# Please explain these soccer team names to an ignorant American **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [March 30, 2010, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-these-soccer-team-names-to-an-ignorant-american/534284 "2010-03-30T01:18:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2010, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-these-soccer-team-names-to-an-ignorant-american/534284/61 "2010-04-14T19:45:17Z")
> [@Malacandra](#): > > it started out as a sporting club that played on the local working men’s half-day off in midweek (Cricket originally, football as a keep-fit exercise in the winter). [AC Milan](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A.C._Milan#History) started the same way (sport, not day) ---
**Author:** ![Kingspades](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecae2f/32.png) [@Kingspades](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kingspades)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2010, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-these-soccer-team-names-to-an-ignorant-american/534284/62 "2010-04-14T20:20:06Z")
Now how, I ask you, can we have a proper hijack about silly sports team names without broaching the subject of Minor League Baseball? We’d be remiss if we didn’t mention the likes of the [Albuquerque Isotopes](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albuquerque_Isotopes#Name_origins), [Richmond Flying Squirrels](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richmond_Flying_Squirrels#Name), [Montgomery Biscuits](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montgomery_Biscuits), [Modesto Nuts](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modesto_Nuts), and [Grand Prairie AirHogs](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Prairie_AirHogs), among others. Plus, may we please take a moment and bow our heads in respect to the sadly defunct [Macon Whoopee](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macon_Whoopee), which I’m sure we’ll all agree is history’s best use of double entendre in a sports team name? – Kingspades, proud [Stormy Petrel](http://www.gopetrels.com/information/petey), Class of 1997 ---
**Author:** ![Improvisor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/50afbb/32.png) [@Improvisor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Improvisor)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2010, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-these-soccer-team-names-to-an-ignorant-american/534284/63 "2010-04-14T20:42:41Z")
> [@mkecane](#): > > One thing that annoys me a bit about the American FCs (I’m referring to MLS here) is that I don’t believe these are actually clubs for fans to join. In many cases for the English clubs, they may no longer be that way, but originally, they were actual clubs with members. To my knowledge, FC Dallas does not have dues-paying members who can just show up at the gym to workout, or go to the club’s restaurant for dinner, etc. The Elks or Lions Club, they ain’t. I give you the [Seattle Sounders FC Alliance](http://www.soundersfc.com/Alliance/About.aspx). So, it is a club you can join and members have certain voting rights over the direction of the team and general manager. It is based on the Spanish league’s concept of a “club”. ---
**Author:** ![Improvisor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/50afbb/32.png) [@Improvisor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Improvisor)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2010, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-these-soccer-team-names-to-an-ignorant-american/534284/64 "2010-04-14T20:53:41Z")
Missed the edit window, but as far as team names go, the Seattle Sounders name is a reference to the Puget Sound. The Sounders have always been the highest-level soccer team in Seattle since the 70’s. When the MLS expansion came to Seattle, the team owners put out a call to vote on the new team’s name. They had three choices listed, all of which had European-club overtones to them (though none as gag-inspiring as Real Salt Lake). But the majority of fans wrote in some form of the existing Sounders name, so that is how the new MLS team adopted the Sounders name. The previously existing USL Seattle Sounders were disolved when the new MLS team formed (alot of the same management and players came over). ---
**Author:** ![duality72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duality72/32/3910_2.png) [@duality72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duality72)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2010, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-these-soccer-team-names-to-an-ignorant-american/534284/65 "2010-04-14T21:01:28Z")
As far as voting rights go, even the second division Austin Aztex have an [Aztex Alliance](http://aztex.wsiefusion.net/Join-Austin-Aztex-Alliance). Of course, the Aztex don’t have the same level of support as the Sounders, so it will probably be a while before it gets to the 1500 member level to get a Board member, but it’s there. Not coincidentally, the Aztex owner is a Brit and part owner of Stoke City, so the idea is something he’s brought over from England. ---
**Author:** ![Celyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9dc877/32.png) [@Celyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celyn)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2010, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-these-soccer-team-names-to-an-ignorant-american/534284/66 "2010-04-14T23:22:00Z")
Here’s a football team name that I coincidentally learned about yesterday. It is called “Third Lanark” and I have previously wondered why, along the lines of “what about first and second Lanark? And surely three football teams would be too many for a not-very-big town?” But now I know that it was originally the football team of Third Lanarkshire Rifle Volunteers. I suppose now I could go on to wonder about the team called “Queen of the South”, but, nah, that would be too much football for one day. ---
