Football in the UK

Well, we just got back from the Fulham v. Sunderland football match and what a time. It was one of the most amazing things I've ever done and certainly the most intense sporting event I've ever been too. We started the day at the Fulham team shop to buy a scarf and a few buttons. We were already wearing the team's black colors as well. There was a statue unveiling of Johnny Haynes, one of the finest Fulham players in the 1950s and 1960s. We were right up front. Muhammad Al Fayed, who owns the team and Harrod's department store (and is Dodi's dad) was at the event. Very cool. Then we walked down the street until we found a pub and ended up sitting with three guys from Sunderland, which is in the north of England. Obviously, these guys are passionate about the game. They got up at 6 a.m. to get to the stadium for the 3 p.m. kickoff and apparently were drinking all the way. Chris and I were perfect diplomats for the U.S., explaining the passions associated with collage sports compared to pro in the U.S. We bought each other a few rounds of beer and one of the guys pulled off his Sunderland jersey and handed it to me. What a nice gesture. The problem: Anyone in the Fulham stands with the opponents colors on gets kicked out (and gets beat up, from what I understand). So I stuffed it in my coat arm for the entire game. No one saw it and now I have one of the coolest souvenirs of the trip. The game itself ended in a 0-0 tie. Still, it was exciting throughout. The stadium, called Craven Cottage, was built in the 1700s. Incredible old pitch. And to imagine, it was built nearly 200 years before we even started playing American football. The chants, singing and support of the teams was amazing. What an experience. Now we're off to find a place to watch the "other" football -- MSU vs. OSU. Not sure if we'll succeed.
Rob