cadets08 Posted January 7, 2007 Share Posted January 7, 2007 I've noticed there are a few members here from Great Britain. So what I wanted to ask them is how they happened to fall in love with the Redskins. Did any of you use to live around the D.C. area, or just happen to pick it up? Also how mainstream is the NFL in Europe? Does it get any air time at all. Frankly I'd be surprised if it did because I could see the NFL being to Europeans what International Soccer is to Americans. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SlinginSammy HOF '63 Posted January 7, 2007 Share Posted January 7, 2007 Being that it's about 6am on a Sunday morning in Brittain you may have to wait a couple hours for a response my man. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cadets08 Posted January 7, 2007 Author Share Posted January 7, 2007 Lousy Time Zones!! Now this will get buried in the forum DOH! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aberdeenredskin Posted January 7, 2007 Share Posted January 7, 2007 Im a Jambo - which means I support Heart of Midlothian they play in the same colour and like the Skins their from their nations capital (in my case Edinburgh) so the Skins seemed like a natural choice. Glad I ended up picking them even if this year my brother (midgets fan) :gaintsuck has had bragging rights on me. I think the feeling of warmth that exist on these boards and from some of the stories in the link in my sig prove that even though the brokbacks claim to be Americas team :dallasuck :dallasuck Romo sits to pee ha ha ha we the Redskins can rightly claim to be the worlds team. :point2sky :point2sky :point2sky Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THEface Posted January 7, 2007 Share Posted January 7, 2007 I've noticed there are a few members here from Great Britain. So what I wanted to ask them is how they happened to fall in love with the Redskins. Did any of you use to live around the D.C. area, or just happen to pick it up? Also how mainstream is the NFL in Europe? Does it get any air time at all. Frankly I'd be surprised if it did because I could see the NFL being to Europeans what International Soccer is to Americans. Awesome signature cadets... "I want the gold" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Widget_5 Posted January 7, 2007 Share Posted January 7, 2007 Hi All I've never lived in the US (although I do plan to move there some day) but I've been a 'Skins fan since the mid-80's, my dad liked AF and got me into it, and he was a 'Skins fan so I followed. My dad always said that the first game he ever saw was our SB defeat to the Raiders, and even though we lost he favoured us and has done ever since. As for popularity and coverage, we used to only get a late monday night programme which gave us a weekly wrap up and showed an edited "featured game" then when Sky TV game to the UK (early 90's) we got 1 "Live" game a week which we had no controll in, but for the last couple of years we get two "Live" games every Sunday, we also get the mid-week and Saturday games "Live". We can also get NASN which gives us NFL Network coverage, CFL and NCAA, so we've got pretty good coverage now. Europe does have their own american football league's (not including NFLE) some countries have semi-pro league's and some like us in the UK have amature league's which include junior & senior flag, and junior and senior kitted football. Our amature game has been going since the early 80's and has had varied success, (I've been playing since '92, mostly FB & LB) we have had a considerable amount of US/Canadian players play we had James Brooks play for a team over here (late in his career obviously) and Sean Payton Started his coaching career over here with the Leicester Panthers. If your interested in our leagues feel free to browse these websites: http://www.gridironuk.co.uk/ http://www.britballnow.co.uk/evo/ Hope this help shed some light Your fellow fan Kirk "The Widget" Beacham Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oldgreywolf1961 Posted January 7, 2007 Share Posted January 7, 2007 got home late one sunday night in january 82, flicking through channels (before sky) and came across this spectacle i had never seen before, i started to watch it with not much idea of what was happening, who/what are the fun bunch?, who is the diesel?, what is a fourth and one from the 43 yard line?, the rest as the say is history, the skins have given me so much joy over the years (and some misery), for me we have gone away from what i have come to call redskin football (a big 'o' line with a featured back playing 'smash mouth' football and a no nonsense 'd', oh for a mann, manley, green or marshall) with hardly any 'core redskins' and 700 page playbooks!, having said that i am a redskin till i die and i will be watching come what may next season so indeed httr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pedro Posted January 7, 2007 Share Posted January 7, 2007 Watched thefirst SB shown here which was Redskins/Dolphins. My dad was supporting the Dolphins and I was nearly a teenager so I backed the other team. Been with them ever since. Satellite TV shows 2 game each Sunday during the regular season (with an alternative you can watch to each game) plus another channel shows the MNF games. Now the playoffs are here it's on all the time. Yahoo's NFL pass allow me to watch every game live for a few hundred $. