London is jam-packed with football teams. From the fierce rivalry between Tottenham and Arsenal to West Ham’s jaw-dropping displays, not to mention Chelsea’s championship teams, the beautiful game is thriving in the city.
Ever wonder how to meet your favorite football players? We’ll explain where to find them and how to get their autographs in this article.
It takes some serious effort to meet a footballer. Numerous people attempt, but only a small number are successful in obtaining the highly prized autographs.
The first thing to do is. Grab a functional permanent marker and some items that you want autographed.
The following is a list of the most popular methods you may use to meet your favorite players in London and obtain their autographs or even take pictures with them:
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Training Sessions
Traveling to the various practice facilities and waiting for the players outside the gates is a highly advised method.
It won’t be simple because thousands of spectators swarm the sporting venues in an effort to catch sight of the champs.
Airports And Hotels
A typical approach is to learn the team’s accommodations for road games. Before the game or after they leave, you can wait for your heroes in front of the hotel.
But keep in mind that many hotels have back entrances for celebrities, so you might not be as fortunate.
When players need to travel abroad for games, we also recommend airports: watch for your favorite players returning from an international match; if they are doing so after winning, you’ll catch them in a high mood.
TV Programs And Events
Of course, football players don’t spend their entire lives on the field. They are frequently asked to participate in charitable events or appear on TV programs.
To increase your chances of learning where they’ll be next, keep a watch on their social media accounts.
Visit Popular Sports Bars And Clubs
Football players enjoy throwing a fantastic celebration following a win or at the end of the season. Above all else, they adore basking in the affection of their followers.
As a result, the greatest thing you can do if you want a football player’s attention is to go to the sports bars and clubs they frequent while they are home.
How can you locate a place like that? They frequently frequent establishments with a sizable following, an upscale ambiance, and plenty of memorabilia on the walls, so it ought to be simple.
In order to find people, scout out some places and then spend some time there.
Join An Official Fan Club
Joining a fan club is a virtually guaranteed way to meet football players.
All of these officially recognized fan clubs serve the purpose of uniting supporters to celebrate the teams’ victories, but they also provide the opportunity for supporters to occasionally interact with the teams they root for.
If you commit yourself to a club, you might meet your favorite players and get the chance to speak with them one-on-one.
They could be more inclined to want to get to know you a little bit better than they otherwise would if they recognize you as someone they have seen in the stands or at the bars.
Locations In And Around London Where Football Players Are Most Likely To Be Seen:
Some communities and hotspots have developed into lucrative places to run into a professional football player or two due to the large number of Premier League stars living and training close to their facilities.
The top Chelsea and Fulham players live in Surrey, while Barnet in North London is well renowned for being a hotspot for Tottenham and Arsenal stars. You might also find a few others in Essex.
1. Cobham and Kingswood, Surrey
Particularly with Jose Mourinho’s infamous rule of residing no more than 3 miles from training, the communities in and surrounding the Cobham training field are the ideal location to look if you want to rub shoulders with a Chelsea player.
With a population of just under 7,000 and an average home value of £1.5 million, Kingswood is located in the Surrey Hills.
Some of its more well-known residents throughout the years have included footballers like Danny Murphy, Arjen Robben, Steve Sidwell, Robert Huth, and Nigel Reo-Coker.
Frank Lampard, a former Chelsea player, also resides nearby. He and his wife, Loose Women star Christine, share a £10 million home.
Diego Costa was reportedly seen by a few fans in 2014 following home matches at a cash station close to his Imperial Wharf residence.
2. Hadley Wood and Cuffley, Hertfordshire
Hadley Wood, near Hertfordshire, where players like Thierry Henry and Robert Pires have lived, is one of the best spots to run into an Arsenal player.
The former manager of Arsenal, Arsene Wenger, also used to reside nearby Totteridge in Barnet.
The simple travel to their teams and the verdant green and open environment that is yet close to London are luring more and more players, including Theo Walcott, Jack Wilshere, and Dele Alli, into Hertfordshire.
However, homes are expensive; one six-bedroom mansion was recently listed for £5 million.
Ledley King, Jermain Defoe, and Kyle Walker have also resided nearby in Cuffley; Defoe sold his home there for £3.75 million in 2011.
3. Chigwell, Essex
Along with Loughton and Buckhurst Hill, Chigwell in Essex, which is a component of the so-called “golden triangle” of affluent neighborhoods, has gained popularity.
The best-known characteristic of Chigwell, according to supporters of Tottenham and West Ham, is that it is the location “where the footballers live.”
Aside from Bobby Moore, the West Ham great and England World Cup-winning captain, other prominent footballers who have resided in the area include Jermain Defoe and Paolo Di Canio.
Chigwell’s popularity might be attributed in part to its affluence, but Tottenham also once had a training facility close by.
Harry Kane, the captain of England, apparently also resides close.
The Tottenham striker’s opulent Essex property includes a swimming pool, gym, Movie Theater, golf simulator room, and a makeshift viewing tipi with a World Cup theme.