James Rosales from Dallas, Texas, was becoming intrigued by the English Premier League but didn’t have a club to support until one was presented to him by complete chance.
When global superstar James Rodriguez joined Everton in September 2020, fan website and forum GrandOldTeam tweeted the playmaker’s new number but pressed send early and, as opposed to tagging @JamesRodriguez, they linked to @JamesRo.
Shocked to find his account peppered with notifications, Rosales suddenly had hundreds of Toffees in his mentions and from that moment, he belonged.
First buying a royal blue Everton shirt, complete with ‘James’ on the back, Rosales has since gathered with fellow Americans in the early hours to catch the Blues’ in action and has even flown to Merseyside to see the team live at Goodison Park.
Here, Rosales recalls the moment he was ‘Chosen’, as the famous Everton quote states, and shares what it’s been like to follow Everton throughout one of the most turbulent times in the club’s history.