This article is dedicated to all the “futboler@s” kids of the Salvat Papasseit.

Football is the most popular sport in London.

For the 2013-2014 season there are 6 London clubs in the Premier League (wow! 6 teams in the Premier, in Barcelona we have just 2 clubs in “Primera División”).

Here is the list:

There are some good Spanish players in these clubs:

Santi Cazorla, Mikel Arteta, Nacho Monreal, Jon Toral and Héctor Bellerin play for Arsenal.

Fernando Torres and César Azpilicueta play for Chelsea.

Roberto Soldado plays for Tottenham.

Adrián plays for West Ham United; he is the goalkeeper (or goalie).

Most clubs’ nicknames come from when the club was originally founded.

v  For example, in 1886 workers at Woolwich Arsenal Armament Factory decided to form a football club. Today Arsenal keeps the name associated with that origin: Gunners, and a cannon in his badge.

v  The Thames Ironworks Football Club, founded in 1895 for metal workers, became over time West Ham United. His badge shows one of those men’s tools: two crossed hammers, and the club has been known as the Hammers ever since.

v  Fulham’s nickname (“Cottagers”) comes from the famous cottage which is an iconic part of Fulham’s Craven Cottage ground.

And finally, my question:

Do you know why followers of Barça and Espanyol are called “culés” (or “culers”) and “periquitos”?

Vocabulary

Goalkeeper: his duty is to prevent the ball from entering in the goal.

Gunner: in the British Army, an artilleryman (in Spanish: artillero)

Badge: a distinguishing emblem or mark worn to signify membership, employment, achievement, etc (in Catalan: escut)

Tool: in Catalan: eina

Hammer: a hand tool consisting of a heavy usually steel head held transversely on the end of a    handle, used for driving in nails, beating metal, etc. (in Catalan: martell)

Cottage: small simple house, especially in a rural area.

Hello again!

It’s very difficult for us, Mediterranean people, to understand the importance that nice weather has in countries where sunny days and warm temperatures are so rare!

Last winter has been long and very wet. There have been important floods near London. The sun was weak and often hidden behind dark clouds. Hats, gloves and scarves hid people’s faces and hands… So sad!

Suddenly in March the temperature rises and the sun really shines. And the city changes! Parks and gardens fill up with smiling people and some curious facts start…

In the week, clerks and students, shoppers and workers, have lunch outside, eating and laughing…

At the weekend the parks are full of families and friends playing football, cricket, rugby, volleyball, lacrosse…

People take off jumpers, jackets and socks, and walk barefoot on the grass.

Thousands of small colourful flowers appear on the ground. Daffodils mark the start of the spring and they are everywhere… Also in many buttonholes!

Everybody seems happier! Spring is perfect time to visit London.

Finally… one question, a difficult one!: What  are the two essential things you need to play lacrosse? 

Vocabulary:

Flood: the inundation of land because of heavy rains or high level of a river.

Buttonhole: the hole in the clothes for passing the button… (En català: trau, en castellà: ojal)

                                                     Regents Park