Blog Archives
Aberdeen
In the top flight since 1906 and current holders of the Scottish Cup, Aberdeen are best known for their glory years under manager Alex Ferguson in 1980s. LOCATION: Aberdeen, on the east coast of Scotland, about 2.5 train hours from Glasgow or Edinburgh. CONTACT: afc.co.uk, NICKNAMES: The Dons, probably because the city has two universities…
Girona
Intro text LOCATION: Girona, Catalonia, Spain -- about an hour north of Barcelona by train. CONTACT: gironafc.cat, #OrgullGironí NICKNAMES: Blanquivermells (White and Reds) (Above image by Jmsolerb, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons)
Real Oviedo
Real Oviedo is a historic club and a recently inspiring story, all set in the lovely green north of Spain. LOCATION: Oviedo, in northern Spain about four hours north of Madrid. CONTACT: realoviedo.es, #RealOviedo NICKNAMES: Carbayones, which originates from a legendary giant oak tree (El Carbayón) that once stood in the center of Oviedo. (Above…
Osasuna
A lesser-known club in the very well-known city of Pamplona, Osasuna offers top-flight football in a lovely, modern stadium. LOCATION: Pamplona, in northern Spain about 3.5 hours from Madrid by train and 1.5 hours by bus from San Sebastian. CONTACT: osasuna.es NICKNAMES: Los Rojillos, The Reds
València
A historical giant of Spanish football now struggling with ineffective ownership, València still boasts one of the great stadiums and atmospheres in the country -- plus it's in a wonderful beachside city. LOCATION: València, on the east coast of Spain about two hours by train from Madrid and three hours from Barcelona. CONTACT: valenciacf.com, (00…
Porto
One of the three Portuguese clubs that win everything, Porto hold the record with five consecutive league titles and the biggest winning margin in a season. LOCATION: Porto, Portugal CONTACT: fcporto.pt, +351 225 570 400 NICKNAMES: Dragões (Dragons) (Above image Cédric23170, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons)
Sporting Lisbon
One of the big three clubs in Portugal, and the defending league champions, Sporting offer a fervent fanbase and a modern stadium in the beautiful city of Lisbon. LOCATION: Lisbon, Portugal. CONTACT: sporting.pt, (+351) 30 997 1906, #SportingCP NICKNAMES: Leões (Lions) (Above image by Tiago Terraquente, BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons)
Chesterfield
Back in the Football League after an absence of six seasons, Chesterfield offers a pleasant day out from Sheffield or Manchester. LOCATION: Chesterfield, Derbyshire, which is 2.5 hours north of London and 1 hour east of Manchester CONTACT: chesterfield-fc.co.uk, 01246 269300, #Spireites NICKNAMES: The Spireites, for a famous local church spire.
Hamburg
A former European champion now languishing in the German second division, Hamburg are in fact a massive club playing in a great stadium. LOCATION: Hamburg, Germany CONTACT: hsv.de, +4940 4155 - 1887, #nurderHSV NICKNAMES: Die Rothosen (The Red Shorts) (Above image by Patrick Kiss, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons)
Lille
A club that shocked everyone with a 2021 Ligue 1 championship, Lille plays in a modern stadium in the industrial heartland of France. LOCATION: Lille, France. CONTACT: losc.fr NICKNAMES: Les Dogues (The Mastiffs) (Above image by Liondartois, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons)
