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Just Moved to Montreal. Interest in Impact / football games

Publié : 20 avril 2016 11:47
par junglejim67
Bonjour

First off apologies for posting in English. I've just moved to Montreal and speak no French. I am taking classes!

I'm a born and raised Celtic supporter. Former season ticket holder. I've followed Celtic and the Scottish national team all over the place.
I've just moved to Montreal with my girlfriend and obviously interested in what the city has on offer regards football.

I've just bought a house 5 mins walk from Impact stadium so I'd be interested in checking the games out. I'll need to be honest and say I'm not a fan of MLS. My only
other experience was in Toronto and I wasn't too impressed and couldn't be bothered with the "soccer wankers" telling me how they are die hard Man City and Chelsea fans. It was all a bit plastic.

My brother in law says the impact is a bit different. You guys have an identity based on the Quebec culture. I even saw on a Celtic forum you guys being commended for left wing anti-facist pro immigration standpoints.
Not sure if this is true? I'd be very interested to hear of fan culture in Montreal.

Anyway I'm attending my first game this Saturday. Just wondering if anyone could fill me in on fan culture in Montreal.
Also, I'm looking for a team to play for. I need some fitness and looking for a downtown club to train with. Anyone know of any teams looking for players?

Re: Just Moved to Montreal. Interest in Impact / football ga

Publié : 20 avril 2016 12:23
par fmfranck
First of all, a very warm welcome to you Jim.

I'd say your first impressions are fairly accurate. As a whole, Québec is probably the most "left wing" area of Canada. This is reflected in the support of its football team. Some supporter groups are even outspokenly Anti-facist or anti-capitalist (Front Commun Montréal, ARMS). The rest of the KOP (namely the Ultras Montréal 02 and neutrals) are a-political in their nature, but are probably more lenient towards left-wing political ideals.

To summarize, the Kop (section 132) is rather anti-establishment-ish and more vocal/passionate.

A more "Toronto-like" casual (actually casual, not "hooligan" casual) supporter group has recently been created in the opposite side of the stadium. It's more bilingual and definetly more corporate (some, including me, think the club might have had a hand in their creation).

This is pretty much the gist of it. I'd say our original supporter section is unlike the rest of what you'll see in MLS (perhaps apart from D.C and, stretching it, San José) but its gone a bit soft recently (last year and a half I'd say). The rest of the stadium though is pretty standard. Knowledge of the game is still below what you'll find in Europe obviously.

Here's what you might expect from the Kop on saturday (more or less):



As for football teams, I currently reside in Québec City, so I wouldnt be able to expand too much on this. I'm sure others will be able to inform you though. ;)

Re: Just Moved to Montreal. Interest in Impact / football ga

Publié : 20 avril 2016 12:42
par junglejim67
Looks good. Is the KOP a liverpool reference I take it? What's the connection there?

Re: Just Moved to Montreal. Interest in Impact / football ga

Publié : 20 avril 2016 13:04
par Phil7777
Welcome to MTL! Hope you have fun at the game and keep in mind that football is a growing sport here - still not part of the local culture. But it's going in the right direction. :)

Re: Just Moved to Montreal. Interest in Impact / football ga

Publié : 20 avril 2016 13:21
par fmfranck
junglejim67 a écrit :Looks good. Is the KOP a liverpool reference I take it? What's the connection there?
Kop is actually not a direct reference to Liverpool. In general, "a kop" is a standing terrace where the most vocal supporters are. Liverpool's kop is obviously the most famous one, and thus its name as become synomimous with the word "kop". However, if Liverpool's were the first club to adopt the name officially, its use was rather general in the early 20th century from what i can read. The term is now used (i can speak for french at least) to designate a "supporter section" in a stadium.

Re: Just Moved to Montreal. Interest in Impact / football ga

Publié : 20 avril 2016 13:47
par penz
junglejim67 a écrit :My only other experience was in Toronto and I wasn't too impressed and couldn't be bothered with the "soccer wankers" telling me how they are die hard Man City and Chelsea fans. It was all a bit plastic.
Well, you know everything there is to know about Toronto. :D
You'll see the difference on Saturday.

Re: Just Moved to Montreal. Interest in Impact / football ga

Publié : 21 avril 2016 12:06
par junglejim67
Thanks for the info. I'm looking forward to the game on Saturday.

