I hang out a lot in theYahoo Answers forums, especially philosophy, and have noticed a lot of believers have views about atheists and atheism that make it rather obvious that they do not (knowingly) know any atheists.  To a lot of believers, atheists are elitist, nihilistic, intellectual (this has somehow become a bad thing to be), materialist, immoral, amoral, hedonistic, liberal or socialist, angry, militant, cynical, unspiritual, and/or merely "in denial" about the existence of a god (their particular god, of course).  Many also seem to think that atheism is just a convenient excuse to be unaccountable and to be able to do whatever we want.  I can only wonder if such demonizations are coming from their pastor or church group, or some religious internet site(s).

Although I do not make it a point to declare my atheism to everyone within earshot, neither do I have much fear of "coming out" to friends, acquaintances, or co-workers.  Some have been genuinely surprised to learn that I was an atheist, and I'm sure that some who don't yet know, would be.  I'm a typical Nice Guy™ who doesn't really fit any of the stereotypes of atheists above.  And quite frankly, very few atheists I've met or been acquainted with would.  (Well OK, maybe intellectual.  :-)

P.S.  Football in the UK is what we in the states call soccer.  :-)  The Brits' closest thing to our football would be rugby.