"5 Reasons Why I Think Fulham Can Conquer America"

[White Noise]

http://fulhampatsfan.blogspot.com/2010/02/5-reasons-why-i-think-fulham-can.html



5 Reasons Why I Think Fulham Can Conquer America

This entry is in response to the great article I just read on EPLtalk.com. The article on EPLtalk.com is entitled " 5 Reasons Why Manchester City Can Conquer America". The writer discusses that Manchester City are considering a preseason tour of the United States. The writer mentions this could be an opportunity for Manchester City to become popular in the U.S. He then breaks down the 5 reasons why Manchester City can conquer America. The writer makes a very good argument for Manchester City in the U.S. Below I am going to give you the" 5 Reasons Why I think Fulham can Conquer America." If you want to read the reasons for Manchester City here is a link to the article. I think Roy Hogdson and Fulham have the potential to grow its fanbase in America. Please read below the link to see my reason for Fulham.

http://www.epltalk.com/5-reasons-why-manchester-city-can-conquer-america/15821#more-15821



1. Americans love a great manager of a club. In American football, baseball, basketball and hockey the manager or coach is under the microscope of the fans of their teams. For example I will use Bill Belichick the Head Coach of the New England Patriots. In my opinion he might be the greatest coach in NFL history. He is constantly under scrutiny and is a polarizing figure. Belichick though is a 3 time Super Bowl champion ,who whether "you like him or hate him" has the respect of the media and the fans as a great head coach. As a fan I know the Patriots are always going to be well prepared and be put in the best situation to win. Roy Hogdson has put his club in the best position to win every week. As a fan their is not more than you can ask from your manager. I think Americans would be intrigued by Hogdson's history with the team and how he dug them out of possibly being relegated in 2007 - 2008 season. They will also appreciate how he started to rebuild Fulham on defense. Americans love a team that plays strong defense in any sport I would argue. It is a major key to victory. What also makes Hogdson appealing is his personality. In interviews and during games the man seems under control and confident. Roy would be a huge hit in America.

2. Fielding a strong international squad. As stated in the EPLtalk.com article America is a melting pot of many nations. What is great about Fulham is that the team like the EPL in general have an international makeup to its squad. The strikers are Bobby Zamora fom England and David Elm from Sweden. In the midfield you have Damien Duff from Ireland, Danny Murphy from England, Clint Dempsey from the United States, and Dickson Etuhu from Nigeria. In the back on defense you have Chris Baird from Northern Ireland, John Pantsil from Ghana, Brede Hangeland from Norway, and Aaron Hughes from Northern Ireland. Finally you have Mark Schwarzer in goal from Australia. Americans tend to be attracted to players they can relate to. The makeup of this team has someone for every fan.

3. Americans love to get behind the underdog. I think Americans like to get behind a team that doesn't have all the money in the world to spend on players. I think Americans are attracted to teams that have a strong work ethic and have to try harder to work with what they have. A team like Fulham reminds me of the 2001 New England Patriots. They did not have the most talent, but they played together as a team. Another team I would compare them to is the Minnesota Twins in baseball. This team does not have a huge payroll, but year after year they field a team that contends for their division. I think Fulham can be a team that contends for a Europa League spot consistently each year. They are not going to be a Champions League Team. I know if Americans watched Fulham beat Manchester United earlier this year they would be hooked on this team. The underdog beat one of the best teams in the world. Americans definitely would be behind a team like Fulham.

4. An American Player on the team and a past that has had several Americans on the squad. This goes back to the melting pot theory. Americans can relate to a team that has one of their own on it. Clint Dempsey is a very good player for Fulham. He is I would say a star on the U.S. World Cup Team. As we go into the summer many Americans will be watching the World Cup. Since Clint Dempsey plays for Fulham it will give fans a chance to see a prominent Fulham player. This could very well attract new fans to the club.

