As sport's popularity grows in China, it is nice not to be the only one supporting a heartbreaker

When I arrived in China, almost seven years ago now, the typical response I received after telling a local soccer fan which team I support was, "Who?"

It hurt, but I shouldn't have been surprised. My club, Middlesbrough FC, is certainly no titan of European soccer - right now it isn't even in the Premier League, the top tier of English soccer, and it's been over 10 years since the club won its one and only trophy.