From the Premier League to the National League: my story

Football has been a big deal in my family since the day I was born. My dad was a commentator back in Australia in the 80s and was a huge Spurs fan during the era of Ossie Ardiles, Glenn Hoodle, and Ricky Villa. But I didn’t get into football until I was about eleven.

I came across it by accident when my school screened the 2002 World Cup games early in the morning. Noticing my growing interest, my dad insisted that I didn’t support Spurs. He said it was too painful watching Tottenham find new and inventive ways to bottle it. So I supported a different Premier League team who shall remain nameless.

I think most people of my generation did the same thing: support a big or successful team in the Premier League. I watched my team win and lose leagues and cup finals, but something was missing and I could never quite figure out what it was. Later in life, I realised it was having an intimate connection with the club. I was on the outside, rather than being a part of it. A disconnect was inevitable.