[Albion] The growing awareness of the Albion around the globe

[jcdenton08]

Just had a text from my mate in Michigan USA and he someone at work was talking about the seagulls beating Wolverhampton 6-0.

My best friend (female) also lives in Michigan. Weirdly enough in a suburb called “Brighton”. She owns a replica shirt, watches every game on TV and has booked for our pre-season tour.

Seems we are popular in Michigan

 

[Fungus]

Whenever I watch a documentary from some far-flung country, I’m now half expecting to see some street urchins running around in the background, wearing our beloved stripes.

 

[Ooh it’s a corner]

If you could sing, you'd be a singing detective.

Nice one Patrick

 

[aberllefenni]

I imagine there are some specific places/people where there might be an issue, but since Malahide is where the Irish cricket team play I'd be surprised if it were a hotbed of anti-English sentiment.
Edit: I should add, everybody I've spoken to about Brighton in County Durham has been very positive.

In West Cork they reserve their ire for anyone from Dublin. Thems the ones that are buying all the second homes, apparently.

 

[PTC Gull]

Been on the phone with a person in Dallas who is originally from New York and when he asked where in England I was from he immediately asked if I watched BHA here in the USA. When I confirmed that I did, he then proceeded to ask about our team members by name. Turned out he is of German origin, supports Dortmund and likes watching us. Hopes we get to Europe and play Dortmund.

 

[knocky1]

My mate from Uni is from Merthyr Tydfil. Came over from Wales for the semi final.
Said we're f#king English c@nts.
Definitely warming to us.

 

[HastingsSeagull]

The Japanese boy I teach, his family all know and were excited to tell me when I wore my Brighton hat one day.

In football coaching, more expat families know the team and are full of general praise, but it is more on topic. Families from Iran, Malaysia, Saudi, US, Panama, China and a bunch of Aussies all know more and more despite players from some of those nations having left. When Iranian Ali and our two Aussies were actually on the team they didn’t seem to know as much as they do now. Just the team name. Though most of the Dad’s seem to be manure or barca fans themselves and the kids seem to wear PSG more than any other shirt. Both generations seem to know who on FIFA is in team of the weeks etc. more than watching games.

The African semi-pro players who help coach some places knew Bissouma and Mwepu but seem to be the most big 6 centric of everyone. More dismissive of anybody who isn’t on those squads.

 

[Paulie Gualtieri]

Until we start seeing snide knocked up replicas in markets overseas we’ll remain under the radar

 

[Ali_rrr]

In my experience, the only people who really knew about us were FIFA/Football Manager players. The Seagull was quite recognisable.

I noticed more people here started taking notice when we had Pröpper and Locadia, then Veltman coming from Ajax really brought some attention. This season has really brought us to the fore.

 

[Boroseagull]

Very noticeable in Buenos Aires early this year when I was wearing Albion polo shirts. The number of times the badge was pointed out and 'Ali Mac' said to me! Also had the pleasure of meeting up and spending the day with @Neon Light in the Falklands.

 

[Mr Bridger]

Saw a few locals in Antigua wearing Brighton shirts last year.

Wasn’t t this fella was it?

Went to Antigua a few years back and he did us a tour round the island and up to his shop/ shack, which was interesting to say the least.
He was wearing a Chelsea shirt at the time, so told him to bin that and gave him mine so he stood out a bit more whilst touting for business on the beach.
Plus just been to Bali, whilst getting a shave the local lad was well versed in Mitoma, Caicedo, and Mac.

 

[wellquickwoody]

Went to my local park this weekend to give the dog a run. As we were getting out of the carI became aware of an SUV parked a couple of bays away with some local youths inside. I was wearing my colours. First I heard was ‘Brighton, who the hell are Brighton? Chelsea is where it is at Bro!’ These lads were probably of Sudanese heritage and often have a bit of a reputation round these parts, so I just grinned at them without risking taking the piss. Next I hear is arguing about who is better between Liverpool and Chelsea, and more scorn being aimed at my team. But then, hallelujah, someone else in the car piped up about how well we are playing and that his Chelsea supporting chum needed to take a look at ‘the ladder’ as it is sometimes called over here.