5. Fulham selected Fenway Sports Group as exclusive North American Agency. The Fenway Sports Group I have written a few months back about. This sports marketing agency could be a huge help with the growth of Fulham. Their main responsibility is finding corporate sponsorships including on the jersey for the 2010 - 2011 season. This organization is closely affiliated with the Boston Red Sox. The Red Sox have to be considered one of the best marketers of there brand in American Sports. This marketing has helped the Red Sox funnel money to pay for players. There is no question that marketing has had a huge positive effect on the Boston Red Sox. The result is they have won 2 World Series titles in the last 6 years. I think this firm could potentially help market Fulham better and build its brand. This could help the team have more money to spend on players.


I think these are 5 very good reasons why Fulham could become a favorite in the United States. I do think at some point they need to plan a summer preseason trip to America again. Seeing the team in person would definitely help build fan interest as well. They did come several years ago for a summer trip.

Maybe you don't think it is important for a team to breakthrough in America? I certainly can see that. If you are a fan of Fulham you want to see them compete every year in the EPL. The more fans of the team can mean more money which can be used to upgrade the team. I am of the mindset the more fans the better wherever they come from.

Posted by Fulham-Pats Fan at 8:02 AM 

[RidgeRider]

As an American, I can say that much of what he says rings true with me. We like the underdog, we appreciate defense, we like to 'identify' because we are a melting pot, and I LOVE Roy and think Americans, if they knew him, would love him as well. My two cents. Thanks White Noise.

The other thing that was pivotal for me was the attraction of the Cottage, it is historical, small, homey and has character....not all corporate.

[FFCOutpostCommander]

100% right on WN! That's how I got hooked on FFC to a point. I really hope someone in the club office reads this post and makes it happen. I would love to see the matches here as to date I haven't come up with the cash for my true dream vacation to the Cottage to watch some matches and meet a bunch of you for a few pints. Hope next year will be my year and seeing them here in the summer and later there would be awesome.

[Lighthouse]

Ridge mentions the historical and Homey feel to the Cottage as another part of the attraction Fulham has for fans in American. I don't think that this can be mentioned enough. Nearly all clubs throughout the World have these great Stadium type Cathedrals of sport. They can be great and full of atmosphere. But when I talk to  American tourists they speak about the history and atmosphere of Britain. Being such a young Country,The States look at history in a completely different way to The Brits.

Fulham Football Club has a unique selling point. Other clubs may be bigger and better. But, as I am sure people know, Fulham football club is Unique. The one thing Americans always love is something way out of the usual Ball Park. The Cottage and the club have that.

[SuffolkWhite]

The historical bit about the Cottage does ring true but also the location it's self, even my Darkside mates enjoy walking to the Cottage coz it is the best walk to any ground you can get.

[finnster01]

Ridge mentions the historical and Homey feel to the Cottage as another part of the attraction Fulham has for fans in American. I don't think that this can be mentioned enough. Nearly all clubs throughout the World have these great Stadium type Cathedrals of sport. They can be great and full of atmosphere. But when I talk to  American tourists they speak about the history and atmosphere of Britain. Being such a young Country,The States look at history in a completely different way to The Brits.

Fulham Football Club has a unique selling point. Other clubs may be bigger and better. But, as I am sure people know, Fulham football club is Unique. The one thing Americans always love is something way out of the usual Ball Park. The Cottage and the club have that.

Exactly Mr Lighthouse.

When discussions get a bit frisky here in New York about football (no I refuse to use the word soccer) and other sports, I usually point out the fact that when Fulham was founded in 1879 Thomas Edison was testing his first light bulb. That usually ends up being a very short conversation with very little comeback

[TheDaddy]

Cant knock it Whitenoise 5 very brilliant reasons. 8)

[White Noise]

Chaps, I can't take the credit (though I am greatly flattered you think I could write something of that quality. You obviously have not been following my body of work all that closely!! ;D)

That is the work of Fulham Pats Fan - a blogger who writes about his love for Fulham football club and the New England Patriots.

I recently stumbled across his blog and Hatter Don says he knows the fella from FulhamUSA (where the above was originally posted with the link to the Fulham Pats Fan blog).

This fella is undoubtedly worthy of our support and encouragement so here is the link to his blog again if you want to leave comments -

http://fulhampatsfan.blogspot.com/2010/02/5-reasons-why-i-think-fulham-can.html