My love for Gyeongnam FC

I came to South Korea in 2003 to teach English in a language academy in Masan.  Masan is located in Gyeongnam, the team who I was to start supporting.  They didn't even have a professional team when I first landed on Korean shores.  They were formed in 2006.  They used to play their home games in the Changwon Civil Stadium which was surrounded by an athletic track, so you were so far away from the action on the pitch.  I love attending live sports, especially football.  This was a great way to let off some steam with some good friends and watch a game of live football from the mundane week of teaching.  In 2010 Gyeongnam moved to play in a more modern stadium (Changwon Football Center) at the base of a mountain about a ten-minute drive away.  The stadium itself is supported by four full-sized training pitches and a 4G turf training ground covered by a roof.  

Changwon Civic Stadium

Changwon Football Center

Through going to the matches weekly I have built up a good relationship with the regular fans that go every week.  I go to most of the home games and I try to attend a handful of away games a season.  I now have a family of my own and I always bring my two oldest sons Jacob who is ten years old and Jack who is 8 years old to the games.  We enjoy watching Gyeongnam FC every week.  

My friend Matthew and I in our new stadium on opening day

The club has a real family feel to it and they are always so kind and accommodating to my family and I.  Other supporters will always offer my children food and drinks for them to have during the game.  

My main highlight supporting the club must be when we won promotion to the top flight of Korean football back in 2017.  We finished as champions, and I asked the club if they could make me a huge "Champions" banner to be used at the game.  They kindly made it for me.  I asked to pay them for it, they refused and said just buy us a six-pack of beer! 

Through supporting Gyeongnam, I have also met numerous other foreigner fans of other K League teams from up and down the country.  Five years ago in 2015 a Jeonnam Dragons fan Ryan Walters started a website called Kleagueunited.  A site in which originally a few guest writers would write about their respective teams.  

It has since gone from strength to strength and we now have near enough every K League 1 team and K League 2 team covered by writers on the site.  We are also the first website to work alongside the official K League website offering English content weekly, previewing, and reviewing games.  I have been a columnist working for K-League United since it began.  It's a great way to express my passion for Gyeongnam through writing.  We also have a weekly podcast and a few of the editors on the site have made numerous TV appearances talking everything K League.


Key Words and Expressions


athletic track- The 400 meter running track used by athletes to run around.  

let off some steam- To let out your stresses of your normal week.  To enjoy yourself doing something you enjoy.

mundane- Boring or something that is always the same.

a handful- A number you can count using the ten fingers on your  hands.

accommodating- Very kind and they make you feel comfortable.

refused- To not want something.  To say "no".

numerous- A large number of something.

previewing- To make comment on a thing that is about to happen.

reviewing- To make comment on a thing that has just happened.

columnist- A person who writes in a newspaper or online about a certain subject.



Fill in the blanks with the correct answers  (Good luck)


I got a new job as the sports ________________ in the local newspaper.  I am so happy about it.


I tried to give him some money for his services on my car but he _____________ saying it was his fault in the first place.


I have been to a singing room a ________________ of times in Korea.  They are great fun.


I would highly recommend staying at the Hilton Hotel in Seoul.  It was a little expensive but they were so ___________________ there and made our stay so nice.


I am thinking of changing my career path and I may study about sports journalism online.  My office job I have now is so _____________.  I want to quit.  


I got 5 numbers on the Lottery yesterday.  I am so happy.  It makes up for the ______________ times I have wasted money trying to win the jackpot.