Opinion
Newcastle United, Macclesfield City, Liverpool and glory searching
Saturday morning and there’s a large recreation developing later, as Newcastle United face Liverpool within the late kick-off.
I learn not too long ago that Liverpool statistically have the bottom proportion of supporters truly from Liverpool, than some other Premier League membership has from their metropolis / city. Together with Man U!
Stats I’m undecided about, as to their validity, however suspect they’re true.
Each these units of supporters I’ve present in my time to have a number of the most smug and ugly supporters, with their self-righteousness grating with me large model.
So, earlier within the week, at my work I’ve a walkie talkie in hand and it’s my job to make sure college students are off the premises at 3.30pm and safely on buses residence.
Standing on the bus cease a younger man walks towards me sporting what seems to be like a Chelsea tracksuit. I test the younger chap, who assures me the badge shouldn’t be Chelsea however Macclesfield City (proudly his staff) He follows Macclesfield as a result of that’s the place his household are from and goes to residence video games when his dad takes him as much as see his grandparents. He tells me this whereas standing at a bus cease in a grim a part of South East London.
Good lad I believe to myself, as I information the Man U / Chelsea / Arsenal supporting children to their bus and thank the motive force as I believe there will probably be unruly behaviour on board.
So, Saturday morning listening to Colin Murray on the radio, stating that everybody ought to help the staff nearest to the place they dwell. I increase my eyebrows. He excuses himself as he’s from Northern Eire and there’s no “large membership” to help so he’s a Liverpool supporter. However why Liverpool? May or not it’s as a result of as a teenager thirty plus years in the past Liverpool dominated division One and Europe? Glory hunter personified in my view, after which spouting off on radio. I really want to cease listening to the BBC.
Which brings me to my very own son who’s black and white (actually).
He has two uncles right here in London, Henry and Kilechi, each hardcore Arsenal. Kilechi, because it occurs, rising up within the shadow of the outdated Highbury, so good on him and doing precisely what Colin Murray espouses.
They’ve tried to persuade my son at an early age to observe their London staff Arsenal, providing to take him alongside to the video games. Happily, the lad does have some mind cells and surprisingly listened to me for as soon as and opted to go and watch Newcastle United (clearly after me and my mates telling the lad we’re the loyalist soccer supporters the world has ever had). This at nighttime days of the Ashley period, and watching relegation to the championship.
So, after the defeat to Liverpool my son, carrying the load of supporting Newcastle within the Ashley years, absolutely expects defeat at Wembley and mock in school from Man U / Arsenal supporting children in school. As Pope walked off, my son checked out me and stated, that’s it then!
Me, I don’t anticipate a win, I simply hope we flip up in a remaining for as soon as, one thing that I’ve been hoping for since I first went to St James’ Park within the early seventies.
The younger lad proudly sporting the Macclesfield tracksuit on the bus cease, I doff my cap to him and his people for his or her loyalty to their residence membership. Colin Murray, a tragic glory hunter missing any credibility in my eyes, wants to check out the Irish leagues and his residence city. Take your Liverpool and do one. They’re absolutely the reverse of me, my son and the Macc Lad on the bus cease.
Footnote
Henry has a 5 12 months outdated son, my nephew Uchenna, who’s being indoctrinated into following Arsenal. I plan to purchase him a Toon equipment as quickly as, and incorporate the younger lad into the London Toon Military earlier than he might be accused of being a glory hunter as and when with little doubt the Newcastle United trophies begin to arrive, perhaps not this 12 months however they’re coming.