Why The Image At The Bottom Of This Page?
Oh here we go again!!
The premiership football season began this weekend, and it didn’t start well for me.
If you are football, baseball, netball anywhateverball fan you will be right into what your club is up to.
Football has a special place in the hearts of many people. It is an iconic sport that has been around for decades. From the elation of victory, to the frustration of defeat, football fans have felt it all.
Being a fan can be a very painful experience as I can reveal in this story.
Why a Gunners Fan?
Why am I an Arsenal (‘Gunners’) fan.
Well my son Tom is behind that… as I was originally a Middlesbrough supporter.
My father was from Middlesbrough in Yorkshire but I was brought up in the south of the country.
The only football matches I saw in my youth, were the occassional opportunities when Middlesbrough came to play a southern club.
I was basically a Middlesbrough fan, and I followed what they got up to and so on.
On the other hand.
Tom my son, for some unknown reason, I really don’t know why, Is a Manchester United fan – let’s just call them a top club.
Now neither myself or Tom are into betting so I was surprised whenTom suggested this. “Let’s have a small bet each season: First bet would be which of our teams came highest in the Premiership and another about who would go furthest in the FA Cup”.
Hang on!! Man United versus MIddlesbrough. Not a goer. However. I liked the idea. So I needed to get a top team to become an adopted fan
I had to pick a team that would stand a chance against Man Utd
Well I had lived in North London, and I had always liked the way that Arsenal played when they were managed by Arsene Wenger.
So that was that an adopted fan.
Back in 2008 Tom and I started our yearly bet at the start of the new season the amazingly small bet of just £10
BUT small as the bet is it adds a funny but competitive edge to the season.
Some years Tom would win the Premiership and I would win the FA Cup. Sometimes me, sometime him but for the last couple of years he has won both bets.
First Match Of The Season Against Promoted Brentford!
Arsenal has not settled down with a new manager since Arsene Wenger left in 2018
The latest manager is Mikel Arteta who played under Arsene Wenger. Wenger had an attacking approach and changed attitudes towards nutrition, fitness and coaching methods.
Last season Arsenal only finished at position 8. Not at all accceptable BUT it was manager Arteta’s first season in charge.
Arteta has just started his second season as the manager so I was really hoping that the first match of the season would get us going.
My Gunners season ticket holder friend Derek, had his doubts. Here was his WhatApp message to me just before the match “What are your thoughts on tonights game? I am worried we will be embarrassed”
So why the concern?
Arsenal was playing Brentford who won promotion last season and this was their first premiership game. They had not been in the top level of football since May 1947.
Now as I have revealed above I am merely in the adopted fan league. If you want too see fans and born and bred loyalty fans check out Brendford.
Fans have been known to go through the emotional rollercoaster with their favorite teams.
Football fans are passionate about this sport and will not let anything get in their way when it comes to supporting their teams no matter what happens.
The atmosphere at the Brentford home ground with the fans allowed in for the first time after the pandemic lockdown was electric.
The crowd was cheering, singing, clapping,waving and one old man was on the TV with tears running down his face.
The Brentford team was up for it and it pains me to tell you any more. Arsenal were playing in a cauldron.
Final Score: Brentford 2 – Arsenal 0
Derek sent a WhatsApp after the match…
What about my Tom’s team?
You’ve probably guessed it: Man United 5 – Leeds 1
Great start – however there are another 37 games this season – so get them going Arteta.
Leave a Reply