by Paul L » Fri Nov 25, 2005 10:01 am
I've spent years in turmoil with football. As a lad my Father, Brother, a countless number of Uncles and Cousins as well were Arsenal fans and it had a damaging effect (an Arsenal dislike to this day), the bias was unbelievable and I guess somewhat in rebellion I followed Liverpool through the 70's and 80's until the years of Heysel and Hillsborough. I still look out for them but I wrestle uneasily with the contradiction of the shopping trolley in the pub, car wheels thieving and other aspects of Liverpudlian life. Over the years I just enjoyed watching any team playing good football, this has meant Spurs, Newcastle and others, strangely no Sunderland. My Daughter was born in SW10 close to Stamford Bridge and Craven Cottage and so there is a natural affinity with Chelsea and Fulham.
It's a mugs game and a thugs game and these days I curse the tribal mentality, the low IQ, the constant spitting (especially the constant spitting - I would cringe sliding around in it) and the whinging on the pitch and the same off it. The glorification of it all stinks.
I would still like to see football banned between June and August though (except for European and World Cups every two years), it has no place in the summer alongside the Tour de France, Olympics, cricket and tennis.
Alas the seeds of the beautiful game were sown very young and try as I might Rugby has never made it into the veins. So, between September and May the week does not seem the same without football scores, European nights and Match of the Day. I probably enjoy watching Man Utd play in Europe than any other team and matches. Yes, I live in London!