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sherlock Holmes Posted January 7, 2007 Share Posted January 7, 2007 My story: During WW2, as you know, many US soldiers were stationed in England, and my part of the country, East Anglia, especially. After the war, the stations remained, as did some US soldiers. Both my fathers sisters then moved to the USA with american servicemen in the 60's. One moved to Tampa, the other to DC. Naturally, when my DC aunt visited, my father was fascinated by the Redskins gear she brought home, and he thus adopted them! Then, the first superbowl shown over here was the John Riggins Miami one, so thats how HE got into the Skins. Two years ago, he sat me down, explained the rules, taught me to hate the Cowboys, and I loved it. Being a rugby player myself, I loved the physical side of the game. Then, this year, we travelled to DC to watch the skins against the Titans ( looked like a good choice before the season anyway ). Now, I get as much of a buzz watching the skins as I do watching England play Football ( or soccer, whatever). HAIL! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blighty Skins Posted January 7, 2007 Share Posted January 7, 2007 Well, my story is similar to everyone else. In a previous life I was a WR for the 49ers who was dumped because of injury and picked up on free agency by the Skins which made me the star I was, at the time. In a more previous life (the one after being re-incarnated as a tadpole), I got into NFL when the Bears had the fridge, 1985 I believe. I've always been a Skins fan/player. Joking apart...I'm a well travelled European. Meaning I know a lot about how Europe works. NFL football will never be as globally popular as soccer. Because for one thing, for the most part, you have to be a big mofo to play and most latin Europeans are small in stature. Another reason is soccer has religious-status in Spain, Italy, Portugal...so forget those places. In Britain we have rugby, which is similar to NFL, and so you could convert many rugby fans. Rugby isn't as popular as soccer, so less fans, but still a fair bit...probably talking in the milions. Germany is also a good place for NFL, it seems. Maybe Scandinavian countries? I think NFL could pretty much become big in Britain and have a modest backing in Europe. It will never be the biggest sport, but who cares? It can still expand a bit and why not? Better for everyone, I think. :applause: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TWINSKINS Posted January 7, 2007 Share Posted January 7, 2007 i remember Gibbs mark 1 as having a well run,well coached football team which wasn't for parcells would have won more superbowls. Gibbs mark 2 i was thrilled to see happen, but he has a hell of a job trying to pull this one off.maybe the redskins set-up cannot be run like nascar? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacobyjoe Posted January 7, 2007 Share Posted January 7, 2007 got home late one sunday night in january 82, flicking through channels (before sky) and came across this spectacle i had never seen before, i started to watch it with not much idea of what was happening, who/what are the fun bunch?, who is the diesel?, what is a fourth and one from the 43 yard line?, the rest as the say is history, the skins have given me so much joy over the years (and some misery), for me we have gone away from what i have come to call redskin football (a big 'o' line with a featured back playing 'smash mouth' football and a no nonsense 'd', oh for a mann, manley, green or marshall) with hardly any 'core redskins' and 700 page playbooks!, having said that i am a redskin till i die and i will be watching come what may next season so indeed httr Ditto Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badgerrocks Posted January 7, 2007 Share Posted January 7, 2007 Born and raised in Northern Va, married an English lass and have lived here for the most part since 91. Still plan to move back though. Thanks for askin'! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christophe Posted January 7, 2007 Share Posted January 7, 2007 In the early 80's, channel 4 in the uk started to show the NFL. The skinswere kings and i ve followed them ever since. Games are now shown on sky sports, thanks to mr murdoch,and there is a weekly magazine programme. i also follow games live on the net, through nfl.com and this site. one day i m coming over to the fed ex to see a game live, and fulfill an ambition. i live near manchester, and i am also a great supporter of Rugby League in this country, which is a NortherN England based game which is also great to watch and play. I read the threads on this site, to gauge the mood of all true skins supporters, and though i haven't posted much, enjoy the banter that goes on and feel i know some of you..worse luck!! LONG LIVE THE SKINS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
england Posted January 7, 2007 Share Posted January 7, 2007 well i remember channel 4 showing games in the 80's and i did'nt understand the game at all and to be honest was'nt much interested in the game but a visit to fedex field changed all that the atmosphere, excitement and the skins winning absolutely amazing and been hooked ever since :helmet: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SlinginSammy HOF '63 Posted January 8, 2007 Share Posted January 8, 2007 NFL football will never be as globally popular as soccer. Because for one thing, for the most part, you have to be a big mofo to play and most latin Europeans are small in stature. Another reason is soccer has religious-status in Spain, Italy, Portugal...so forget those places. In Britain we have rugby, which is similar to NFL, and so you could convert many rugby fans. Rugby isn't as popular as soccer, so less fans, but still a fair bit...probably talking in the milions. Germany is also a good place for NFL, it seems. Maybe Scandinavian countries? : wow, good to see alot of Red Coats on our side. (not a jab guys. My family ancestry runs straight to England and Ireland ) I love watching Rugby. American football actually evolved from rugby in the 1800s. Walter Camp was a pioneer in creating American football what it is today. I imagine