Have you heard someone say that football is life? It’s clichéd but there have been 10 times when the sport has intersected with my life in a very personal and profound way.

(1) My first club match was VfL Bochum in Germany in 1994. I never looked at baseball and football the same way again.

(2) US against Scotland with my dad. This was an international friendly in New Britain, Connecticut in 1996. The US won 2-1.

(3) England in the EUROs in 2004. I watched this match (likely England versus Switzerland) in a pub on Front Street with Burgoyne. England WON 3-0 on June 17. The cap in the photo was from the pub.

(3a) Bermuda World Cup Qualifier against El Salvador on June 20, 2004. The match was played at the Bermuda National Stadium in Hamilton. It ended in a 2-2 draw.

(4) US versus England in Chicago with my brother in 2005. This was an international friendly at Soldier Field. The US was managed by Bruce Arena. England WON 2-1.

(5) New England Revolution versus Toronto FC in 2010. I missed this match (for reasons), and it changed my life.

(6) First trip to Southampton in July/August 2014. I was in the UK for the Brompton World Championship. I didn’t actually see a match, but on a day excursion to Southampton, the ground staff let me take a photograph of the pitch. My first match at St. Mary’s was October 27, 2018. It was against Newcastle United and ended in a 0-0 draw.

(7) Trip to Metz in March 2019 to the Stade Saint-Symphorien. The Maroons WON 2-1.

(8) SV Eintracht Trier 05 in September 2019 with IY. It was the perfect day / weekend.

(9) Football in England for 2+ years. It was every league, every weekend in every city. This really deserves its own post.

(10) The WC Final on Sunday, December 18, between Argentina and France. We listened to it on the radio whilst driving to the cemetery to bury mum. This is the first photograph I took after coming home from the hospice on December 12, 2022.