Dave's Sports Page

Let me say up front that I'm not a rabid sports fan. I don't know all the statistics related to anything. I don't go into deep depressions when my teams fail to win. (In other words, I'm nothing like Nick Hornsby of Fever Pitch fame, though that is a really wonderful book.) I didn't even watch organized sports until 1986. This may have something to do with the treatment I received from various Physical Education teachers in my early years -- but I won't go into that here. Suffice it to say that I think these teachers validated the view that "sports don't build character; they reveal it."

Having recovered (more or less) from the abuse of those years, I can now appreciate sports -- at least from a distance. Being an American, I do watch American football, baseball and basketball and because I lived in Indianapolis for almost 10 years, my loyalties are with the local teams, the Colts, the Indians (AAA), and the Pacers.

My primary sports interest is with English football (as you have probably already discerned from the background). Again, I don't keep up with all the stats, or even all of the club rosters, but I stay apprised of the league tables and the weekly results. And sure, I know who some of the players are.

It's a lovely game to watch, ever more as I understand better as I go along. Now, all that being said, let's get more specific:

The first English club I had any contact with was Nottingham Forest. I visited the City Ground in April 1992. I didn't attend a match -- just visited the ground. I was given quite a tour of every part of the ground and had lunch with the Chairman. I was given loads of souvenirs. Since that day, I have been a Forest supporter -- though to this day, I haven't been to a match. I've just never been to Nottingham at the right time. When I lived in Indiana, I listened to the matches on Century 106 with RealAudio. Maybe now that I'm living in the UK, I can spend a Saturday at the City Ground. And of course I'm on the official e-mail list.

Due to Forest's relegation, I was willing to lend my support to a Premiership club for the 1999-2000 season. During the summer, I offered an opportunity for all visitors to offer input.  I only ever got four votes on my vote counter, and I later learned that Kel voted three of those just so I wouldn't feel bad. So I suppose that wasn't the best idea. For the 2000-2001 season, I've decided to be content with watching the Premiership from a distance. I'm not particulary rooting for any team, except whichever side is playing against Manchester United on a given day.

If you want to suggest a Premiership club for me to support, please send an e-mail. All suggestions will be given due consideration and any decision will be noted on this page. Anyhow...

Forest spent most of last season barely above the relegation zone in the First Division. Perhaps this season they will do better. early in the season they are in the top half of the table, but it is a long time until May.

There are lots of Forest resources on the web. The Official Website is here:

But who says everything has to be official? You may have arived at this page via The Forest Ring. Even if you didn't, I encourage to use the links for it at the bottom of the page. As I get to know more Forest supporters online, I will probably create a separate Forest links page so facilitate your perusal of their various pages. For now, I'll just send you to Dion Harris' page named after the principal East Midlands rivalry: We are the Derby Haters.

Even though I have lived in the UK for nearly a year, the only League match I've ever attended of Ninian Park (v Peterborough) last season. It was my first live experience with British football. I've always liked Cardiff (the city) and it is one of the three Welsh clubs in the League, so I have decided to give it my support.

I didn't know until it was too late that as a Herefordian, I am supposed to hate Cardiff City. For many years Hereford United and Cardiff City both occupied the Third Division (or old Fourth Division). Being relatively proximate, a long (though now non-functional) rivalry is in place.

They spent much of last season at the bottom of the Division Two table and mananged to be relegated to their usual home in Division Three. Now that Sam Hamman has taken over controlling interest in the club, perhaps he can do for them what he did for Wimbledon and bring them up through the League to contend for the Premiership.

The club does have an official web site now, but I still prefer Michael Morris' site:

And now my local side. Though I am a new resident of Hereford, they are the closest thing I have to a hometown club. I was in the stand for two matches at Edgar Street during the 1998-99 season (the loss to Kidderminster and the draw with Hednesford). I have been there for all almost every home match since the middle of November 1999.

This season has started off well, with only three loses in the first 15 games of the season. Because this is the last year of one-up/one-down between the Conference and Division Three, we will probably finish second. Next year, when it is two-up/two-down, I'm sure we can manage to finish out of the playoff spots.