it is still deteriorating .

 

[EltonJohn]

Karen,

Please don't say that you are a Lord Attenborough fan. I hate it when people support something just because a favourite celebrity of theirs support it. In fact, I really don't like Watford FC too much because Sir Elton LOVES them LOL.

While I don't know exact state of Britain right now, you should be proud of your country and of your heritage-regardless of the Windsors

 

[WDWfan uk]

A warm welcome to you Diane

( I admire both Attenborough brothers but that has nothing to do with football LOL !!)

When did you visit UK?

 

[Janice]

Hi Diane - welcome to the UKDis!

I am a West Ham supporter - who are currently holding up the bottom of the league! They will probably go down this year, which will mean they will be coming to visit my local team of Ipswich Town (The Tractor Boys) so I'll get a chance to go and see them play again. My husband is an ardent Chelsea supporter

I like David Attenborough - I like his style of tv presenting, and I really liked Richard Attenborough in a lot of his earlier films, although in my opinion he does overdo the 'luvvie' bit nowadays! LOL

I am also a Royalist. I think we are honoured to have the Queen as our Monarch. I believe she will continue to serve our Country until she dies - I dont think she will stand down in favour of Charles. But of course, this is only my opinion.

 

[minnie56]

I live in Canada and am British born!
Just wanted to say I love Engalnd with all my heart!

 

[minnie56]

Too bad I can't spell it!!!

 

[WDWfan uk]

LOL Minnie !!!

Hi to you as well! ( We visited Toronto on our Canadian holiday last year....... had a wonderful time !)

 

[minnie56]

You wouldn't like it much now....BRRRRRRR!! So cold!

I'm thinking of warm sunny places

 

[EltonJohn]

Hi Shirley and Janice,

Unfortunately, I've never been outside the continental United States, but have studied much of England's history-especially when it comes down to the monarchy. I am hoping to either live in Britain or Ireland-to be nearer to football and to Europe, you have so much more history than we do

Ipswich Town's nickname is The Tractor Boys LOL. Well, that's nearly as bad as Watford's "Golden Boys"

"I am also a Royalist. I think we are honoured to have the Queen as our Monarch. I believe she will continue to serve our Country until she dies - I dont think she will stand down in favour of Charles. But of course, this is only my opinion."

I concur with you that she won't abdicate, she was a very impressionable ten year old when her uncle did.

Thanks for the welcome.

 

[Mrs Dazzle]

Hi Diane - welcome from the Osbornes currently in freezing cold Southern England.

Hmmm . . . football teams. Well, DH and DD are besotted Arsenal fans (definitely NOT happy after last night's result - my ears were ringing and the names DH called that referee ). I'm proud to be a Queens Park Rangers (QPR) fan from west London cos that's where I was dragged up . You've probably not heard of them because they're in lowly Div 2 (top half, I hasten to add though). Although we do have a few famous ex-Rangers that you may have heard of . . . Stan Bowles, Rodney Marsh and one David Seaman of Arsenal and England fame.

I too am a fan of the monarchy and think our country would not be the same without them. I feel they've come on the last couple of years and got a little more in touch with us "common folk"

Keep firing those questions

 

[Fantasia Sam]

Hi Diane

Wow it's so good to learn that you know so much about our country and yet sadly you've never been, too bad

I support Chelsea as they were the first team I ever went to watch play and that wasn't until I was around 22/23 LOL

My DBF supports West Ham and I am enjoying gloating over their demise however they did finally win last night

Mmmmm monarchy, wow you come to our community board with a real opener of a question, I don't think you'll be forgotten too quickly I guess I like the royal family, I think they're good for our country (I have an aversion to Princess Michael of Kent though) but I wouldn't call myself a royalist. I think they've gone through some tough times more so over the last 10 years. I think Charles should just get on and marry Camilla, he should be able to do what he wants. I felt the same way about Edward and Mrs Simpson, I really like reading the biographies about those two and there well in the news here at the moment.

Anyway hope to see you around more here

 

[Hilary]

Another "hello" , but no football talk from me

 

[FiFi]

Howdy Diane

Great to hear from you and nice to hear that you love out little country so much. Whereabouts are you from in Texas? We have been the the US loads of times and really love Texas (we now have friends in Texas which is all down to soccer - but that's a VERY long story). Hope to be out in sunny Austin in October.

TTFN

Fiona

 

[EltonJohn]

I've actually heard of the QPR, and I do recognise David Seaman from the World Cup this year (the England goalkepper right). I noticed your team has an unusual name, IMHO, like Sheffield Wenesday, the Wolverhamptom Wanderers, and Crystal Palace.

And Graham Taylor is the Arsenal boss again right? Watford supporters just love Taylor.

Well, I wouldn't neccesarily call myself a fan, nor a detractor of the monarchy, I do have a big interest in Britain's royal family, and of course the principality of Monaco because of American Grace Kelly.

Fiona I live up in Dallas. Glad you like Texas, you and your friends are welcome anytime Just beware of going to College Station, you'll meet a lot of Aggies there