Football can be frustrating at times, you can get games where you team is the better side, but loses. There are many tales of ‘giant-killing’ in the cup competitions (Bradford City last year is a good example.)
However then there is the magic that makes you watch the game. The 16 passes that lead to a chance, the perfect through ball to a striker who nails it. There are times like on Wednesday where out of nowhere you snatch a win and it’s fantastic.
Living in Australia has many advantages and some disadvantages. I go to the beach on Christmas Day and get a tan, while you freeze to death. However I have to wake up at 2am in the morning to watch West Ham play, and I can’t go to games. Unless I am in England and one day I picked the perfect day to be there.
It was early May and I was on a trip around Europe, when I got an email from my friend. I had watched a few games of the ‘Great Escape’ and had high hopes leading into the final game. The email was my mate telling me he had a spare ticket and to ask if I wanted to come watch the game? Needless to say, I had already left for the airport before I even replied.
Anyone who remembers that game will know we needed a win to stay up. Anything else and we could have gone down. The maths involved were hurting everyones brain, but it was clear that win and we stayed up. ‘All’ we had to do was beat Manchester United at Old Trafford, simple.
It was a perfect day for me; I went for my morning run around Manchester. All my mates were having beers early, and the feeling grew that we could pull this off. At the game I walked in confident, copping abuse from all the United fans and them waving there Champions merchandise. I didn’t care it was our day I could feel it, I could taste it, I knew we would win. Then this happened!
It was brilliant to be there, to realise the dream that nine games ago we were down and out. but now, somehow, we were staying up! The 2006-07 season was bad at the start and the middle but in those last nine games we picked up 21 points and survived. This would go on to give hope to not only us but also other supporters of other clubs that will be in the zone the following years.
People ask what is your favourite moment in football? This is mine. Not because I saw it on the screen in a bar or at home because I was able to be part of the crowd and the celebrations that it entailed. I can remember hugging all my mates around me, singing all day, having an absolute ball.
This was one of two options I had to do this story on. I didn’t even bother to look at the other. Nothing brings back better memories or better times.
