I love live sport. I set up my calendar so I know when my teams are playing and sometimes work my social life around those sporting events. Now most of ‘my teams’ that I support and follow are English national teams. Soccer (yes I know it’s blasphemy but I support an American football team as well so I need to differentiate), cricket and rugby union are where it’s at, however I watched the England Ladies netball team in the World Cup Final not so long ago. That was fun. And I support Northampton Saints (rugby union) and the New England Patriots (American football.) There is definitely something about live sport that most of us recognise as exciting. We want to watch and be part of the pageantry.
I’ve played a lot of sports in my time, but now don’t play competitive sport because of past injuries and operations. And I just can’t be bothered with other people being knobheads and the bullshit that comes with competition. Some just overdo it and it’s pathetic. But I love the cut and thrust of live sport, watching teams go at it. And I don’t get too upset when my team loses, but I do love a whinge when they’re shit and I get to say so. And what I’d do differently!? As if I know anything about managing a sports team, but I suppose it’s a way to pass the time.
Since Dad died I’ve struggled when watching live sport. We would watch together all the time. And when England or the Saints were in a close match, he’d sneak off and go and roam the garden because he couldn’t bear to watch. And he’d rush back in when he could hear the roar of something exciting happening. It was a familiar pastime. And we’d go down to the Saints, only once a year really, but again it was a fun day out, apart from when we got decent seats for Saints vs Leicester and they smashed us. That wasn’t fun.
My struggles generally revolve around me getting upset. Seemingly at some point in the match, I’ll be watching from my couch at home and something will happen and I’ll want to discuss it with someone and I can’t, because he’s not there. Can’t even text him. And so I get momentarily upset and then it passes and the game and I move on. And when we win, it’s always great, up to the point where I don’t have Dad to celebrate with. And I haven’t been to the Saints since he died. I’m not sure how I’ll feel going back, but I don’t want to get upset in public so I just haven’t been. I know that I want to go and I should go, but I’m just putting it off. It’s a big shame really, because something about live sport died for me when Dad died and it makes me sad.
PS – Gareth Southgate has resigned as England Men’s soccerball manager. Over eight years he has turned the team around from a shambles to one that reached consecutive European Championship finals and the semi-finals of the World Cup. Not only that, he has shown what a decent bloke can do with a little bit of poise, some decency and determination. He’s a manager that can make me feel proud of the England men’s team when before he was manager, I was annoyed at players playing for themselves and not caring enough about the national team.
He deserves to be celebrated. His ‘Dear England’ speech written just before the start of the 2021 European Championships led the country to pride and fought against bigots co-opting the team as their mascot. His words spelled out what this team represents and my hope is long may that continue.
Why would you choose to insult somebody for something as ridiculous as the colour of their skin?
gareth southgate
Why?
Unfortunately for those people that engage in that kind of behaviour, I have some bad news. You’re on the losing side. It’s clear to me that we are heading for a much more tolerant and understanding society, and I know our lads will be a big part of that.
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