Excuse the cliché, but it is a funny old game, football, isn’t it? I mean, how can a simple game of eleven against eleven entertain us quite so much? I’m sure there are many others that find themselves doing little else in their spare time than wishing the week away so Saturday comes. Luckily for us, the time in between each football-filled weekend has, for some time now, been swamped with games to keep us occupied. Whether it is the Champions League that takes your fancy, or the plucky exploits of Chasetown in the FA Trophy replay at Mansfield, there is nearly always something for every football fan. This is why I love football.
Soccer AM used to do a feature where they interviewed professionals and asked them, amongst other things, why they loved the game. Johan Cruyff claimed it was because it was a game of mistakes: unpredictable and exciting, whereas Ryan Giggs suggests his love is part of his nature – he was born to play the game. But we all think football means more to us than anyone else, don’t we? I’m no different. Just like eating breakfast or walking the dog, football is now very much part of my weekly routine, and what a dull existence my life would be without it!
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I still consider myself a player of the beautiful game, despite any ability I may have had escaping me some years ago. Without any pace or skill, I consider myself the Worcestershire Prem’s very own Wayne Bridge (make of that what you will you will). Training on a Tuesday and Wednesday is followed by the midweek game live on TV: United at Old Trafford in Europe or United at Edgar Street in League Two – it’s all the same to me. The rest of the week is spent thinking about the weekend: How will we do? Is he finally going to score? Which ref is going to get us all arguing this week?
Saturday’s festivities can be started with some easy-on-the-eye television; Soccer AM or Football Focus maybe, as long as we see goals. It all adds to the suspense: a big game isn’t a game without the build up of our over-elaborate media. If like me, you divulge into a little bit of gambling, then a trip to local bookmakers is always a good bet – excuse the pun. This is all before we can enjoy the banter between Jeff and the boys of course, that is, if your team isn’t involved in an early lunch time kick off or you don’t play yourself. It all makes for a very enjoyable afternoon, whatever the scenario. To top it all off, we have the tea-time kick off awaiting us, the results from our potential winnings and Match of the Day all yet to come.
You may have noticed I have missed out something many fans would consider paramount to being such an outspoken admirer of the game – actually going to see my team play. Admittedly, I don’t get to go too often, mainly because whilst I’m still fit enough to, I will continue to enjoy playing. But I make this point because I recently heard on a certain popular sports-based radio show, that football is beginning to lose its soul. If you ask me, or any other football fan in the country, that couldn’t be further from the truth.
Whether you have a season ticket, play, occupy your favourite seat in the local just in time for Jeff and the boys, or feel like watching the results come in in the comfort of your own home, there is one thing for sure: football is certainly not losing anything. The build-up entertains, the decisions make us question, terraces bring some nostalgia but overall, win lose or draw, the game gives us satisfaction. The day in the life of a football fan – don’t you just love football?
Want to join my ‘I love football’ gang? Follow me on Twitter at www.twitter.com/@joino
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