I don't recall when I started liking football. But I do remember watching local TV programs like "Big League Soccer" and FA Cup finals when I was young (definitely older than 5 since I moved to Lorong 8 only when I was 5 1/2 years old). I even remember supporting the "White" team on a black and white TV!
Back in those days, we didn't get to watch English football live on TV. We only got to see shows like "Big League Soccer" that showed highlights which were probably weeks old, rather than 2 or 3 days old like now. And FA Cup Finals, which is probably the single reason how I started supporting Manchester United.
Back in those days, it was the "in" thing to support Liverpool, the perennial champions, but I chose the perennial bridesmaid - Manchester United - instead. I've got this sympathy for the underdogs since a young age, I guess. It's laughable that Liverpool "fans" these days call us "bandwagon" fans - they probably became bandwagon fans themselves long before they even understood the word "bandwagon".
I remember there was a year during which United won 10 out of 10 games to start the season (I remember seeing the league table on Straits Times), but of course we didn't win the Championship eventually and had to wait until 1993 to be the Champions of England again.
I can't remember when I started supporting United, but my guess is it was 1979 or earlier - I remember being heart-broken by the last minute goal scored by Arsenal in the FA Cup Final that year.
Talking about heart-broken, when Brazil lost to Italy 2-3 in World Cup 82, I remember I cried. 1982 was probably the year I fell in love with the Brazilian football team - the attractive football they played, the nice yellow-and-blue jersey they wore, and the players with mystical names like Socrates and Falcao. I never forgave the Italian national football team for years for beating my adopted team. :)
I can probably go on and on about football, but I'll stop here for now. You have not heard the last of Manchester United, Brazil or football yet. :)
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