Opinion | Like watching Arsenal at The Emirates, not quite – but Hong Kong football can scratch an itch for Premier League fans
- Premier League matches, such as when Arsenal play at The Emirates, provide an almost religious experience, and are a big plus of moving to England
- The games are aired on TV in Hong Kong, but watching live is inconvenient. Luckily, cheering on local teams offers an atmospheric substitute for the English game
One of the big attractions of moving to England is that it allows me to better practise my religion. It’s not churches I have in mind, although my spiritual experiences also require faith, commitment and singing.
I frequently make the pilgrimage to The Emirates Stadium, in North London, to watch Arsenal play football. For me, this is more than just a form of entertainment. It is part of my identity.
Both my grandfathers lived near Highbury (Arsenal’s former stadium, from which they moved to The Emirates in 2006) in 1913, when Arsenal moved there from South London. My father took me to my first match more than 50 years ago. My mother is a fanatical supporter.
Going to matches in the 1980s, in the days of football hooliganism, could be dangerous. But the thrill of the game made attendance imperative. Missing out on games was a big sacrifice when I moved to Hong Kong in 1994.
Following English football from afar is not easy. In the ’90s, all we had was a weekly television show of highlights from the week. Now, thanks to pay TV, all Premier League matches are screened live. But the timing, mostly late at night, is inconvenient.