The Southeastern United States is known for its passionate love of all things football, just not the black and white, round kind of football. Yet I found myself, a product of the deep south, huddled over a computer screen on a Saturday morning in the middle of American Football season, watching Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard electrify Anfield and singing along with nearly 46,000 fans on the other side of the pond as they belted out “You’ll Never Walk Alone.” How does this happen? It happens through the prodding of a friend from New Zealand and the resources the internet offers for a Yankee to learn about all things ‘soccer’ or ‘footy’.

The internet has changed the way we watch footy/soccer. One of the major ways that clubs utilize the internet to reach a global audience is by hosting their own live streaming video content. Liverpool FC offers live match coverage, interviews with players, analysis, historical videos, and more for a low monthly subscription fee. Other major clubs in the Premier League, as well as other European clubs offer similar services to footy/soccer starved fans around the globe. Real Madrid offers free video updates daily. For a fan new to the game, or simply far away from the action, this type of service can be priceless.

Another essential way footy/soccer clubs reach a global audience is through the use of social media. Famous Spanish club Barcelona maintains an active social media presence with numerous accounts through Facebook, Twitter, Google+, YouTube, and Instagram. They feature constant video and photo updates, live chats with players and club personalities, the latest news, injury updates, match results, and more. All of this is made available through the free and convenient use of social media. This is a fan’s dream and never would have been possible without the expansion, development, and widespread use of internet technology. Every major club now maintains some sort of social media presence and in the Premier League, social media interaction grew by 57% from January to August 2013. As more fans follow the clubs on these social media outlets, clubs provide more information on a more regular basis. This is an exciting way for footy/soccer fans around the globe to follow the sport and their favorite club.

In America, even traditional media outlets are finding that utilizing the internet can reach people with footy/soccer and improve television ratings. NBC, through their new NBC Sports Network, picked up Premier League coverage to go with MLS coverage and are devoting programming and marketing money to bringing the product to American viewers. However, the internet is providing another outlet for the network to stream the full season of Premier League games. This is helping to boost ratings for the Network coverage of games and for MLS games alike. Even traditional media outlets are finding internet technology essential to connecting with global fans.

Most major clubs are utilizing the internet more than ever to reach fans around the globe. Through fan clubs, members only areas, premium content, live chats, social media, blogs, and the like, content that was once only available to local fans is now readily available to fans around the world. So this Saturday, I will wear my Liverpool FC scarf and cheer on the Reds with other supporters around the globe.

Sean Poynter is a former college athlete and freelance writer. His work concentrates on the partnership between sports and technology. He spends his free time researching the latest technology news and following his favorite sports teams.

Thanks for reading! Please take a moment to follow us on Twitter – @LastWordOnSport and “Like” our Facebook Page.

Interested in writing for us at LastWordOnSports? Just check our page for new writers.

Main photo credit: Tiger Pixel via photopin cc