Last Saturday, Daniel watched his favorite club Braintree Town lose and then watched Brazil’s 1-0 win over England on television.
Daniel Smith, passionate about Braintree Town, of the English sixth division, is an unusual fan. After all, he can’t stand the big football teams in his country. Despite this, he has already visited 807 stadiums in Europe, including those of the Premier League and tournaments that do not belong to any league.
Last Saturday he had a full day. Just before England lost 1-0 to Brazil at Wembley Stadium, his favorite team was on the pitch. The taste was bitter in double doses, as Braintree lost, at home, by the same score, to Yeovil Town.
“I am one of those who likes to visit stadiums, all over Europe and the United Kingdom. I have no sympathy for big clubs, neither in my country nor foreign ones. Competing in competitions with money is very easy. So no Manchester United, City, Liverpool, Arsenal… my interest is in the smaller clubs”, he began in an interview Play10.
“For me not to go to a Braintree match, something very serious must happen. I am present at all of them. This Saturday I had these two negative experiences. After the defeat at our home, I watched the match of the defeated English team on television. Then I ran to work,” Daniel added.
His love for Braintree Town FC, founded in 1898, means he spares no effort to stay up to date with the day-to-day life of the club. Although he has worked for more than two years in a convenience store at Stansted Airport (about 55 km north-east of London), he always manages to be present at departures. The city of Braintree, in turn, is located 62 km from the English capital.
When asked by the journalist who would be the main player of the team led by Dorival Júnior and whether he is thinking of visiting Brazil, Daniel immediately replied:
“I am a fan of Richarlison, without a doubt my favorite player. I am sorry that he did not play this friendly match of the Brazilian team against the English team. As for the visit to your country, I want to see your football in person Fluminense, Flamengo, Corinthians , Sao Paulo, Vasco da Gama… I know that I will still be able to make this dream come true,” he continued.
His choice of Braintree Town stems from birth. After all, his entire family supports the club. But he doesn’t give up calling himself the “number one” fan.
The reality of the Sixth Division
In the 2023/24 season, Braintree competes in the National League N/S, which is the sixth division in England.
It is a championship that is not very expressive, even considered semi-amateur from financial and structural aspects. A situation, in fact, similar to the reality of smaller clubs in Brazil.
Even in the face of a challenging scenario for the fans of a “small” English club, the loyalty of fans like Daniel Smith is one of the hallmarks of the fascination that the English have for football.
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Source: Terra
Emma is a professional author and journalist, working at 247 News Update. With years of experience, she brings a unique perspective and in-depth analysis to her work.
