I started my support here in the UK in the early 80s. Everyone would take round balls to school but I took an American football. We would play even then tag football, none of us knew what the hell we were doing at the age of 12. I used to listen to the US forces network here late at night on the AM frequency and loved listening to the commentary which was like listening to something happening 5000 miles away unlike today where everything is digital. You know like the grainy pictures of the Olympic games, the world cup. I cherished my Sony Walkman but is was no ordinary one, its had a freakin radio on it. It made me dream for adventure.
I chose the Patriots as my team when they drafted Drew Bledsoe before that I followed a few teams, Bears, Redskins 49ers and Patriots, I thought at the time the Patriots drafting Bledsoe that having the best player in the draft was a sign of greatness. Like I said, l knew little then.
To this day, I think radio commentary of games is 100 times better than TV coverage. I used to be hooked by the lead commentator describing the sounds, the atmosphere, the weather as if I was actually there, but I was snuggled up under my blankets hiding my Walkman hoping not to wake mum or dad.
You cannot beat the days you dreamed when you were a kid. I remember about the time we would get a whole host of American TV shows.. Chips, Fonz, Hawaii five-o, Mork and Mindy, Six million dollar man, and many more, if I was lucky I could stay up to watch Cagney and Lacy lol. Oh we were spoiled back then with tea time shows (6 to 8pm).
I think there is also a huge Miami fanbase in the UK, also both New York teams and the usual iconic teams of years past.
