It's a unique situation as well because England is a small

The words of Claudio Reyna — “It’s a unique situation as well because England is a small country, so it makes it easy for the fans to travel. If we play down in London, they get buses and we’ll get three or four thousand fans come down. They’ll all sit in the same area and show their support for the team.” — speak of more than football. They speak of the eternal bond between a people and the warriors who bear their colors. They speak of unity, of loyalty, of the power that arises when a multitude gathers as one to lift up their champions. What he describes is not simply convenience of distance; it is the living rhythm of community, the heartbeat of belonging.

The fans who travel, who leave their towns and villages to follow their club, are the lifeblood of the game. They are more than observers; they are participants, for without their songs, their chants, their flags, the contest loses half its soul. In ancient times, the armies of a city-state would march with their citizens behind them, raising voices in encouragement. So too in the modern stadium, the team fights on the field while the people wage their own battle of sound and spirit in the stands. Reyna honors this truth: the closeness of England allows this bond to be stronger, for the distance between field and home is easily crossed, and the unity of thousands can be carried on wheels of buses to every ground.

History gives us shining examples of the same principle. Think of the Olympic Games in ancient Greece, where cities sent both athletes and citizens to Olympia. The competitions were not only for glory but for the pride of the polis, and the gathered citizens made their presence known, filling the air with passion. Or recall the armies of Rome, who marched to battle with banners held high, cheered on by those who walked beside them. It was never only the fighters; it was the multitude united. So too in modern football: when three or four thousand stand together, the team does not play alone, but with the roar of its people inside them.

There is a heroic power in such support. For when the body of a player tires, when the odds feel heavy, it is the voice of the crowd that lifts him again. Many a match has been turned not by skill alone but by the fire that fans carry into the arena. A single chant, echoing across a stadium, can harden the will of a player or shake the confidence of an opponent. What Reyna describes — the sight of thousands gathered together in one area — is nothing less than a modern phalanx: a wall of human spirit unbreakable in its unity.

Yet his words also teach us about the gift of closeness. In larger lands, distances weaken this bond, for travel is long, costly, and rare. But in England, the smallness of the land becomes its strength, allowing the spirit of travel to be ever-present, allowing fans to follow their heroes wherever they play. What might seem limitation becomes blessing, for it preserves the intimacy between the team and those who carry its songs. The stadium becomes not a faraway theater but an extension of the village square, filled with familiar faces and voices.

The lesson here is timeless: community is built not on distance, but on devotion. Where closeness allows, nurture it; where distance hinders, bridge it. Whether in sport, in family, or in life, the act of showing up, of standing side by side, is more powerful than any word spoken from afar. Just as soldiers once relied on their comrades in the line, so do modern athletes rely on their fans, not only for cheers but for the unspoken strength that comes from knowing they are not alone.

Practical wisdom follows. If you are a supporter, do not underestimate the power of your presence. Go where your people are; add your voice, your hands, your spirit to the collective. If you are part of a team — whether in sport, in work, or in community — honor those who stand behind you, for their sacrifices carry you further than you know. And if life feels heavy, remember the principle of Reyna’s words: you do not need to walk alone. Gather others, or join them, and in unity find strength greater than yourself.

So remember, child of tomorrow: when three or four thousand stand together in support, mountains can be moved. Whether in a stadium in London or in the battles of daily life, the power of unity will carry you further than talent alone. Claudio Reyna’s words are not only about football, but about the eternal strength of community: that when we travel together, when we stand together, when we sing together, victory — of the heart if not the scoreboard — is always within reach.