Postpublished at 13:30 British Summer Time
Turns out our expert also likes Aston Villa...
Summary
Our My Club My Passion campaign has been running all week on the Premier League team pages
We want to know why you love your football club
Get involved using the form at the top of the page
EFL fans and supporters in Scotland - we want to hear from you too
"Clough kissed my grandad's bald head" - Nottingham Forest fan
A tremendous seagull costume from a Brighton fan
"Mabbutt's letter helped me come to terms with type-one diabetes" - Tottenham fan
Visit our Premier League pages for more submissions
Postpublished at 13:30 British Summer Time
'My great-grandad won the FA Cup'published at 13:24 British Summer Time
Get involved using the form at the top of the page
James: My great-grandfather won the FA Cup with Aston Villa in 1905.
His name was Jack Windmill. He played in the same team Jack Grealish's relative did (Billy Garraty).
I'm now a season ticket holder in The Holte End. We didn't choose our club, it certainly chose us. Wouldn't change that!
Check out our dedicated Aston Villa page
'From that day the rivalry began'published at 13:19 British Summer Time
Get involved using the form at the top of the page
Neil: Fifty years ago, I was bought a Chelsea kit for Christmas and my brother a Liverpool kit.
From that day the rivalry began - acting out our favourite players in the garden and battering the plants at the same time.
Both myself and wife now coach grassroots football and are avid fans of both the men's and women's team.
Favourites Chelsea players - John Terry and Lucy Bronze as they give 100% for club and country.
'Best day of my Pompey life'published at 13:15 British Summer Time
Get involved by using the form at the top of the page
Portsmouth
Brendon: Portsmouth, the island of my birth. From nearly seeing us going out of existence in 2013, to this picture in 2017 winning League Two.
Fan-owned, fan-saved and easily the best day of my Pompey life.
'A bumpy road'published at 13:10 British Summer Time
Get involved by using the form at the top of the page
SunderlandDan and Mandy: Myself and my mother-in-law have been lifelong Sunderland fans. Since her husband passed away, we managed to get season tickets where they used to sit years ago in the North Stand.
The past eight years have been a bumpy road from minus four degrees on a cold Tuesday night to get beaten by Oxford, to the dizzy heights of Wembley cup success and promotion. We're in it 'til the end!
'Clough kissed my son's head and invited us to his office'published at 13:08 British Summer Time
Get involved using the form at the top of the page
Mansfield Town
Wendy: My kids - now big Stags fans - begged us to see Forest training.
After having a photos with Roy Keane and Nigel Clough, Brian Clough came over and kissed my son on his head then took us in his office for photos sat at his desk.
Carly and Neil were delighted.
This is becoming a theme (see 12:04 BST)
'It comes down to our identity'published at 13:05 British Summer Time
Danielle Sarver Coombs
Researcher and co-writer of the Routledge Handbook of Sport Fans and Fandom
A lot of it comes down to our identity.
We become part of this group that means so much to us.
It becomes a way to find a community that you're a part of and to find a group of people that, no matter where you are, you could find a pub with other fans of your team. You have that kinship.
In a world that's increasingly quite lonely, this provides one of the ways that we can have connections so we can have the feeling that we're part of something bigger.
Image source, Getty ImagesPostpublished at 13:02 British Summer Time
We're seeing lots of your stories and every one is unique (even if Brian Clough seemed to regularly kiss supporters heads), but why do we love our clubs like we do?
Well, we spoke to an expert on it to find out more...
'The Penalty King' was my unclepublished at 12:58 British Summer Time
Get involved by using the form at the top of the page
Morecambe FCFrom the glory at the top of the pyramid to the pain at the bottom.
Keith: My late uncle Jack Mayor 'The Penalty King' never missed a penalty as Morecambe centre-forward.
It’s his fault I’ve supported the Shrimps since the 1950s - it’s so sad what has happened this week.
Never forgotten.
'A fitting epitaph'published at 12:52 British Summer Time
Get involved by using the form at the top of the page
Image source, Getty ImagesOur senior football news reporter Simon Stone has seen plenty of Manchester United over the years and says his most fitting memory has to involve Sir Alex Ferguson:
"The day that sticks out is his last one.
"What transpired was almost a fitting epitaph for Ferguson's career. An amazing 5-5 draw, including West Brom scoring three times in the final 10 minutes to snatch a point.
"It denied Ferguson victory in his final game but the crazy manner of the match and the goals scored - it remains the highest scoring draw in Premier League history and only one Premier League game has contained more goals - was in keeping with the Scot's philosophy.