So to recap, awareness yes, some derision yes, but a growing realisation that we are becoming a little more than an also ran. Still yet to see a shirt on anyone other than an ex Sussaxon mind.

 

[oneillco]

Damn your misleading username.

I've never felt the English are particularly welcome in Ireland Maybe it's just some parts, or some wrong'uns.

Really? I have travelled extensively around the Republic of Ireland for the last 30 years and I can't recall one single adverse comment or incident when I open my mouth and an English accent emerges...

 

[sydney]

I have just come back from a language week with my Austrian school in Malahide and was blown away with just how much the locals knew about the Seagulls and just how praiseworthy they were. All the football fans I spoke to were appreciative of our style of play and thought that Evan Ferguson was in exactly the right place for his development. They were more worried that the national team had to find 10 other players to form a decent team with him but I reassured them that there may be some more coming through at the Albion in the near future.

Even though we've been in the Prem a while, we're definitely moving into unchartered territory.

Have any other Seagulls noticed this positivity on their travels or where they live?

mentioned elsewhere , Perth , W.A is a very cosmopolitan city , there are a load of foreign uni students here from all over the world who largely work in hospitality , students from South and Central America and Japan in particular are very interested in The Albion as are Africans because of Tau and Bissouma....we are definitely on the map.

 

[Triggaaar]

Really? I have travelled extensively around the Republic of Ireland for the last 30 years and I can't recall one single adverse comment or incident when I open my mouth and an English accent emerges...

Good to hear. I have obviously had incorrect preconceptions.

 

[Berty23]

i don’t know believe. How on earth could they get their hands on for starters unless they pre ordered, are members, know Peter Ward etc as qualifying criteria.

It’s just bullshit. You were on the Rum, and saw Sheff Wed shirts. Who are Massive as everyone knows.

When I went to Antigua for the cricket World Cup in 2007 our place was turned over and electronics and a few other things pinched. If they were wearing a skint shirt with “berty 23” on the back it was mine. If his mate had the England World Cup shirt from 07 with the same name and number then that was also mine. Even more of a long shot if they had a reebok drawstring bag over their shoulder and it was full of Pringles and sweets then that was also mine.

They didn’t take my phone just my sport shirts. I would rather they had taken my phone. One of my mates had his pinched and used mine to call home and never did pay me back.

 

[spence]

Lovely place, Triggaar - you should nip over for a break. I was in heaven in the local pubs - wall-to-wall sports on TV, great beer, friendly locals.

If I was to go to Austria it would be Linz

 

[GallodiMare]

Are you wondering if anyone loves BHA in the world?

Just found this video on youtube. It is in Spanish (also very fast in speech). These are things sure you know very well, but at the same time they are instructive to new fans who come from afar. I find that this documentary is done very well, even if personally I would have liked more to dwell on the images. I think there is a lot of research in terms of archive and also a nice editing. I learned a lot of things I didn't know. Hope you appreciate and not considering me an intruder.

Subtitles are only available in Spanish (not my language), a kind of tautology

 

[Gordon the Gopher]

We have students who come over for a week. Two recent Man U fans from Thailand were desperate to go to the Amex and get a Mitoma shirt. Another Spanish girl went there and came back with a McAlister shirt for her brother whilst another said how her dad back in Madrid had watched the semi final.

 

[Bakero]

Are you wondering if anyone loves BHA in the world?

Just found this video on youtube. It is in Spanish (also very fast in speech). These are things sure you know very well, but at the same time they are instructive to new fans who come from afar. I find that this documentary is done very well, even if personally I would have liked more to dwell on the images. I think there is a lot of research in terms of archive and also a nice editing. I learned a lot of things I didn't know. Hope you appreciate and not considering me an intruder.

Subtitles are only available in Spanish (not my language), a kind of tautology

Great video! I'll be using it to spread the Seagulls Gospel across España.