Meet Charsenal
To visit one of the newest branches of Arsenal America, we head to the Palmetto State and one of the oldest cities in the United States. Charleston is a city with a growing passion for a beautiful game and plenty of southern charm to boot. But as branch manager Travis Poole says, it was a trip to London that made him realize something was missing in his home town:
"After attending a match at the Grove and experiencing the overwhelming feeling of belonging, I had the idea to start a local supporters group. And Charsenal was the result."
Group Name: Charsenal
Location: Charleston, SC
Year established: 2011
Number of active members: "We already have more than 30 members."
Normal match start time: "Matches usually kick-off at 10am on weekends and 2:45pm on weekdays."
Where we watch matches: Madra Rua - 1034 East Montague Avenue, North Charleston, SC 29405-4917. (843) 554-2522
Where our members hail from: "All over the globe. One or two may even be from the moon...."
Group's favorite Arsenal moment: "Arshavin's goal against Barcelona in the Champions League... or anytime someone gets ‘Szczd'."
Group's favorite players: "Vermaelen, Mertesacker, Szczesny, RVP, Jack... this may take some time to decide!"
Why we are Gooners: Because we can't say "Spurs" with a straight face.
How big is Arsenal/English football in your area?: "Charleston is a very football (soccer) friendly city. With our own local USL First Division club, the Charleston Battery, the sport has seen an increase in support. As a result, the appeal from European football and England in particular has shown a lot of growth. There are vast amounts of English football supporters here; Liverpool, Man U, Chelsea, etc. However, Arsenal FC seems to be the dominant club in this part of the state."
Why Americans should be Arsenal fans: "The one-touch passing, attacking football is very easy on the eyes. Besides, being anything else would just be ludicrous!"
Contact information: You can email us at charleston@arsenalamerica.com or find us on Facebook.
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