Wednesday, May 16, 2012

You Are A Legend: Jack Keane

Manager? He's the Sheriff
It might seem a bit odd to feature a Manchester United supporter on this very biased Arsenal corner of the web-o-sphere, particularly to open this series properly. But for myself, the rest of the NY Gooners, a whole slew of New York based supporters groups, expats, tourists, and recurring visitors, Jack Keane is more than a legend. He's a fucking institution.

His support of football culture in this city is unrivaled, and he has nurtured the scene here for longer than the eleven years I've been in New York. He was the bartender at Nevada Smiths for many of those years until he launched the Football Factory at Legends in the Fall of 2010. Throughout the time I've known him he has always been quick to share a word about his team, your team, or any club inbetween, and do so with the utmost respect for and love of the game. His presence behind the bar encourages a vibe that I doubt exists many places in the world.