Arsenal. James. Guy/St. Catherine, Montreal, 2012

Why Arsenal? I asked.

“My father is a big Arsenal fan and that’s how it started.”

It was about time to meet my first Arsenal shirt. James was born in the New York City where his father, who is obviously responsible for his support to Arsenal, still lives. James visits NYC often where he hangs out in pubs that have a big Arsenal fan base, to watch games. We met at the lobby at Concordia university where he studies English literature and Film. Our short conversation reveals James as a through, knowledgeable fan. I sensed the respect for Arsène Wenger and his managing philosophy, the respect I share. Being a young man, I thought after, James has been supporting Wenger’s Arsenal whole of his teenage and adult life. How will it feel, for James and his generation of Arsenal fans, when the time comes for The Gunners to change the manager?

Lviv, Ukraine, 2003 © Velibor Božović

The Footballists blog has been online for 6 months and I would love to thank all who visited, embraced it, commented, subscribed to it and promoted it elsewhere. In it’s first six months of existence there were more than 36 000 visits, a few more than 300 subscribers, numerous comments and emails of support. At one point we held the first place for a full week on Guardian‘s ‘our favourite things this week’ list, we’ve been featured on In Bed With Maradona, made the list on BCN Media Lab‘s post about best football blogs, featured on WordPress home page and mentioned on many other sites. The Footballists took the 2nd place on the 2011 Transatlantic Diablog Award, and Liverpool-based Spiel magazine (in print only) will feature an interview with me and some photographs from this blog in the coming issue.

All this response happened despite the slow activity on the blog in the last two months. The winter conditions do not make it easy to spot people wearing a soccer shirt on Montreal streets. But, soon they’ll reveal their colours and I’ll be there to meet them and present them to the viewers here.

Finally, the Footballists blog has its Facebook page. Please visit and make your mark.

Manchester City. Amra. Sainte-Catherine/Grosvenor, Montreal, 2012

Why Man City? I asked.

“Džeko. And the team.”

Amra was born in Sarajevo, Bosnia. As her parents moved around, working, she lived in Pakistan, Syria and currently is in Montreal. Along the way, she picked up languages, as easily as I picked-up injuries in my amateur football career. Amra is fluent in Bosnian, Arabic, English and French and she is only 15, a great student on top of it all. She is one of those kids, and there are more and more of them in these parts of the world, who live in the muliticultural and diverse world from the inside; multicultural and diverse they are from within and have no need for anyone to teach them about the existence of ‘others’. Borders, for Amra and those like her, are the things of the past. These young people are the future of this world. It can only get better, once they get a chance to redefine the way we live.

Amra obviously loves Edin Džeko (another Bosnian kid who embraced the world) and, consequently, supports Manchester City.

Manchester City. Amra. Sainte-Catherine/Grosvenor, Montreal, 2012

Liverpool. Joshua. Mackay/St. Catherine, Montreal, 2011

Why Liverpool? I asked.

“For love man, for love… McManaman, Fowler, Steve G, I grew up watching them play.”

Josh came to Montreal to study photography. Even though from London, England, where he could easily fall for one of many, big and small, clubs, he fell in love with The Reds from Liverpool. And how could you not love Fowler (though rumours are there are some who don’t), the footballer who must be credited with the most original and controversial goal celebration ever? Joshua, in his university classes, secretly on his laptop, watches the game if Liverpool is playing. Who can blame him, it’s not his fault that Montreal is some 5hr behind Greenwich. A+.

Chelsea. Daniel. Monkland/Old Orchard, Montreal, 2011

Why Chelsea? I asked.

“I was 11. Man United won a title and the day after all my friends in school were Man United fans. I went home that day and told my father ‘I like Manchester United.’ My father looked at me and said ‘No, you like Chelsea!’”

And Daniel does like Chelsea to this day. I would like to meet his father; Daniels’ reply to my question is of the kind I am after. He comes to Montreal from Sweden, to study. He quickly found other Chelsea fans (see Jason) and watches the games with them. Daniel calls Montreal his temporary home but you never know with this city. He might just stay here. Regardless, welcome to Montreal Daniel Isaksson.

Chelsea. Daniel. Monkland/Old Orchard, Montreal, 2011

Manchester United. Kiernan. West Hill/Biermans, Montreal, 2011

Why Man United? I asked.

“I like Rooney.”

I might not like Rooney but I understand how a kid growing up in the last decade would start supporting Man United, considering all the success the club has had. Kiernan plays hockey, and plays it well, but he also follows soccer. I would never swap my shirt with him but I would definitely trade my hair for his.

Chelsea. Jason. Monkland/Old Orchard, Montreal, 2011

Why Chelsea? I asked.

“Back in school days, my French teacher was a Chelsea fan, and somehow I got into supporting them as well.”

This Sunday I walked into a local pub to watch Chelsea-Liverpool. There was already a group of guys with the same idea, some in LFC and some in Chelsea shirts. It was a particular pleasure, at halftime, after Maxi gave Liverpool a lead, to get out for a smoke with a Chelsea fan. Jason’s started Chelsea supporter’s club here in Montreal and goes to watch a game at Stamford Bridge twice a year. He was born in Montreal but his parents come from elsewhere. His mother is from Croatia and Jason described his father’s roots as ‘Irish/English’. And just as it happens often, Liverpool beat Chelsea, and David Luiz, Jason’s favourite player, didn’t really have a great match.

Chelsea. Jason. Monkland/Old Orchard, Montreal, 2011.

Tottenham. Andrew. Ridge/Clarke, Chicago, 2011

Why Spurs? I asked.

“It’s my team and I like the shirt.”

I found the answer a bit odd since once you like the club you must love the shirt regardless of how ugly, or beautiful, it could be. But there was no opportunity to talk about Andrew’s motives a bit further. He, just like the rest of this Chicago crew shows up every Saturday morning at 7h30, throughout the year, to play. Respect! And he is my first Tottenham fan. I have to admit though, watching them play from afar, I thought the guy was running around the left wing in a Lazio shirt.

Internazionale. Zain. West Hill/Biermans, Montreal, 2011

Why Inter? I asked.

“I lived in Milano when Ronaldo played for Inter and I started supporting the club.”

Yes, the real Ronaldo (not that other guy) was a great player and I can see how one could become Internazionale fan in his days. Zain studies physics and coaches a hockey team for which my son plays. He proudly wears his Movember moustache. While the moustaches are temporary, this jersey has been with him for many years, which became obvious as soon as he turned his back to the camera.

Internazionale. Zain. West Hill/Biermans, Montreal, 2011

Juventus, Terry. Ridge/Clarke, Chicago, 2011

Why Juventus? I asked.

“I played for an Italian team here in Chicago when I was younger.”

So it could have been any other Italian team jersey. The guys get together every Saturday at 7h30, throughout the year, to play. This time it was a beautiful November morning but that’s going to change soon; they will keep coming though. I was there to watch, my torn ACLs, in both knees, kept me away from joining them. All I could do is kick the ball back to them when it gets out of play.

Chicago, November 2011