From Iran to Everton: Hamed's journey as a Blue

Supporting Everton isn’t always the obvious choice, especially in a country where the Premier League is dominated by the so-called “Big Six.” But for some, football is about more than just trophies and global fame. It’s about connection, passion, and finding a club that feels like home.

For Hamed King, that moment came in the year 2000. A simple magazine changed everything, introducing him to a club with a rich history and an undeniable spirit. From that day on, Everton became more than just a football team, it became a way of life.

This is the story of how one fan in Iran found his place with the Blues.

By Hamed King

Discovering Everton in the sea of the "Big Six"

In Iran, English football is synonymous with the so-called "Big Six." Their matches dominate the broadcasts, their stories fill the headlines, and their players are household names. If you support a club outside of those six, you're seen as an outsider.

That was my reality, until the year 2000.

At 16, I picked up a football magazine that detailed the history of English clubs. As I flipped through the pages, one story stood out to me: Everton’s. A club with a rich past, a long list of trophies, and a passionate fanbase. Yet, at that time, it felt like a dormant volcano—full of history, power, and potential, just waiting to erupt again. There was something sad yet deeply compelling about it.

From that moment on, I was hooked. I read everything I could find about Everton, watched their matches whenever possible, and fell deeper into my love for the club.

What Everton means to me

If I had to sum up Everton in a few words, it would be: community, pride, inspiration, and loyalty.

Everton isn’t just a football team, it’s a way of life. It’s the anticipation before kickoff, the elation after a big win, and the unwavering belief even in difficult times. Supporting Everton has taught me patience, resilience, and the importance of sticking by something you love, no matter what.

Matchday rituals: 

When Everton plays, everything else stops.

Usually, I enjoy watching football with my friends or my brother, but Everton is different. For those 90 minutes, I need to be alone. No distractions. Just me, the screen, and the sound turned up as loud as possible so I can absorb every chant from Goodison Park. I close my eyes and imagine I’m there, among the Evertonians, living and breathing every moment.

Defending the Toffees in Iran

In my early years as a Blue, I was constantly teased for supporting a team that wasn’t competing for titles. Many couldn’t understand why I chose Everton over the clubs that dominated the league. But rather than argue, I educated them. I explained Everton’s history, its significance in English football, and why success isn’t just measured in trophies.

Over time, I turned skeptics into believers. Some of those same people who once laughed at my passion for Everton now follow the club with me. Creating a small Evertonian community in a country where little is said about the club is something I’m incredibly proud of.

Everton moments that live forever

There have been so many incredible moments, but if I could relive just one, it would be Phil Jagielka’s equaliser against Liverpool. It was a moment of pure magic—just like James Tarkowski’s goal years later. I was over the moon, screaming at the screen as if I was in the away end myself. 

But my all-time favourite memory? Without a doubt, Wayne Rooney’s stunning goal against Arsenal in October 2002.

Photo from Getty Images

That goal was special for so many reasons. It came during my early years as a Blue, when my passion for Everton was still taking shape. It was Rooney’s first Premier League goal, making him the youngest goal scorer in the league at the time. More than that, it ended Arsenal’s unbeaten run and in the dying minutes of the match, no less. And the best part? I watched it live. That was the moment I knew Everton was in my blood forever.

Why Everton?

Some people support teams because of trophies. Others follow clubs because of star players. But for me, Everton is about something deeper. It’s about identity, passion, and unwavering loyalty.

Through the highs and the lows, I remain a Blue. Because supporting Everton isn’t about choosing the easy path—it’s about choosing the one that truly means something.

And I wouldn’t have it any other way.