The 6 soccer fans you are most likely to meet
By Dan Voicescu
The Anglophile
The Anglophile is often confused with a typical bandwagon fan. It might not be the bandwagon that just pulled up into the station, but that glitzy train full of petro-dollars pulled up in the station at some point, flashing strong brand names, expensive threads, trophies and all kinds of swag. All aboard!
It’s difficult to explain where such a strong affinity for a franchise located across oceans and continents originated. One explanation may be that the Anglophiles are the soccer fandom equivalent of foodies, always searching for the best product and the best experience, snubbing their nose at any other forms or venues of the sport.
You’re most likely to spot them traveling in packs on weekend mornings in major American cities, draped in shiny red or blue jerseys, scarfs around necks, descending on the local soccer pub for a weekly session of that sweet Premier League action. They’re known to break out in song, putting on their best Mancunian or Scouse accents to slightly offbeat versions of “Glory, Glory Man United” or “You’ll Never Walk Alone.” He has casually appropriated English soccer (or football, rather) culture, using expressions such as Get stuck in lad, Go on son, etc.
They loathe international breaks and have very little respect for other, non-Premier League teams, specifically the big Spanish clubs, who undoubtedly benefit from playing in softer, less competitive leagues, and whose rosters are made up entirely of a bunch of divers and prima donnas. Real soccer is only played in the Premier League (also referred to as “the Premiership” by some of the members of this fan segment).
The Anglophile enjoys using the first person plural “we” when referring to the latest news and transfer rumors related to the English club he supports. Out of all the soccer fan types, this is the one most likely to have a genuine need to belong to something bigger and greater than himself. The Anglophile genuinely cares for the club of his affection, lives and dies by their results. His passion and dedication are intense and unwavering, regardless of how he got to this level of devotion.