it could catch on as a sport in more Nordic, Germanic and Celtic regions of Europe. There's some big dudes in that part of Europe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aberdeenredskin Posted January 8, 2007 Share Posted January 8, 2007 wow, good to see alot of Red Coats on our side. A red coat ??? Thats the worst insult you could give me I think in the thread in my sig we covered most of Europe, North and South America, Australia, Asia and North Africa, No doubt we are the worlds team. And while last night he was not exactly on form the Kansass kicker is Scottish born LAWRENCE TYNES who hails from Greenock Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SlinginSammy HOF '63 Posted January 8, 2007 Share Posted January 8, 2007 A red coat ??? Thats the worst insult you could give me Please tell me you aren't serious. I always thought it was Yanks and Red Coats. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aberdeenredskin Posted January 8, 2007 Share Posted January 8, 2007 Its ok Ive forgiven them :laugh: Im proud to call myself a Brit now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Widget_5 Posted January 8, 2007 Share Posted January 8, 2007 Please tell me you aren't serious. I always thought it was Yanks and Red Coats. I think he was being sarcastic, pointing out that he's Scottish and so not a Red Coat, kind of like calling someone from Canada an American. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blighty Skins Posted January 8, 2007 Share Posted January 8, 2007 Yes...redcoats or lobsterbacks were English, not British. People often get confused. Britain includes: England, Wales and Scotland. United Kingdom includes: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SlinginSammy HOF '63 Posted January 8, 2007 Share Posted January 8, 2007 I think he was being sarcastic, pointing out that he's Scottish and so not a Red Coat, kind of like calling someone from Canada an American. OK, That's what I was thinking. I hoped I didn't step on someone's toes. I know someone here whose grandparents moved here from Scotland and he proudly calls himself a Highlander. Not sure what that means. You guys have to fill me in on that one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blighty Skins Posted January 8, 2007 Share Posted January 8, 2007 OK, That's what I was thinking. I hoped I didn't step on someone's toes. I know someone here whose grandparents moved here from Scotland and he proudly calls himself a Highlander. Not sure what that means. You guys have to fill me in on that one. The Highlands of Scotland are our version of the Australian Outback...nothing lives there. Joking apart...Scotland has beautiful scenery...the Highlands is a nice place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Badgerrocks Posted January 8, 2007 Share Posted January 8, 2007 While we're discussing slang names for eachother and my adopted countrymen (that's the English folk) are taking issue with 'Red coats', may I just throw in your lovely name you have for us Yanks? Namely the effevescently charming rhyming slang of 'Septic Tank'?! Yeah, thanks for that. :anon: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MartinC Posted January 8, 2007 Share Posted January 8, 2007 I've noticed there are a few members here from Great Britain. So what I wanted to ask them is how they happened to fall in love with the Redskins. Did any of you use to live around the D.C. area, or just happen to pick it up? Also how mainstream is the NFL in Europe? Does it get any air time at all. Frankly I'd be surprised if it did because I could see the NFL being to Europeans what International Soccer is to Americans. I am from the North West of England - not far from Liverpool and Manchester. Been a Skins fan since 82. I think you will find that a lot of UK Skins fan of my vintage became Skins fans because the NFL was first televised in the UK back in 82 on Channel 4. We used to get a game of the week highlights show ever week and then they showed the Super Bowl live. That was the year of course that we won our first Lomardi with the famous Riggins run versus the Dolphins. I got caught up in the success that year and have been a die hard fan ever since. Used to listen to games on AFN Radio with the worst signal in the world - this all being pre internet! I love most sport and played football (soccer) and cricket to the verge of professional level. I picked up on football as I loved the combination of strategy with the physical contact side of the game. Took up playing in about '84 in the UK and played for about 5 years in the British leagues and also did some coaching. I used to get over to the US about once a year on holiday to take in a game and I now work for a US company - but still based in the UK - and get over 3 or so times a year. I always try to schedule my 'work' visits (and our family vacation!) so they are in football season. Sadly the company I work for is based just outside Boston though I do get around to other States as well. Will be in Texas for a week early Feb. The NFL gets really good coverage now in the UK. We get two live games every Sunday plus SNF and MNF - all the playoffs are live and we got the Thursday and Saturday NFL Network games as well. I also subscribed the the NFL/Yahoo live internet service which gives you an NFL Sunday ticket service but over the internet. Watched every Skins game live - even those which kicked off at 1 a.m. our time! NFL is not really mainstream but it has a large and devoted following. It will never challenge football or rugby and cricket for that matter. But I would be pretty sure they will sell out Wembley when the first regular season game gets brought over to the UK. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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