So the new league season is almost upon us, and fans across the globe will be hoping their team are set for a successful campaign in 2018-19. Except for those fans who have only recently caught the football bug and aren’t yet sure which side they should support.
Now we should say that we’re big believers in supporting your local club. So, as a general rule, I would recommend any new football fan to support their nearest professional – or even semi-professional side – but this is a video we were asked to do and thought it might be a bit of fun.
There’s no real rhyme or reason, we have just picked out a handful of English clubs who we believe – for one reason or another – would make good clubs to follow, especially for a foreign fan looking for a second team from England, as so many do.
Here are our 7 English clubs new football fans should support
7. Stoke City
Okay, hear me out. Stoke City are a great football club. Not in terms of their trophy cabinet – which only really boasts one League Cup almost 50 years ago – but football is about so much more than mere silverware.
At 155 years of age, Stoke City is the second oldest professional football team in England. They were relegated last season after 10 years in the top flight, where they went from a team renowned for their physical play and long throws under Tony Pulis, to one that twice finished in the top half with flair players like Marko Arnautovic and Xherdan Shaqiri.
Despite their relegation, Stoke have made numerous statements of intent this summer, and we’d back them for an immediate return to the big time, which could mean an entertaining first season for a new Potters fan. What’s more, Stoke are one of the last few top end clubs still owned by a local fan who stood on the terraces and supported the club as a child.
6. Fulham
Many followers of the English game based outside of the country choose to support a London club, most notably Arsenal or Chelsea, for obvious reasons. However, it’s much more fun to be different, and the only London club in this seven is Fulham. The Cottagers are the oldest London-based team to have played in the Premier League, and they still play at the historic Craven Cottage. A good family friendly club who are difficult to dislike, it’s a great time to be supporting Fulham right now. The West Londoners were promoted to the top flight last season playing a brand of football that was really easy on the eye, and their summer transfer activity should excite fans old or new.
5. Bristol City
Bristol City haven’t played in the top flight of English football since 1980, they have played fourth tier football more recently than that – and were in the third tier only a couple of seasons ago. Add in the fact that they sold arguably their two best players this summer, you may be wondering why on Earth anyone would want to support the Robins right now.
Well, Bristol and much of the south-west has been in the footballing doldrums far too long now. Bristol itself is the sixth biggest city in England, and it has an enormous catchment area should the team ever become truly successful. So Bristol City would be a decent shout for any fan looking for a potential sleeping giant with bags of potential.
4. Bury
If supporting Bristol City didn’t quite seem glamorous enough, then you’re not going to like this one. There’s only 30 miles between possibly the two best supported English clubs worldwide – Liverpool and Manchester United – yet there’s not quite so much love overseas for their near neighbours like Tranmere, Wigan or Rochdale.
Another side that falls into that category – located less than 10 miles north of Old Trafford – is Bury. Founded in 1885 and still playing at a ground founded in that same year, Bury do actually have a couple of significant trophies in the form of two FA Cup trophies – twice as many as either Derby County and Leeds United. Bury were also the first English club to sign a player from the Indian subcontinent. They were also relegated last season, so they need all the support they can get right now.
3. Manchester City
Okay, we were keen to ensure that this seven didn’t feature too many of the ‘usual suspects’, so to speak, but we have had to include one. Manchester City don’t yet enjoy the same levels of overseas support as Manchester United or Liverpool, but that will if they continue to be as successful as they have been over the last few years.
The reason for following Manchester City is simple – they play truly magnificent football. Pep Guardiola has got the team playing quick, incisive, accurate, intense and intelligently. It was beautiful to watch last season, as well as being remarkably effective.
2. Wolves
Wolverhampton Wanderers fans wave flags to show their support during the Sky Bet Championship match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Sheffield Wednesday at Molineux on April 28, 2018 in…
JFK was probably the sitting president of the United States the last time it was this exciting to be a supporter of Wolverhampton Wanderers. The club do have fine tradition – having won three league titles, four FA Cups and two League Cups – as well as their 1950’s friendly wins over Real Madrid and Budapest Honved supposedly being very influential in the creation of the European Cup, now known as the Champions League.
It has been almost 40 years since the club finished in the top half of the top flight, though, but fans at Molineux have reasons to dream of ending that run next season. Wolves cruised to the Championship title last season with Portuguese midfielder Ruben Neves the best player in the division. They have signed the likes of Joao Moutinho, Willy Boly and Rui Patricio this summer, and it’ll be fascinating to see how they get on in the Premier League.
1. Notts County
Hold on, hold on, before you shut down this tab. I am happy to concede that on the face of it, it would be much more fun to be a Wolves fan than a Notts County fan right now, but that isn’t exactly the premise of this video, and what is football fandom if not one long tragic tale of heartbreak ?
Notts County take top spot for us for a number of reasons. Firstly, they are the oldest professional football club in the world. Secondly, they are the ultimate yo-yo club, having switched division 29 times in their history – the most of any English club, meaning there’s rarely a dull season at Meadow Lane.
There’s also a good chance Notts County will win promotion next season, so it could be a fun first campaign following the club. Factor in little historical quirks like the fact Notts County lent their colours to Juventus in 1903 – and that is why the Old Lady play in black and white stripes – and the fact that Nottingham is a sizeable city and despite competition from Forest, it is possible that County could rise again, we think they’d make a great second/English team for any new overseas football fan.
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