Fight On Posted February 6, 2011 Report Share Posted February 6, 2011 (edited) Hello! I'm from Tennessee (United States), I'm 16 years of age, and I've been a Toffee fan for almost a year. Here's my story.. I think it's pretty cool! It was 6:30 in the morning on a Saturday (only God knows what I was doing up at that time), and I turned on the TV. Everton and Manchester United were just about to play, and American football games weren't going to start for a few hours, so I figured I would try to give it a shot. The ONLY thing I knew, in terms of the teams that were playing, about was that Man U were supposed to be really good, but as for Everton..I knew nothing. Then, as the game was beginning to get under way, the announcer mention Landon Donovan, and at that point I thought he had been traded to Everton (trading is what goes on in American sports..not transfers). Then they mentioned Tim Howard was American, so I immediately had a rooting interest. That morning, my passion for soccer..oops.. my passion for FOOTBALL sparked as I watched an entire game for the first time in my life, even coming out of my seat when Rodwell slotted home the dagger! Shortly after that game, I purchased a soccer ball from a local supermarket. I could kick an American football pretty well, so I figured it would be cake to juggle it and do the fancy bending stuff. I went out into my yard and within 3 minutes I was embarassed at not being able to kick the ball over 20 yards in the air, much less direct its course! It didn't end there though, for weeks I consumed myself in a channel that I never knew existed (Fox Soccer Channel) and learned about the game, and watched game after game. At that time, I figured it was just a little fettish that would soon pass away, but it never did. I found myself spending countless hours outside kicking/juggling/messing around. Now just a little FYI, our school has NO football(soccer) teams. I was a little embarrased to admit to my bros that I had developed a passion for the sport. One day, I invited a friend of mine over to play(we'll say his name is Brad), and we played for hours, and, even though he was terrible like I was when I first began, he loved playing( Mind you, this guy likely has a professional Am. football and baseball future ahead of him). So, we went down into the forest and cut down 3 tress..with the two axes we cut 6 pieces from them and made 2 home-made soccer goals (no nets) like you'd see in kids playing on in Africa or something. After that, he would drive to my house daily, and we'd spend hours playing/practicing/and having penalty shoot-outs. One day, me and Brad invited 12 other guys to my house to play a little pick-up game, and of course none of them, including me, had any experience playing a soccer game or anything..Brad and I were the only ones who knew the rules so we spent forever explaining. Of course, because of the time we spent playing, Brad and I scored almost all of our teams goals. Now if you guys saw this...you'd say it was "absolutely terrible quality". Guys had no idea how to have a build-up or anything. After playing for nearly 4 hours, (theses guys were ALL top-class basketball, am. football, and baseball players) everyone had loved it..so we played again the next day. We all ended up playing nearly twice every week for the rest of the Summer. When school got back around, I approached my principal(which is what we call the head of the school in America), and I asked him about possibly having a football team. He said if I could find enough players then he would consider it. I got 32 guys to sign a sheet saying theyd play, and, shortly thereafter, we had a coach. So ever since the beginning of January, we have been going for 2 hours everyday after school(5 days a week). We lift weights, jump, run the bleachers, and just run flat out for miles in below freezing weather. Most of these guys were out at my property playing most of the time, so it's all worth it for us. We actually have two real goals now, and itis nice to have a net for once! We begin our first practice with an actual ball tomorrow, with our first game coming March the first. Soccer is here to stay in this town, and we are even having a local Upward soccer league(google it if you don't know what Upward soccer is) for the kids! I am, of course, the captain of a team full of 17/18 year olds. I am a humble person, but I am by far the most talented of us all. So, what in the heck does this all have to with EFC? Well, most people in this town don't know it, but thinks to EFC defeating Man U, I have taken a simple passion for the game to now what will hopefully spread amongst the rest of this town and all of the small kids. So thank you Everton FC for giving me a new passion, and my town an oppurtuninty to fall in love with something new. Wish me luck in the season ahead! Everton-3 Manchester United-1 2-20-2010 The game that began it all. Edited February 6, 2011 by whodatEFC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeO Posted February 6, 2011 Report Share Posted February 6, 2011 You're right....that is a pretty cool story. Welcome to the site....we have a fair few Americans already (check the member map). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian C Posted February 6, 2011 Report Share Posted February 6, 2011 We call them 'Principals' in Europe too.