I'd be interested in learning more of the fan culture. A few ultras groups were mentioned. Is there anywhere to find detail on these groups?
Is there any pubs of significance to the fans or any other elements associated with Quebec football culture I should explore?

Re: Just Moved to Montreal. Interest in Impact / football ga

Publié : 21 avril 2016 12:26
par penz
I think the most football culture oriented pub in the region has to be the Burgundy Lion, in Petite-Bourgogne. This is where you'll find the real die hard English football fans, but the pub owner is also very much into IMFC and never hesitates to host groups or events related to IMFC.

On IMFC gamedays, you can find the ultras and other kop-related groups/people at Bar 99 on Hochelaga Street near the stadium (not very near but near enough).
Other hangouts on gamedays are located on Ontario Street west of Pie-IX, most notably Le Trèfle, a "kinda-irish" pub where you will find the folks of 127 Montréal whenever they don't tailgate.

As for away games, the Café Saint-Laurent Frappé, on Saint-Laurent Street, is the usual gathering spot for ultras and a lot of others to watch the game.

As for supporters groups, you can find info on UM02 at um02.com. Also you can look for other MTL groups online (facebook mostly), like ARMS (Anti-Racist Montreal Supporters), Front Commun Montréal, 127 Montréal and so on. Same goes for groups of other clubs. They're usually very easy to find on social media. So whenever you catch the name of a group you like, a quick search usually yields results.

Re: Just Moved to Montreal. Interest in Impact / football ga

Publié : 22 avril 2016 14:23
par junglejim67
English football fans as in... they are English or they like English football? I've zero interest in English football. I avoid it at all costs. I'd be keen to see more Quebec culture.

I just bought a house in Hochelaga. I went into Le Trèfle. A bit too posh for me. I'm used to the Gallowgate in Glasgow. As a Celtic fan with Irish republican sympathies, I also can't be bothered with them calling drinks "black and tans" and "Irish car bombs". Not exactly good taste when you know what a black and tan was. Nice enough pub to take the Mrs to lunch in.

That Bar 99 looks of interest. I'll check that out and your other suggestions. Tailgating would be good.

Looked up the UM02 website and it seems to be down? Couldn't find anything on ARMS or Front Commun Montreal or 127. Problem with Ultra groups is they don't appear to make themselves easily available to outsiders.
I sent UM02 a msg on FB. They probably think I'm a Toronto fan trying to noise them up or something.

Anyway. I've some Green Brigade stickers, badges and scarfs as we ll as fans against Criminalization stuff to exchange with any ultra movement. Times are hard for football fans in Scotland with the Anti-social behavior at football act by the police.
It's good to have a chance to go to the football Saturday without a running from the cops or being fooking kettled.

Send any info my way you think is relevant.

PS: Am I likely to be told to fuck off as I can't yet speak french?

Re: Just Moved to Montreal. Interest in Impact / football ga

Publié : 25 avril 2016 21:27
par gbagrami
I hope that you won't judge a Stade Saputo experience by the last game, it was one of the two or three worst games by the Impact in the MLS era, on the pitch as well as in the stands.

Re: Just Moved to Montreal. Interest in Impact / football ga

Publié : 27 avril 2016 14:43
par junglejim67
I'll head back to the next game and see how things are. Wasn't a great game of football but Good being at the football in the sunshine.
Still crazy to me you can drink at these games. Plus drinking outside. Just bought a house in hochelaga.

Had a good laugh at some people walking around in cringe-inducing "ultras" hoodies. Looked about as Ultra as a boy / girl band.

Still On a look out for a football team to train with if you know any.

Re: Just Moved to Montreal. Interest in Impact / football ga

Publié : 27 avril 2016 14:50
par Bxl Boy
Maybe you can try there, they have a senior team (as Strange as it looks, lot of clubs in Québec only have teams for kids) : http://www.soccercpcmhm.com/
Don't be surprises by the level...

Re: Just Moved to Montreal. Interest in Impact / football ga

Publié : 28 octobre 2016 5:16
par Bob33
Nice,I am planning my trip to Montreal,hopefully can be on the spot to watch the game

Re: Just Moved to Montreal. Interest in Impact / football ga

Publié : 19 décembre 2016 12:22
par junglejim67
Just bought myself a season ticket for Impact. A strange feeling having a season ticket for any club other than Celtic!!

