Blue Moon Rising: My Unexpected Love Affair With Football

Dear reader ,

I always kind of watched football , you know, the way most people do. An occasional World Cup here, a random match there but never really paying attention or picking a side.

The Day Everything Changed

But on a beautiful day in October 2022, everything changed.

It was a Manchester derby: City vs. United. I had heard of United my whole life. They were the team, the one people talked about constantly. But Manchester City? I didn’t know much about them.

And then… the goals started.

One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Six.

United fans were leaving the stadium before the final whistle, looking like someone had unplugged their souls. I sat there, eyes wide, suddenly invested in something I never thought I’d care about. City ended up winning 6-3 that day. I went home and did my research.

Turns out, City had been dominating the Premier League for years quietly, confidently, beautifully. I had already decided: this was my team.

I Fell In Love With Football, Player by Player

I fell in love with Pep Guardiola’s mind - how does he create such magic on the pitch?

I fell in love with Haaland’s hat-tricks - how does someone make scoring look that easy?

I fell in love with Kevin De Bruyne’s passes - how does he see the game like that?

That season, my first ever as a proper fan, we won the treble. Premier League. FA Cup. Champions League.

It was magnificent. And I was all in.

Being a Woman Who Loves Football

Being a woman who loves football is... interesting. People are often surprised when I talk about tactics, lineups, or Champions League stats like I’ve been watching for years, as if passion for the game has a gender. One time, a woman told me I was “giving pick-me vibes” just because I was discussing football with some guys. I didn’t start watching football to impress anyone. I started because I fell in love with the way it made me feel. The chaos. The joy. The heartbreak. The beauty. I may not have grown up with the game, but now? It lives in me. Loudly. And unapologetically.

Dear Manchester City

I didn’t know that one match could change everything, but you did that. You gave me something to believe in, something to look forward to, something that made my heart race for all the right reasons. You’ve taught me that beauty can exist in chaos. That silence before a penalty. The roar after a goal. The heartbreak of a loss. The glory of a treble . You showed me that love doesn’t have to make sense; sometimes it just happens. So thank you for the joy, the nerves, the screaming, the tears, and the absolute delulu.

I’ll be here through the seasons, the slumps, the silverware.

My soft girl heart and your loud, beautiful game.

Forever blue,

Sonia 💙