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fight On Posted February 6, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 6, 2011 We call them 'Principals' in Europe too.... It seems we have a different word for everything, and I assumed that one was for sure different! I've learned something new already Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian C Posted February 6, 2011 Report Share Posted February 6, 2011 And we know where Tennessee is too. Look at us, we're highly educated, multicultural, multilingual Europeans..... Except for marco Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeO Posted February 6, 2011 Report Share Posted February 6, 2011 We call them 'Principals' in Europe too.... It was called a "headmaster" when I went to school . But that was back when they wore robes, all teachers were "sir," and they could legally beat the shit out of you with a stick so maybe times have changed . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian C Posted February 6, 2011 Report Share Posted February 6, 2011 I still call all my teachers 'sir' and 'miss'... yet I have a principal. Headmaster sounds awfully posh/Protestant to me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeO Posted February 6, 2011 Report Share Posted February 6, 2011 I still call all my teachers 'sir' and 'miss'... yet I have a principal. Thought they were all called "Andy" and "Sylvia" now (unless, of course, their name wasn't Andy or Sylvia ). But thinking about it Josh does call his teachers sir and miss....but he does have a "headteacher." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian C Posted February 6, 2011 Report Share Posted February 6, 2011 Counting down the days until his next Parent/Teacher meeting? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeO Posted February 6, 2011 Report Share Posted February 6, 2011 Counting down the days until his next Parent/Teacher meeting? Would be but sadly the injunction will still be in force so the wife'll have to go . (Sorry for Ian hijacking your thread whodat.....he's a bastard like that ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian C Posted February 6, 2011 Report Share Posted February 6, 2011 Me? Hijack threads? Never Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue 250 Posted February 6, 2011 Report Share Posted February 6, 2011 Hello WhodatEFC, Yep sure was a good story! Liked the bit where you and your mate/buddy went down to the forest and cut down a few trees.You then made them into goal posts and crossbars, I'm loving that image. Now! it sounds like your team have trained really hard, fitness, stamina and skill, so there's a question that has to be asked.........can any of your team play right back. Because if they can, can we trade them for some sharp axes' and some corner flags. Seriously, good luck with your venture.spread the name "Everton", and have fun playing the beautiful game! MikeO, it may not be wrong of you to think of your sons teacher like that, BUT, to post a picture of her like that does make me wonder..........have you got any better ones! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fight On Posted February 7, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 7, 2011 Me? Hijack threads? Never No problem, man!.. Hello WhodatEFC, Yep sure was a good story! Liked the bit where you and your mate/buddy went down to the forest and cut down a few trees.You then made them into goal posts and crossbars, I'm loving that image. Now! it sounds like your team have trained really hard, fitness, stamina and skill, so there's a question that has to be asked.........can any of your team play right back. Because if they can, can we trade them for some sharp axes' and some corner flags. Seriously, good luck with your venture.spread the name "Everton", and have fun playing the beautiful game! MikeO, it may not be wrong of you to think of your sons teacher like that, BUT, to post a picture of her like that does make me wonder..........have you got any better ones! Thanks, man.. And yeah we used stakes that you use to cook hot dogs for corner flags! And as for the RB, I'll figure out when we train with an actual ball tomorrow! My coach really admires the old Dutch way of playing football..which is of course total football. I don't really know how some of the guys are gonna grasp a system like that but I guess I'll see! He wants our base formation to look like this: ----------GK---------- -----------X---------- ----X------------X---- -----------X---------- ----X------------X---- -----------X---------- ----X------------X---- -----------X---------- And oh I have tried to spread my love for the Toffees, but to little avail! Brad is a Liverpool fan and a lot of the guys are Chelsea fans. You see, in America, we have a over-whelming, and a little bit annoying, tendency to be attracted toward the teams that are the best at that moment. So as soon as I told them who won the Prem. this past season, most made up their mind quickly. I even have made a few MLS fans out of them.. (Go Red Bulls!