Come on, England!!! The Making of an England Football Supporter

So hard to believe that this time last week was the eve of the Euro Cup finals. We were thrilled that England had made it to the finals and wanted to host some kind of gathering. Unfortunately, while football* is steadily growing in popularity here in the US, especially among those who hail or whose families hail from countries where football is bigger than life itself, most of our mates here aren't fussed about the sport or the Euros. The only two who are were not available so - just us it was!

But now the excitement of another European football tournament is now well and truly over and any football fan who is not Spanish is now coming to terms with the fact that this year just wasn’t their national team’s year. The better team won and we can always console ourselves with the fact that there’s always next time - something English fans tell ourselves every two years! At the start of any major football tournament - whether it be the European Championship or the World Cup - England fans start off very jubilant, optimistic, and dare I say it, a tad bit full of ourselves (me included!) In my much younger days, everyone would enthusiastically be belting out "Here we go, here we go, here we go..." but that has now been replaced with rousing choruses of Three Lions, and passionately declaring to anyone who'd listen that this time (yep, me again!) it’s coming home. Well… It hasn’t 'come home' since 1966. If it is coming home at all, it’s clearly got lost en route! 

It’s been five days now since the tournament ended so there’s a good chance that some of us England football fans may just be starting to get over the crushing despair we suffered when we saw our hopes and dreams dashed as our beloved team got defeated by Spain  in the Euros by Spain on Sunday. Though for those of us who are saddened by Gareth Southgate’s resignation this week as England manager… Well it might just take a while longer to get over this much heartbreak!

Those who know me would be surprised by the level of interest I show whenever England are playing in major tournaments because everyone knows that when it comes to football, I really am pretty clueless. Teach a man to fish and he can feed himself for life. Hand this girl a football and she still won't know one end of the pitch from the other! While most of the people I know can excitedly chatter away non-stop about the start of the season; transfer windows, league tables and which pundit on Match of the Day needs to be given the (football) boot, all this talk goes way over my head - and not just because I'm short!

I may be British and come from a football-crazy family, but I’m not really what you would call a major football fan. I'm probably the only person in my family who doesn't have a team. Oh hang on - there's my mum as well! So in my family I’m what is known as - a weirdo! And the irony that I spent a huge part of my life living a stone’s throw from the world-famous Wembley Stadium but it took a move to America for me to go to my first ever match is not lost on me. And even then it’s because my American husband has become a massive fan of the sport! How’s that for ironic, Alanis!

But when it comes to England playing a major football tournament, I can be every bit as passionate, overly excited, and as is always eventually the case, distraught, as your average England football supporter. As a child growing up in the eighties and the nineties, I couldn’t understand why there were certain times when there was more football on the telly than usual. And not just on Saturdays! And what was worse was that it seemed to mess with the normal TV schedule so my fave shows were not on when they should have been. I knew nothing about Britain’s favourite sport but I definitely knew when EastEnders should have been on! 

FIFA World Cup 1998

However I didn't know that the arrival of my baby brother in the early nineties was going to partially change my interest in football. As he was growing up and became totally sports-mad, I learned to get by in football-speak as that was the only language he was able to converse in, and therefore the only way we’d be able to communicate (more than thirty years later, not much has changed!) However my knowledge of the beautiful game is still very limited, so if there’s a million pounds up for grabs and you need someone to tell you what the offside rule is, then I had better not be your phone-a-friend! But growing up in a sport-obsessed household meant that I couldn’t always escape sport when it was on the telly, especially the footy- and rather surprisingly it turned out that I actually did enjoy watching football… but only when our national team was playing...

The turning point came during the 1998 World Cup and the infamous England vs Argentina quarter final match.  It was the very first time that I’d sat down with my family to watch an entire match -  the first time I’d watched England play a major game. The first time I realized why it was called the beautiful game; the pride England fans feel when they watch their country play; the glory; the agony; the ecstasy; the punch in the gut when Beckham was sent off and every emotion in between that every football fan experiences. It’s so much more than just kicking a ball around or taking home a trophy. It’s about sportsmanship, pride and honour – all this from someone whose dad and brother fell about laughing because she thought a Champions League match was a friendly!  

From that match on, I developed a new-found sense of respect for the game and finally understood what all the fuss was about. I may not necessarily support anyone at club level but I’m most definitely an England supporter through and through. As a Brit now living in America, I still feel that sense of pride in my country and in my national football team, and football is now one of the many things that still keeps me connected to the place of my birth. Furthermore even in America, football can be as much a go-to discussion topic as the weather (a favourite for us Brits!)

From a somewhat rookie England fan’s perspective, Euro 2024 did have some highlights. For the first time in the history of my life, I saw England come out the victors in a penalty shoot-out against Switzerland. I'm not saying it's never happened - I'm just saying I've never seen it happen! For those who don’t think it’s a big deal, well let’s put it this way: when the match ends in a penalty shootout, it’s time for the England fans present to start making their way out of the stands and heading back to their hotels to start packing because that’s when we know… the cup ain’t coming home - the team and the fans are!  I was convinced it was all over when it went to penalties but I was elated when not only did we win but it was flawless - five goals out of five!

