Culture
Exploring the World of #groundhopping
In 2011, when an Arsenal supporter friend invited me to a game at The Emirates, it was very much as if I had stuck my head through a portal and peered into another world -- a world, I would soon learn, called groundhopping. I was aware of English football, of course, and like many Americans…
Why I Prefer Watching The Championship over the Premier League
Most Americans, when they think of English soccer, naturally think of the Premier League. It’s rather hard to miss in the culture, and it is a tremendous league filled with world-class players on every club. The atmosphere is great, the stadiums not that big, and the TV coverage ubiquitous. But there are several reasons why…
Soccer Culture: The US vs England
I have been fortunate enough to have two fantastic experiences in my soccer life: One is going to more than 200 football games in England, and the other is seeing my beloved Portland Timbers play in two MLS Cups (and win one of them) in person. The playoff runs were magical and gave me some experience…
How Do MLS Teams Compare to English Teams?
Here’s a question that comes up sometimes: How do Major League Soccer teams compare with English teams? I thought I would take a shot at it. Clearly, it’s impossible to answer for sure. Even on their summer tours, the English clubs are just starting their preseason, they don’t play their full-strength teams, and the MLS sides – while in…
Helpful Terms to Know When Watching English Soccer
Here are some English soccer terms you might want to know if you’ll be watching British football, aka soccer. Not all of these are technically football parlance, but these are definitely British football terms and soccer slang which the average American won't be hearing any place else. Of course, this list is an ongoing process,…
The London Football Guide and the Joys of Non-League Football
The whole reason for starting Groundhopper Soccer Guides was to help people enjoy watching English soccer. But, for most people, "watching English soccer" means watching the Premier League, particularly the "Big Six" clubs always at the top. We want to get folks beyond all that and into all the other leagues and cups of English…
Watching the Premier League in South America
How to Watch the Premier League in South America ESPN has exclusive rights to broadcast Premier League games throughout South America i.e. Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela. This agreement is through the end of the 2021-22 season. The Premier League makes up an impressive soccer portfolio for ESPN in…
My Five Favorite Crowd Reaction Videos
I always say, when you have a choice about where to sit at a game, try to get a good view of the away fans. For that matter, try to pick a game where there will be plenty of away fans; they supply much of the noise at a game, and the areas along their…
What is this “Allez Allez Allez” Song in English Football?
What is this "Allez Allez Allez" Song in English Football? If you pay attention to the singing at English soccer games, you will have heard a particular song spread all over the game the last year or two. The chorus and the name is “Allez Allez Allez,” accompanied by much hopping and waving of scarves,…
Log Your #Groundhopping Adventures on This Great Website and App
This whole English soccer thing I'm into is called, in the UK, groundhopping. And I have found two great companion sites for what I do. That's ground (old word for stadium, like ballpark in the US) + hopping (touring) = groundhopping, or what I call being a soccer tourist. And, of course, there's a massive…