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Posted February 7, 2011 Report Share Posted February 7, 2011 (edited) It was called a "headmaster" when I went to school . But that was back when they wore robes, all teachers were "sir," and they could legally beat the shit out of you with a stick so maybe times have changed . same here and I was at a Catholic school! Anyway, welcome to the club mate cutting down the trees kind of puts our "jumpers (thats sweaters for you lot, constant battle with my wife there) for goalposts" to shame! Edited February 7, 2011 by Matt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue 250 Posted February 7, 2011 Report Share Posted February 7, 2011 Thanks, man.. And yeah we used stakes that you use to cook hot dogs for corner flags! And oh I have tried to spread my love for the Toffees, but to little avail! Brad is a Liverpool fan . (Go Red Bulls!) Look mate!.......This team was your idea, it's your football and you've probably got a better axe.............Get rid of Brad Seriously, hot dog steakes for corner flags!......come on WhodatEFC, I can't wait for your first game under floodlights.Don't tell me, 10,000 fire flies in moonshine jars! Once again, good luck with total (Dutch) football. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scouse Posted February 7, 2011 Report Share Posted February 7, 2011 Excellent story and good luck with the upcoming season, remember to keep us informed of how you do and how many goals you score!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rubecula Posted February 13, 2011 Report Share Posted February 13, 2011 Good to meet you WhodatEFC and welcome to the forum. I am the one who always had principals at school... never stopped the headmaster beating the begeezus out of me with a big stick though.....whether I needed it or not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Posted February 13, 2011 Report Share Posted February 13, 2011 hope you and your mates didnt watch that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
punintended_13 Posted March 21, 2011 Report Share Posted March 21, 2011 (edited) Nice Edited March 21, 2011 by punintended_13 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fight On Posted March 21, 2011 Author Report Share Posted March 21, 2011 Update on the team: Just played our first actual game Wednsday. Our games have kept being pushed back due to really bad weather in the past few weeks. Well, as for the game, all 21 of our players showed up to the game, and the other team had about 40 players, and they had 3x the student body of us. They were much more talented than us as a team, but at the end of the first 40 minute half, we were only down 2-0..which was good for us. In the second half, our attack really picked up, and I started to get fed the ball. I got the ball on the left wing, took a few light touches, and split the right back and one of the center halves (I was about 40 yards out at this point). I outran the defense, got one on one with the GK, and passed it into the side netting for my teams' (and my) first ever goal! I can honestly say this: I have scored many touchdowns in Am. football, hit many homeruns in baseball, and hit even more threes in basketball over the entirity of my life, but there is absolutely NOTHING more thrilling than scoring a goal.. especially with the work I had put into getting there. We ended up losing the game 4-1, but it was a great first outing being that 18 out of our 21 players had never competed in an actual game. Now here's something I thought was funny.. You see, not ever playing/scoring in an actual game, I had never had an oppurtunity to celebrate a goal. For the past year I have watched as guys (most of the time) would run stright to the corner flag and celebrate with the fans. So, by instinct almost, I ran straight to the corner flag but all I saw was a giant, mostly vacant, parking lot... fortunately some of my teammates ran up behind and greeted me there so I didn't look like a complete idiot ;nevertheless, it was the time of my life! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeO Posted March 21, 2011 Report Share Posted March 21, 2011 Thanks for the update and congrats on the goal! Can still remember my first....bit less spectacular because the ball just kind of hit my knee when I was standing in the goal area for a corner...was the youngest on the team and feared for my life when buried by my team-mates celebrating . Forty-three years ago now . 4-1 defeat sounds very respectable in the circumstances....was on the wrong end of a fair few double figure thrashings myself . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Posted March 21, 2011 Report Share Posted March 21, 2011 fantastic mate! Cant remember my 1st goal but ive pulled off a few spectaculars in my youth. Im looking forward to my 1st game since my latest injury on Thursday, hope I can do the same as you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rubecula Posted March 21, 2011 Report Share Posted March 21, 2011 WOW great story, I remember my first goal, as usually I played in defence back then. But that day (about 46 or 47 years ago *sigh*) I was put on the wing as we lost a player due to illness and I was pretty quick. they pinched the ball, and I took it back ran a few yards and hit a belter from about 20 yards. It was still rising when it hit the roof of the net. Man I ran the length of the pitch howling like a banshee. Great feeling isn't it?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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