Posted November 3, 200915 yr Hello everyone My name is Matt and I live in New Jersey, USA. What brings me here? Well, quite obviously, a love of football and Chelsea. I'll share a bit of my story if anyone is interested as to how someone living in the US catches the football bug.... Like many Americans, I started watching during WC 94. I was 12 and, being of Italian heritage, I gravitated towards the Italian National Team. I began to play some FIFA on whatever system was hip at the time and started to play as Juventus, who became the club team I supported, Somewhere along the way (1998?) I got tired of Juve (again while playing FIFA) and started to play as Chelsea, mostly because I was a big Zola fan. I began to support Chelsea but more closely followed Juve in Serie A. Still I picked up a Chelsea jersey (or kit I suppose) and watched some matches here and there. After all of the unpleasantness with Juve (the cheating, the relegation and whatnot) I felt seriously betrayed. Here is a team I put years of effort into following and it turned out to be all a lie. I've never really been able to care for them much ever since. Sadly my love of club football fell by the wayside and I moved towards the American sports, which are much easier for me to follow. I still supported Chelsea but from a bit of a distance. This brings us to present. ESPN has begun to show EPL games in beautiful high definition and when I sat down to watch the first match Chelsea were playing Hull. Needless to say, something clicked and my obsession has been rekindled. I've watched just about every match this season and have started to revolve my life around them. However in order to follow them I need people to engage me. Unfortunately I cannot find much of that where I am so I've turned to the internet. Anyway, that is my story. I appreciate if you made it through my long post and hope I have found a place where I can closely follow Chelsea FC, have some nice discussions and meet some great people.
November 3, 200915 yr A big welcome to the Shed End. It's great to have a first post which gives so much information. You have made a wise choice in joining us! Explore all the threads and have fun! :)
November 3, 200915 yr I have started to revolve my life around them With that kid of commitment you'll find plenty to feed your obsession on here. Following Chelsea is not a part-time occupation! Hope you get to watch the game tonight (not to mention on Sunday).
November 3, 200915 yr Author I am off to work now but have the match set to record. One of the nice things about being over here is I do not really need to worry about anyone spoiling the results. Thank you for the warm welcome.
November 3, 200915 yr Hi Matt! You've got a genuine story to tell and I pretty much enjoyed going through it. Welcome to The Shed End mate! You're in the right place and you will be able to share your opinion on anything and everything very freely over here. Do stick around. :)
November 3, 200915 yr Welcome Matt We've got our own smiley round here It may say Scott but feel free to use it. You do hate Tott*nham don't you? :)
November 3, 200915 yr Welcome Matt. I've got one of those by my front door............ But do you have a new jersey in your wardrobe?
November 3, 200915 yr But do you have a new jersey in your wardrobe? No but that might be because I'm wearing it
November 4, 200915 yr Alright mate, glad to have you on here? You in North Jersey, or you down around the Philly area?
November 4, 200915 yr Author Alright mate, glad to have you on here? You in North Jersey, or you down around the Philly area? Northern New Jersey, Morristown to be precise.
November 4, 200915 yr Enjoyed reading your post. Welcome to the Shed End Matt, the place to be for all Chelsea supporters
November 4, 200915 yr Northern New Jersey, Morristown to be precise. Cool, used to live in NY. If you get the chance there is a pub in Manhattan that has a huge Chelsea following, you should try make a trip up there for some banter sometime. They are called the New York Blues, and meet up for most games at Nevada Smiths...well, they used to, but I'm sure you can find out
November 4, 200915 yr Author Good to have you on board, Matt.Are you a West Wing fan? Yes, I like it not my favorite though Cool, used to live in NY. If you get the chance there is a pub in Manhattan that has a huge Chelsea following, you should try make a trip up there for some banter sometime. They are called the New York Blues, and meet up for most games at Nevada Smiths...well, they used to, but I'm sure you can find out I've heard of both and have always meant to make the trip as I have the train to Manhattan right down the street, Only problem is on Saturday or Sunday morning the last place I want to go is a bar, I'm usually trying to recover from the night before :D
November 5, 200915 yr Good stuff, a man after my own heart!!! Usually I'm waking up (and I'm 3 hours behind you) still half drunk from the night before
November 5, 200915 yr Northern New Jersey, Morristown to be precise. I once spent a week in Basking Ridge, with my dad's best man's family. He worked in Morristown.
November 5, 200915 yr Good stuff, a man after my own heart!!! Usually I'm waking up (and I'm 3 hours behind you) still half drunk from the night before Usually? Don't you mean every day? :angry:
November 7, 200915 yr Author Welcome to The Shed End Matt! Thank you very much You are a friendly bunch, I must say I looked at a number of Chelsea message boards and this one seems to be the best
November 7, 200915 yr Thank you very muchYou are a friendly bunch, I must say I looked at a number of Chelsea message boards and this one seems to be the best This lad is going to go far!!