"Ferguson was applauded by West Brom fans and pushed to the front of the United players to take the acclaim of the visiting fans. The mutual respect was evident and I can still picture the images. A truly unforgettable day."
'Finally reclaiming the cup is our reward!'published at 12:49 British Summer Time
Get involved by using the form at the top of the page
AberdeenOwen: I love Aberdeen because of the passion that’s there currently but also because we’ve gone through the days of Warnock and us finally reclaiming that Scottish Cup and going on a European tour is the reward!
Some history up there, Owen.
Neil Warnock perhaps not the best example of an Aberdeen manager, but there is another that springs to mind.
'A thing we share across generations'published at 12:44 British Summer Time
Get involved using the form at the top of the page
Phil: I love Brentford because it is a thing we share across generations, because we have a history of following them through thick and thin, and because the club welcomes all to join.
The photo above shows three generations of Brentford fans outside Villa Park.
'I had no choice really'published at 12:41 British Summer Time
Get involved using the form at the top of the page
John: My grandad cycled from his job in the gentlemen's outfitters department of Kendal Milne on Deansgate to the first game ever played at Maine Road in 1923. My dad started going there immediately after World War Two ended.
This is me, aged seven in 1971, doing my best Colin Bell impression with my dad now taking me with him on Saturday afternoons. I had no choice really.
Aged 12 for Dennis Tueart's overhead kick and 48-years-old for the Agueroooo moment, there was much misery in between, but my word, my midlife has been far from a crisis under Pep Guardiola.
Go straight to the best Manchester City content
'Still haven't forgiven my mum!'published at 12:38 British Summer Time
Get involved by using the form at the top of the page
BurnleyBradley: I am a proud Burnley season ticket holder. Since being born in 1996, I have only ever missed five games (don't ask me the reasons why - I still haven't forgiven my mum!)
My first-born Alfie Alan Brown is named after a Burnley player from my Grandad's era and I can't wait for him to join me at some of the games this year. My favourite ever game has to be beating Manchester United 1-0 in August 2009. My favourite players are super Robbie Blake and Brian BEAST Jensen, both of whom sent me a video message on my wedding day in 2023.
I am proud of my football club and hope Scott Parker and the lads can achieve great things this year. I'm a forever optimist and would love to see us recreate the Sean Dyche era and stay up for several years.
Postpublished at 12:38 British Summer Time
I'm picturing that ball ending up in the back of a Bournemouth net.
From one cute kid to another...
'I grew up knowing all the players and staff'published at 12:33 British Summer Time
Get involved by using the form at the top of the page
Peter: I was brought up watching my father Laurie Cunningham playing for Bournemouth.
I had a privileged start as a young boy, in terms of knowing all of the players and the staff.
I have seen some great games at Dean Court, the highlight being a 2-1 defeat by Manchester United in 1957.
My father passed away just before we reached the Premier League and he would have never believed what the Cherries have achieved.
'An obsession as long as I can remember'published at 12:29 British Summer Time
Get involved by using the form at the top of the page
Bristol CityWe've been running this campaign on our Premier League club pages, but we'd really love to hear from EFL fans and those in Scotland too.
Like Andrew, who says following the Robins has been interesting...
Andrew: Supporting Bristol City has been an obsession as long as I can remember. It has been a roller coaster - from the good times of winning at Wembley in 2016 to play-off heartache in 2008 I've seen it all.
Also the joy of winning against Liverpool at Anfield in 1993 and beating Jose Mourinho when he was at Manchester United in the League Cup.
They don't do fancy dress like they used topublished at 12:24 British Summer Time
Get involved by using the form at the top of the page
Rob: Been a Brighton fan for 45 years or so, and am loving now how so many youngsters have Brighton shirts. It wasn't like that back in the day.
Here is a photo of me at the Silver Jubilee in my fancy dress as a seagull!
Postpublished at 12:22 British Summer Time
Some strong hats there!
Speaking of fine costumes...
'That one's for you dad'published at 12:18 British Summer Time
Get involved by using the form at the top of the page
Ben: My dad, Mike - known as "Jinx" - is the reason I've loved Palace all my life.
From my first match aged six, standing on his fishing box on the Arthur Wait Terrace, to years with my brother and sister on the Holmesdale, he was always there.
We shared every high and low, all the way to Wembley in 1990 (pictured). At Wembley in May as we finally lifted the cup, I hugged my two kids tight with tears in my eyes and thought that one's for you, Dad.
I bet he was singing along – proud, loud, and forever Palace!