Then there was that astounding last minute goal by Ollie Watkins that got England into the final.  And goalie Jordan Pickford gave it his all as usual. It was great that for the second consecutive European Championship tournament, England made it into the final. Hopefully they’ll make it to the final of the Euros a third time… and we’ll get the desired result. Though I have to say, I had more luck with Copa America where the team I was backing - Argentina - won! Too bad about Messi getting injured but at least he was able to make his way to podium to join the rest of his winning team mates.

So why exactly do I love watching England play in major tournaments?

Watching and supporting the England football team as they compete in tournaments like the Euros and World Cup isn’t just about the beautiful game itself—these are moments and events that stir a strong sense of unity, patriotism and family togetherness. They're cultural extravaganzas that unite our country; our families and friends; bridge individual differences, and evoke memories that resonate with fans nationwide.

Bringing the Country Together

Anything that brings people together fostering a sense of unity, community, belonging, and spreads cheer is never a bad thing in my book. As we know sport has the remarkable ability - in any region - to bring people together, creating a shared sense of identity and togetherness. And football tournaments are no different and serve as cultural milestones where the hopes and aspirations of a nation converge, uniting fans in a common cause. Supporting the England football team in international tournaments is a testament to our collective pride as a nation. It’s about rallying behind our players; sharing in their victories and near-misses; and feeling a sense of kinship with fellow fans nationwide, regardless of cultural backgrounds or geographic boundaries. Whether you’re celebrating in stadiums; local pubs; living rooms with family and friends, or just running around your front yard with your t-shirt over your head, the joy and camaraderie of supporting England unites fans from all walks of life in a collective passion for the game. These tournaments are like a giant national group hug where we all wear our hearts on our sleeve - as well as three lions on our shirts - and these moments of togetherness remind us that we're all part of one great, big football-crazy family.

National Pride

Everything's known for being bigger and better in America, and when it comes to being patriotic, they are head and shoulders above us Brits who, for some reason, are often reserved and apologetic when it comes to displaying pride in their nation. As a British expat living in America, I’ve observed this difference with great fascination. But football - along with other sports such as cricket and rugby - gives us a reason to be proud of who we are as a nation, shout it from the rooftops, and fly those flags with pride! To the most passionate of football fans, these football tournaments are more than just sporting events; they're moments that unite our country, igniting emotions and memories that resonate deeply with fans across generations for years to come.

Team Spirit and Camaraderie

I also love seeing the camaraderie between the England team players and that feeling of team spirit. As they all play for different Premiership clubs, there’ll usually be rivalry between them on the pitch. But when they come together to play for the national team, you see the sense of unity and sportsmanship. Within the England squad, there’s more than just fancy footwork—it's about that intangible camaraderie and team spirit that turns a group of talented individuals into a cohesive force. It’s not just about individual talent but the synergy that emerges when players come together with a shared goal. It’s like seeing two of your favourite musical icons collaborating on a project - Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson; Kylie and Jason; Linkin Park and Jay-Z; Blackstreet and SWV....I could go on all day - but instead of musicians, it's footballers. And instead of music, it's goals, tackles, and -gulp- penalties that make your heart skip a beat. These moments of unity on the pitch resonate with fans, inspiring us with their resilience and determination.

Nostalgia and Family Bonding 

As with music and photographs, watching the England team in action play isn’t just about the game. For me personally, and for many others, it’s a wonderful trip down memory lane, filled with nostalgic moments of cheering the team on with loved ones as we gathered together around the telly or in packed stadiums throughout the years. For many of us, watching England play football is deeply connected with cherished memories of family gatherings and shared traditions.

These nostalgic moments not only strengthens familial connections but also hands down a love for the sport from one generation to the next, ensuring that football fever does indeed continue to run in the family. It’s in these shared experiences that football becomes a thread connecting past, present, and future. Over the years the England team will have changed and evolved, acquiring new talent along the way as we also say goodbye to much-loved players who move on to pastures new after having served their team - and country - well. These are the legendary players and matches that family members talk about for years to come, where every goal and near-miss is etched into the collective memory of generations...

When it comes to supporting the England squad, Alton Towers has nothing on this crazy emotional rollercoaster, with adrenaline-pumping highs; edge of your seat suspense and heart-pounding lows. Before I watched that quarter final World Cup match of 1998, I had no idea that football could be so dramatic. But now I know that each match is an action-packed saga that could easily rival any Netflix series for suspense and plot twists. It’s the kind of emotional whirlwind that keeps you glued to your seat—and maybe biting your nails—until the final whistle blows. Each match brings anticipation, excitement, and sometimes heartbreak, but it’s these emotional journeys that make every victory and setback so impactful.

As we look forward to the World Cup in 2026, there’s a huge amount of unwavering optimism and hope for the performance of the England squad that’s as bright as the floodlights at Wembley Stadium. I definitely can’t wait as it’s going to held in North and Central America with one game taking place at our local stadium, there’s already talk of an influx of family and friends coming over which we’re very excited about. And for me, that’s exactly what these matches are about - family, friends and fans coming together and making memories. 

Watching the England football team in tournaments like the Euros and World Cup is more than a sporting pastime—it’s a cultural phenomenon that touches the hearts of millions and unites us all. It’s about celebrating national spirit and pride; embracing team spirit and the thrill of the game; fostering unity, and creating lasting memories with loved ones that will stay with us for a lifetime. 

*Soccer to our American cousins! I'm well aware that football for them is completely different.

Photos: Wix

GIFS: Wix

Blog graphics: Angel Noire