As Dani Rojas says in the hit football show Ted Lasso, “football is life” for many worldwide. Football is a birthright; parents run around the house, schoolyards echo with chants and cheers. There are glorious moments, and there are times when all a fanbase can do is groan. The first heartbreak is not being grounded or a toy broken; it’s your club throwing away the win. No team is safe from moments of despair, yet any team can reach championships and stellar wins. As a Liverpool fan, I often see my team conquering the league and winning matches domestically and abroad. However, my soaring Reds have even fallen to low-level clubs, embarrassing moments, and title runs thrown away. Steven Gerrard, I love you, but that 2014 slip-up will not be forgotten.
For many sports newcomers, getting behind a single team is hard. Whoever sits at the peak of their respective league beckons new fans, but a single loss causes fans to question their allegiance. It is a wild ride, but it must be realized that the highs will always justify the lows.
As heads fell into hands and the final whistle blew in 2022, the bright lights of Anfield illuminated the tear-stricken faces of Liverpudlians packing the historic stands. I remember the silence as the title slipped away by a mere point, but even more vividly do I remember the scenes of 2019. A roar deafened all watching the broadcast as a sea of red took over the Estadio Metropolitano, with Henderson lifting that shining Champions League trophy. A team can be conquered, but nights like those in Madrid make every sting fade as echoes of victory ring the crisp night air.
Sports impact many, but none touches people like the beautiful game. It’s been likened to a religion, with the club badge adorning the city in every corner and match scarves draping street vendors. The stadium’s towering seats feature supporters young and old, as the opponent is booed, the referee verbally bashed, and the home squad met with a chorus of cheers and a symphony of songs.
Football connects you to something bigger, making every moment sweeter. Hope never dies, and many fans borrow the infamous mantra of the Dallas Cowboys; “this year is our year.” That means Cowboys fans know the pain of Arsenal supporters all too well — always hopeful, rarely rewarded. It’s a roller coaster of highs and lows; the 2005 Miracle in Istanbul will always bring my fellow Liverpool fans feelings of euphoria. However, dropping the Premier League by one point a couple of years ago confined me to my bed for several weeks.
However, any relationship sees highs and lows, and the love for a football club is no different. The glorious triumphs may be paired with agony and despair, but these clubs’ culture and life trump all. To all on the brink of football fandom, trust me, it is so worth it. Your 80-year-old self will cry just that much as you watch the squad’s captain hoist a trophy. In that case, I’d brace for some heartbreak if you choose Tottenham, but the chase is still worth it! The pursuit of happiness will always apply to the world’s game. Football is heartbreak, joy, and everything in between. And trust me—it’s worth every second. Hands clasped together, voices shushed, prayers sent, and eyes in between blinks; football is just like life – never certain but always beautiful.