**Author:** ![Ximenean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/aca169/32.png) [@Ximenean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ximenean)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2010, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-these-soccer-team-names-to-an-ignorant-american/534284/67 "2010-04-14T23:22:32Z")
> [@amanset](#): > > It is quite common for people to refer to them as “The Arse”, so you guess 😉 That is true, but even Arsenal fans call them that. I just think that the “arse” joke is so obvious that people don’t even see it any more. They even have a manager whose name starts with the letters “Arse”, and people _still_ don’t make jokes about it. The comic potential of the name faded long ago, I think. But never mind. There’s always Scunthorpe United. (Look closely at that name if you don’t see what I’m getting at). ---
**Author:** ![Celyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9dc877/32.png) [@Celyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celyn)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2010, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-these-soccer-team-names-to-an-ignorant-american/534284/68 "2010-04-14T23:55:11Z")
> [@Ximenean](#): > > … > But never mind. There’s always Scunthorpe United. (Look closely at that name if you don’t see what I’m getting at). Ah, yes. 😃 On a message board and chatroom I used to use, a friend who lived in Scunthorpe could never really say where she lived, because the board had some irritating automatic censorship that wouldn’t let anyone mention Scunthorpe or “snigger” (took me a while to work that one out) or to mention one’s pet pussycat. It being a U.S. setup, I think it didn’t like “ass” but was perfectly happy with “arse”. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-these-soccer-team-names-to-an-ignorant-american/534284/69 "2010-04-15T01:08:14Z")
I can not leave this discussion on soccer team names without mentioning a curious one from the old country: The C.D. Luis Angel Firpo > **[CD Luis Ángel Firpo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C.D._Luis_%C3%81ngel_Firpo)** > > Club Deportivo Luis Ángel Firpo (often abbreviated to Firpo) is a professional football club based in Usulután, El Salvador, that currently plays in the Primera División de El Salvador. > Founded as Tecún Umán in 1923, it was soon renamed in honor of Argentine boxer Luis Ángel Firpo, who became the first Latin American to fight for the heavyweight championship, knocking Jack Dempsey out of the ring on September 14, 1923. > Firpo has played at their home ground, Estadio Sergio Torres, since 1930. Th... > [@](#): > > On 17 September 1923, a group of Usulután citizens, mostly of European descent decided to form a team which represent their community passion for football. The club first elected Gustavo Denys as their first club chairman. They decided to choose red and blue as their teams colours. Originally named Tecún Umán, the club was soon renamed in honor of Luis Angel Firpo, a famous Argentine boxer, who almost became the first Latin heavyweight champion by knocking Jack Dempsey out of the ring on September 24, 1923. How in heck would that work? You get to name your soccer team after a boxer? (A very famous one in the Americas, I grant you that) That is not from El Salvador? Well… > [@](#): > > It has been one of the most successful clubs in El Salvador, having won 9 titles, firstly in 1989. Only FAS and Aguila hold more league titles than Firpo. Firpo’s success was at one of its highest ever during the decade of the '90s, having disputed 9 out of 11 finals, winning 5 and losing 4. It took a while, but in the end it worked really well. ---
**Author:** ![boxerfoley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f9ae1b/32.png) [@boxerfoley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boxerfoley)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2014, 11:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-these-soccer-team-names-to-an-ignorant-american/534284/70 "2014-05-16T11:30:49Z")
What about this team name for tongue in cheek wit. Abergavenny Thursdays [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abergavenny\_Thursdays\_F.C](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abergavenny_Thursdays_F.C). ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2014, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-these-soccer-team-names-to-an-ignorant-american/534284/71 "2014-05-16T12:21:25Z")
Probablt named because they played their matches on Thursdays. That’s how [Sheffield Wednesday](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Sheffield_Wednesday_F.C.) got their name. How did Real Zombie get their name? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![boxerfoley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f9ae1b/32.png) [@boxerfoley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boxerfoley)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2014, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-these-soccer-team-names-to-an-ignorant-american/534284/72 "2014-05-16T15:37:17Z")
I quite like the German Football team of Kickers Offenbach ---
