Why is it that you simply help your soccer membership?
That is a query requested in playgrounds, parks, workplaces, cafes, gyms, and pubs throughout the nation daily. Regardless of your age, once you first begin speaking about soccer with associates, it is an interrogation that usually ends with the time period ‘glory hunter’ being thrown round.
That is as a result of the vast majority of the time, you’ll hear the likes of Manchester United, Liverpool, and Arsenal thrown about, even by those that aren’t native to the areas, and even any of the so-called Massive Six.
Then there’s the remainder of the Premier League, every membership now have large followings that vary past the homes nearest to their stadium. The league is larger than ever earlier than.
Within the trendy period, you’ll not solely see rows of your common followers within the stands. ones that head to the bottom each fortnight, regardless of the climate, rain or shine, however you may additionally get a glimpse of a star. Perhaps Kim Kardashian at Arsenal, or Daniel Craig at Liverpool.
However not all A-listers are so-called ‘glory hunters’. There are some large names who comply with golf equipment decrease down within the English footballing pyramid, and we at Every day Mail Sport are going to take you thru among the extra distinguished stars who help groups exterior the Premier League.
Ed Sheeran is only one of many A-list stars who do not help a Premier League membership
Every day Mail Sport take on the greatest stars who help groups exterior the Premier League.
Daniel Day-Lewis – Millwall
Hollywood star Daniel Day-Lewis, who has received three Academy Awards for Finest Actor in a Main Function, which is a joint report, is the primary large identify on our checklist.
The actor hails from Greenwich in south east London and has been heading to The Den’s terraces to help his beloved Millwall since he was a younger boy.
Simply final week, he was seen watching the Lions’ 4-0 Championship demolition of Charlton with fellow movie star Gary Oldman.
Cameras caught the pair, who’ve accrued an entire host of main awards between them, having fun with a day out on the Den.
Day-Lewis was seen carrying orange-tinted sun shades and a black beanie, whereas Oldman was barely extra understated in a flat cap.
Actor Daniel Day-Lewis (center left) is a Millwall fan and final week took Gary Oldman (center proper) to The Den
Sean Bean – Sheffield United
In the identical week that Day-Lewis took a visit to The Den, eagle-eyed followers additionally noticed actor Sean Bean within the stands at St Mary’s for Southampton’s conflict with Sheffield United.
The Recreation of Thrones, Lord of the Rings, and GoldenEye star was there to help his beloved Blades, who went down 1-0. He was pictured shaking arms with just a few fellow Blades earlier than the sport kicked off, however appeared stony-faced for a lot of the competition together with his aspect behind.
Bean, who just lately starred in This Metropolis Is Ours and a TV adaptation of Robin Hood, was born and raised on a council property in Sheffield. He achieved a scholarship to the celebrated appearing faculty RADA in 1981 earlier than embarking on his profession.
Bean has by no means forgotten his roots and has a ‘100 per cent Blade’ tattoo on his shoulder. He is been seen at matches previously, however work commitments imply these can now be few and much between.
Recreation of Thrones star Sean Bean was noticed watching his beloved Sheffield United towards Southampton earlier this month
Elton John – Watford
Sir Elton John is not only a huge Watford fan; the music icon is honorary life president of the membership, and has additionally served as chairman twice.
He initially took management of the membership in 1976 earlier than promoting it in 1990. However he may solely keep away for seven years and have become chairman as soon as once more till 2002, stepping away solely as a consequence of tour scheduling constraints.
Sir Elton, who even has a stand at Vicarage Highway named after him, can nonetheless usually be seen watching his beloved Hornets sort out the Championship from the bottom.
Talking final summer time, he mentioned: ‘My ardour for this membership has by no means died, and I am so pleased with this membership, ever since I used to be 5 years previous once we performed in blue, and there have been two rickety previous stands.
‘What can I say? It is in my coronary heart and my soul; you’ll be able to’t do away with it. The supporters of this membership have at all times been in my coronary heart.’
Music icon Elton John (center, pictured in 1984) spent two stints as chairman at his beloved membership Watford
Ed Sheeran – Ipswich City
Maybe one of many extra well-known soccer followers, pop star Ed Sheeran, is a lifelong fan of the Tractor Boys.
The four-time Grammy winner, recognized for his smash hit tracks reminiscent of A-Crew and Form of You, usually attends matches at Portman Highway, having shaped a bond with the membership at a younger age.
Certainly, Sheeran has really been a front-of-shirt sponsor for the membership for the final 5 years, and even took his fandom to the following stage by buying a minority stake within the Suffolk outfit in 2024 – a passive funding solely.
The musician is so ingrained within the membership that he even has his personal shirt quantity. In each season since Sheeran’s involvement started at Portman Highway, bar their one within the Premier League, he has been given the quantity 17 shirt.
Pop star Ed Sheeran is each lifelong fan of Ipswich City and a minority stakeholder on the membership
Julie Walters – West Brom
If you’re planning to attend the Hawthorns, dwelling of West Brom, anytime quickly, you might simply stumble upon multi-award-winning actress Dame Julie Walters.
Walters, well-known for her roles within the Harry Potter sequence and Mamma Mia!, is an avid Baggies fan, having grown up in close by Smethwick.
Niall Horan – Derby County
While you consider Niall Horan, soccer might be the very last thing that involves your thoughts.
Nonetheless, the pop star, previously of the band One Path, has lengthy been a Derby County fan, regardless of rising up in Eire and spending his grownup life between London and Los Angeles.
In 2024, he was seen watching the Rams tackle Middlesbrough in a Championship conflict at Satisfaction Park.