Re: Just Moved to Montreal. Interest in Impact / football ga

Publié : 19 décembre 2016 16:29
par Phil7777
junglejim67 a écrit :Just bought myself a season ticket for Impact. A strange feeling having a season ticket for any club other than Celtic!!
Congratz!

Re: Just Moved to Montreal. Interest in Impact / football ga

Publié : 19 décembre 2016 16:37
par junglejim67
Yeah, I went all in haha.

I need to find a way for me to connect with this team and to adopt them as my new home town club

Re: Just Moved to Montreal. Interest in Impact / football ga

Publié : 20 décembre 2016 13:39
par Shinsuo
junglejim67 a écrit :Yeah, I went all in haha.

I need to find a way for me to connect with this team and to adopt them as my new home town club
That's the spirit my friend!! Welcome on board!! :wink:

Re: Just Moved to Montreal. Interest in Impact / football ga

Publié : 20 décembre 2016 23:56
par gbagrami
It may take a couple of years, as it was in my case. Now, I'm hooked. You just have to realize that you don't "cheat" your original beloved club, since this is an different continent, and the Impact is not a possible competitor for your original club in any means, lol

Re: Just Moved to Montreal. Interest in Impact / football ga

Publié : 21 décembre 2016 15:33
par junglejim67
Merci Beacoup for the warm welcome.

gbagrami - Yeah for sure. I know Celtic will always be first for me. But I always support my local team and look forward to getting behind montreal.
If you don't mind me asking, are you also new to Canada? What is your original club?

Shinsuo - Thanks for the welcome mate. I really hope I get hooked on this team. I live close to the stadium so want to try tailgating and meeting other fans.


First off let me say, As you can tell by buying the ticket... I'm not some snobby european with the attitude "MLS sucks and the fans here know nothing".
Yes, I'm hugely opinionated about football and would argue with anyone until the cows come home about football. But I'm here to show a bit of respect to the support.
You guys need to keep me right and help educate me on all things Montreal Impact.

I really want to get into this and really absorb the Montreal Impact culture.
TBH I've had a hard adjustment to life in Montreal and I really want to make every effort with this football team. It's the perfect blend of my culture in Scotland with Quebec and Canadian culture.

Any advice or pointers on absorbing the Impact culture would greatly be appreciated.
I checked out bar 99 which seems a cool dive bar. But I always seem to miss the fans and end up drinking pints on my own! haha
Any other bars or joints to check out? I've also been to Frappe.

Re: Just Moved to Montreal. Interest in Impact / football ga

Publié : 23 décembre 2016 2:24
par gbagrami
Nice to see that you're so positive about getting behind the Impact. :)

Oh, I've been there for a while now, just over 10 years. My original club is Olympique de Marseille. ;)

Re: Just Moved to Montreal. Interest in Impact / football ga

Publié : 23 décembre 2016 9:16
par junglejim67
Marseille? nice one. My knowledge of French league. The team I followed down there are St Etienne as I have some friends in Magic fans. I know you won't want to hear that as a Marseille fan ;-).

Re: Just Moved to Montreal. Interest in Impact / football ga

Publié : 03 janvier 2017 14:37
par Ian
Just wondering what section did you get your season tickets in?

Re: Just Moved to Montreal. Interest in Impact / football ga

Publié : 03 janvier 2017 17:24
par junglejim67
My ticket is in section 132

Re: Just Moved to Montreal. Interest in Impact / football games

Publié : 22 septembre 2017 16:25
par perthsaint
Hi, I thought I'd jump in here rather than starting a new thread. I'm spending a few days in Montreal next week and have a ticket for the game versus New York. My questions are really about beer. There are various suggestions about pre-match beer venues up-thread. Are those still current or are there any new venues of note? What are the options for having a beer (by which I don't mean rubbish like Bud or similar) in the ground? Finally, what are the best options for bars and brewbars in the city as a whole. I'm visiting for 6 days so have a fair amount of drinking time which I don't want to waste on mediocrity.

Many thanks for your help in advance and best wishes.

Re: Just Moved to Montreal. Interest in Impact / football games

Publié : 22 septembre 2017 17:54
par Bxl Boy
I'll let the other ones answer for the stadium, but in the City for another day, I suggest Le Biermarkt, that has a wide range of beers, inluding some very good ones, at various prices.