**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2014, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-these-soccer-team-names-to-an-ignorant-american/534284/73 "2014-05-16T16:01:59Z")
I’ve always thought Arsenal was such a great name for a sports team. It’s short and snappy, it’s classy in that it’s named after its geographical roots rather than being invented by a marketing person, and it suggests explosive firepower! And it means the club gets to use a weapon on its badge. ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2014, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-these-soccer-team-names-to-an-ignorant-american/534284/74 "2014-05-16T17:13:51Z")
Yep. You just gotta cheer for the Gunners! (Arsenal fan here. The arse joke is just too obvious, but we use it ourselves from time to time, if the team is performing poorly. Such as, “you can’t say Arsenal without saying Arse.” But we love our Gunners!) FA Cup Final tomorrow. For the Arsenal! ---
**Author:** ![mascaroni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dc4da7/32.png) [@mascaroni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mascaroni)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2014, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-these-soccer-team-names-to-an-ignorant-american/534284/75 "2014-05-16T21:05:50Z")
> [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](#): > > I’ve always thought Arsenal was such a great name for a sports team. It’s short and snappy, it’s classy in that it’s named after its geographical roots rather than being invented by a marketing person, and it suggests explosive firepower! And it means the club gets to use a weapon on its badge. Unlike in the US, geographical roots are rather more important than the franchise system that relocates clubs to the highest bidder. Arsenal are no better than MK Dons in that respect, having moved from Woolwich to Drayton Park. They also have the distinction of being the only club in the English top division never to having earned their place in it, achieving their top flight status by means of bribery between 1915-19. ---
**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2014, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-these-soccer-team-names-to-an-ignorant-american/534284/76 "2014-05-16T21:24:20Z")
> [@mascaroni](#): > > Unlike in the US, geographical roots are rather more important than the franchise system that relocates clubs to the highest bidder. Arsenal are no better than MK Dons in that respect, having moved from Woolwich to Drayton Park. They also have the distinction of being the only club in the English top division never to having earned their place in it, achieving their top flight status by means of bribery between 1915-19. Tottenham fan per chance? ---
**Author:** ![mascaroni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dc4da7/32.png) [@mascaroni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mascaroni)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2014, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-these-soccer-team-names-to-an-ignorant-american/534284/77 "2014-05-16T21:33:38Z")
> [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](#): > > Tottenham fan per chance? Doris Stokes has got nothing on you… ---
**Author:** ![racepug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@racepug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racepug)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2014, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-these-soccer-team-names-to-an-ignorant-american/534284/78 "2014-05-16T21:52:11Z")
> [@Sitnam](#): > > **Sheffield Wednesday** - is my favorite bizarre football team name. There are _plenty_ of those. One of my favorites is Santiago Morning in Chile. There are also: Santiago Wanderers, Audax Italiano, Palestino, and Unión Española (yes, their uniforms are much the same as _La Furia Roja_’s). The “Big Three” in Chile, though, are: Colo Colo (the name of a Mapuche chief), Universidad Católica, and Universidad de Chile. From Chile only Colo Colo has won the Copa Libertadores (23 years ago over Olimpia de Paraguay in the final. Colo Colo then lost the world club championship to Crvena Zvevda (Red Star) of (then-)Yugoslavia. ---
**Author:** ![racepug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@racepug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racepug)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2014, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-these-soccer-team-names-to-an-ignorant-american/534284/79 "2014-05-16T21:53:54Z")
> [@boxerfoley](#): > > I quite like the German Football team of Kickers Offenbach **Kickers** , eh? That’s pretty much how I viewed the German national team from the time I first saw it (the 1982 World Cup) until Löw took over - as little more than a bunch of Kickers (of opponents). ---
**Author:** ![mascaroni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dc4da7/32.png) [@mascaroni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mascaroni)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2014, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-these-soccer-team-names-to-an-ignorant-american/534284/80 "2014-05-16T22:28:37Z")
> [@racepug](#): > > **Kickers** , eh? That’s pretty much how I viewed the German national team from the time I first saw it (the 1982 World Cup) until Löw took over - as little more than a bunch of Kickers (of opponents). I always saw them as divers rather than kickers. Oh, and elbowers… remember the Poodle (Rijkaard conditioned) haired Voller blatantly elbowed Maradona in the face in the 1990 final and got away scot free? Well, having spoilt the World Cup by knocking out FIFA’s beloved Brazil, Argentina probably deserved it… Still, the tournament still had its high points; the look on Andy Roxburgh’s face after Scotland had lost to Costa Rica was certainly one… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-these-soccer-team-names-to-an-ignorant-american/534284.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-these-soccer-team-names-to-an-ignorant-american/534284.md?page=5)