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Football Side Choices: Part 3 of 3

K-League

Sometimes when examining the options, an obvious choice presents itself. Just such a case happens with my choice from the K-League, the youngest league I've chosen to follow. Judy's hometown is Pohang, and Pohang just so happens to have a very successful side, the The Pohang Steelers. The Steelers have gone by a few different names in their history, originally called POSCO after the Pohang Iron and Steel Company that owned it. In 1984 they changed their name to POSCO Dolphins, and in 1985 to POSCO Atoms. In 1995 they again changed names, becoming the Pohang Atoms before changing the last time in 1997 to the Pohang Steelers.

The Steelers were a founding member of the K-League in 1983 and have enjoyed have a history of success. They've won the several league titles (1986, 1988, and 1992), were runners up on several other occasions (1985, 1987, 1995, and 2004). They've won two Asian Cup championships, winning them back to back in 1997 and 1998. Given such a history and the personal ties I have, it's like it was meant for me to be a fan.

In the first stage of the 2006 K-League play, Pohang finished in second place with 22 points from 6 wins, 4 draws, and 3 losses. The Steelers finished second to Seongnam, who appear to have dominated the first round with 10 wins, 2 draws, and only a single loss. The Steelers must win the second round in order to qualify for the playoffs. They kick off the second round at Chonbuk, a team they defeated 3-1 in the first round. Here's to a great start next Wednesday!

Irish Premier League

The final league from which I'll choose a team is the Irish Premier League. I'll start this decision not by looking at history but by geography. I have ancestors from Ireland on my mother's side, ancestors with the surname Gordon. Gordon is actually Scottish, but I only know my origins back to Ireland with confidence. Although I can't verify it, I have traced my ancestors back to John Gordon, born about 1370 in Scurdurgue, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. But that's another story. I'll make my choice based on an ancestor, John George Gordon born in 1691 in Sheepbridge, Newry, County Down, Ireland.

Of note is that the clubs in Northern Ireland, for the most part, consist of part-time players who hold day jobs. The league is one of the oldest and longest-running domestic leagues in the world. The Irish League first started in 1890 with 8 clubs. The side I am choosing to follow, Newry City, was not a member in that inaugural season, but began play with the 1923 season. I'm choosing Newry City because that is where I have traced my ancestry to Ireland, and given the specialness of this league (the town of Loughgall, with a population of 285, hosts a team), I feel comfortable not choosing an original member of the league (which would have been Cliftonville, Linfield, or Glentoran).

Newry City has never won a league championship, but perhaps this year will be different. They finished last season in 6th place with 45 points and a six match streak without dropping a match (3 wins and 3 draws). They open the 2006/2007 league campaign at Dungannon Swifts, who finished last season in 4th with 49 points. These two clubs played three times last season, each winning one match and drawing the other. The loss by Newry was not in league play but in Mid-Ulster Cup. League play begins Saturday, Sept. 23.