Why Newcastle, Real Madrid, PSG, Milan, Lazio and more are meeting on a park in London
“There are lots of people in London but it can feel like a lonely place,” explains Kieran Duff as he walks through Russell Square, still reeling from the fact that he forgot his football socks for the big game. “I hope someone has a spare pair.”
In the dressing rooms, a friendly, ready-made camaraderie of Newcastle-supporting team-mates don black and white jerseys as they reflect on early season defeats at Juventus and Inter Milan. Nobody brought extra socks.
“It sounds ridiculous to say, but it feels different playing in the jersey and colours,” says Newcastle Supporters Club captain Tom King.
“There’s a part of your brain that’s like, ‘I’m playing here for Newcastle’. It makes you connect with the club in a way that I haven’t done with any other football club I’ve played for.”
Next door, young people in vintage burgundy and blue dresses come out and start warming up. It’s a nice, mild November Sunday lunchtime as Newcastle face rivals Aston Villa at Coram’s Field in central London; The last embers of autumn hold on as the groundskeeper tries to clear the leaves from the field.
This is just the start of an eventful afternoon in the London Fans’ League, which also includes AC Milan, Fiorentina, Genoa and Lazio, but on any given weekend you can find Paris St-Germain, Real Madrid, Lyon, Roma, Monza or Panathinaikos here. They are all dressed head to toe in full club colours.
“We won the league last year, after eight years we finally managed to win, so we put a star on our top,” says Ludo Romagnoli, who was born in Modena before moving to Brazil and came to London for university. “I am very proud to represent our club.”
Real Madrid London’s Pedro Aguilar adds: “It’s more fun to come across people who feel the badge, the colours, and the passion for the club they represent.”
“Everyone has a story behind them, you understand why they support the team, why they love it.
“It’s fascinating. Meeting people from different backgrounds and cultures and seeing how much they love football, just like us, through a different team.”
