The Premier League's US Instagram account @PLinUSA celebrates the passionate, diverse PL fandom from coast to coast in the series Premier League passion in the US: Fans' stories.
Meet Eric Stuebner, a Brighton & Hove Albion fan in Gilbert, Arizona, who shares his love for the community-driven club down south with his two sons, Henry and Max.
Eric
“In the spring of 2005, I packed my bags to teach abroad in England, specifically in Brighton, a semester after a friend had emailed me about the opportunity.
“I threw together a half-witted essay and left in January, arriving at my dorm in a cold, rainy climate and not knowing what I was doing.
“The first guy I met was John, and he asked me who I supported. Confused, I told him I follow the USC Trojans college football team.
"He quickly stopped me and said I had to have a football club, letting me know that Brighton has one, but that they’re s***!
“Slowly, I got into the sport, watching Brighton matches during the Withdean Stadium years. The colleges I had been to had bigger stadiums.
“However, when I left in May back to Arizona, I forgot about Brighton and fell back into my routine of American sports.
“Over a decade later, I was listening to the Dan Patrick Show, a famous radio show in the U.S., and they had NBC Sports’ Premier League host Rebecca Lowe on to discuss the upcoming season.
“It hit me that the league started a couple of weeks before college football, so I tuned in on August 12th, 2017, and the first shot I saw was a helicopter view over Amex Community Stadium. I’m like, holy s***, that’s the dorm I lived in right there, and Brighton made it to the Premier League!
“I was instantly hooked despite a 2-0 loss to Manchester City and realized through a Google search that the bus stop I stood at every morning was just feet away from the stadium.
“The very next weekend, right after my now nine-year-old son Henry was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, he and I were up early in front of the TV to watch the match.
"It quickly became routine. Henry names the days after things he knows will be a part of his routine, so "Saturday (or Sunday) Seagulls" was born.
“Usually, a weekend matchday entails Henry, Max and I taking the golf cart through our community farm home in Agritopia to BoSa Donuts, coming back to brew coffee, throwing the Stateside Seagulls scarf on the mantle and watching together.
“Sometimes Max and I get very invested and Henry will tell me we’re screaming too loud or clapping too loud. To signal to Henry that Brighton scored, I usually pick up Max and fly him around the house like a seagull.
"Henry will chase us shrieking and flapping his hands to show us he’s engaged and happy. He’s limited verbally, but loves music, so he joins us in singing 'Good Old Sussex by the Sea'.
Compassion and empathy
“That extra step of empathy about what other families may be going through is so important.
“Everyone is dealing with something and having that patience and respect to understand, accept and show more compassion goes a long way.
“The club’s empathy resonates with us when you see the work of Albion in the Community and the inclusion room Brighton built at the Amex that families can use as a safe and reassuring space to watch matches. It’s called the Amex Community Stadium and the club goes above and beyond to make everyone feel like they’re part of that community every time they visit.
“I hope to one day visit my old stomping grounds, see the inclusion room and watch a match with my family. Knowing Henry loves music and singing, he’d probably want to be in the North Stand instead.”