Horan was clearly attempting to transform his long-term girlfriend, Amelia Woolley, right into a Derby supporter, as she was by his aspect as he cheered them on.
Former One Path star Niall Horan is a Derby County fan and took long-term girlfriend Amelia Woolley (proper) to look at them in 2024
Craig David – Southampton
Craig David is likely one of the greatest British artists of all time, having scored 16 high ten singles within the UK alone, however away from music, he’s a large Southampton fan.
Previous to rocketing to fame in his early 20s, Craig lived on the Holyrood Property close to Southampton metropolis centre from the age of 1, and it was there that his love for the Saints started.
In 2019, David was handed the chance to hitch among the Saints workforce, again once they have been within the Premier League, for a sequence of drills on the membership’s coaching floor, forward of his very personal gig at St. Mary’s.
Talking on the time, David mentioned: ‘I have been a Saints fan all my life. To play a gig at St Mary’s Stadium to have a good time bringing my hometown the very best connection within the UK is wonderful.
‘I’ve nothing however improbable recollections in Southampton, and I hope the evening was unforgettable for everybody.’
Musician Craig David (center proper, pictured in 2019) is a large Southampton fan
Louis Tomlinson – Doncaster Rovers
The 1D boys definitely love soccer, do not they?
Niall just isn’t the one member of the boy band that after took the world by storm to help a membership within the English Soccer League; Louis Tomlinson is, in actual fact, a die-hard Doncaster Rovers fan.
Tomlinson was born and raised in Doncaster and is a lifelong fan of the membership, who are actually in League One. Again in 2014, he even tried a takeover of the membership.
The pop star had hoped to remodel Rovers right into a soccer powerhouse and have become the general public face of the marketing campaign to seek out the membership a purchaser, launching a crowdfunder to lift £6million in funding.
Nonetheless, Louis was unaware that the first traders – who had pledged a whopping £500,000 to the trigger – have been in actual fact a gang of criminals.
Particulars of the rip-off emerged final 12 months after Kevin Phelan and his co-defendants Daniel Giles and Adrian Bashforth have been convicted of siphoning money from folks’s retirement funds, The Mirror reported.
The deal finally fell by because the crowdfunder raised simply £600,000 and Phelan’s funding guarantees have been empty.
Singer Louis Tomlinson (pictured in 2014) tried to takeover his boyhood membership Doncaster Rovers 12 years in the past however failed
Robbie Williams – Port Vale
When you’ve watched the movie Higher Man, a musical drama concerning the lifetime of Pop star Robbie Williams, then you’ll know who he helps.
Having grown up in Stoke-on-Trent, Williams, whose solo hits embody Angels, Let Me Entertain You, and Come Undone, has at all times had an timeless love for Port Vale.
The singer was mentioned to be contemplating a Wrexham-style takeover on the League One aspect in 2024, however the membership shortly debunked rumours.
Williams is, nevertheless, the honorary membership president, and has a collection on the membership’s floor named after him.
On the time, he mentioned: ‘My life is weird and fantastic and has taken many turns and twists, and to seek out myself from the Railway Paddock to be ‘El Presidente’ is fairly particular.’
Artist Robbie Williams is a lifelong Port Vale fan and is the honorary membership president
Stephen Fry – Norwich
One other celeb who’s greater than only a fan of their membership is the well-known TV presenter Stephen Fry.
Fry is famously a lifelong fan of Championship aspect Norwich Metropolis and previously has used his celeb standing to lift consciousness for the Canaries over the previous few years.
However he additionally served on the board of administrators for six years below the previous long-time proprietor, and celeb cook dinner, Delia Smith, between 2010 and 2016.
Fry’s affection for the membership was on full present simply over a decade in the past, as he may very well be seen cheering his beloved membership on from the Wembley stands, whereas draped in a yellow and inexperienced scarf, as they beat Middlesbrough within the 2015 Championship play-off remaining.
Stephen Fry was as soon as on the board of administrators at Norwich Metropolis however stepped away from the function in 2016
Michaela Strachan – Oxford United
Michaela Strachan could also be greatest recognized for venturing into the wilderness, presenting the UK’s most-loved wildlife programmes, however every now and then, it’s also possible to see her sporting a brilliant yellow jersey and screaming chants from the stands.
That is as a result of the tv star, who additionally had a quick however profitable music profession within the late 80’s and early 90’s, is an Oxford United fan.
Strachan was in attendance as one among 30,000 U’s followers backing their aspect on the League One play-off remaining at Wembley two years in the past.
It turned out to be a joyous day for the now 59-year-old, as Oxford famously dispatched of Bolton Wanderers 2-0 to safe promotion to the Championship, the place they nonetheless play their soccer, for the primary time in 25 years.
TV presenter Michaela Strachan was at Wembley to look at Oxford United safe promotion to the Championship in 2024
Bjorn Borg – Charlton
Bjorn Borg loves England. That is a reality.
The tennis legend has had a robust affinity for the nation since his days of dominance at Wimbledon. The Swede romped to 5 singles titles in SW19 through the late 70s and early 80s, when he was only a younger star.
However his ties to south London transcend being a mercurial successful machine on the court docket; he’s additionally a Charlton Athletic fan.
You’d suppose that possibly he fell in love with the Championship aspect throughout his time within the capital as a tennis participant, however you’ll be incorrect. In truth, Borg was really born right into a household of Addicks supporters.
In 2007, Borg advised the Liverpool Echo: ‘My father and grandfather each supported all of them their lives, so I didn’t actually have a alternative.’
