Red Rivals

I remember a few months back, when at the time, i hated going into school to face the dozen or so Man Utd fans when they beat us. Trust me, it was like throwing a kitten into a den of lions, they ripped me apart. It was just like a discovery channel documentary about lions. They all surrounded me and could smell the fear, and without second thought, ripped into me (not literally though). The thing was though i could hold my own. No matter how much they said to me, i could always say something back. The banter was brilliant when i look back, but at the time it was just an ordinary task, like brushing your teeth. You don't give it a second look. But what happens when you take that ordinary task for granted and it goes?

For the first time in my life, i've gone somewhere that is totally out of my comfort zone. Don't get me wrong the people here are alright, but you start to miss the "ordinary" tasks. The same old friends, the same old routine, and for me, the same old banter. You see, i've gone somewhere that football isn't major, and to the people who like football, they aren't really what i class as "fans" or "supporters", they are more "spectators". They enjoy the game and know about it, but they don't have that passion. Thats when i got thinking, what would football be like without the rivals? Just imagine the season without the Merseyside derby, or without the Manchester derby, be boring wouldn't it. I thought about the banter that was spread about, the passion and most of all the fans. It's true what is said, it really is the fans that make the beautiful game, so beautiful.

One image that springs to my mind is of an image from a few years back. I was off to a liverpool game, and Liverpudlians are so passionate about football. It's like there religion. However, i was walking to Anfield with my Grandad, and saw this everton fan. Nothing out of the ordinary eh? well, he had a dog with him, and this dog was wearing a liverpool shirt. That really amazed me. I thought it was brilliant how this everton fan was walking around with a dog with a liverpool shirt on, like the dog was a liverpool fan. It's like me putting an everton shirt on my dog. That image has stuck with me forever because it just summed up football for me. A man and his dog, whats classed as a man's best friend, with rival football shirts on. I always wish i had took a photo, because it was such a stong, bold statement.

Now back to the rivals. i could not imagine football without the banter. Yeah, at times it goes to far, say with football hooliganism, but thats a different story and i hate it when certain people tar true fans with people who use football as an excuse to fight. However, even though i am not a hooligan, i guess it's there way of expressing there support, so each to there own. I think it would be a sad day if rivalaries ever end, and trust me, we take them for granted. Aslong as football as got passionate fans, there will always been tense rivalaries. So next time your team as lost and your getting banter, embrace it because take it from me, when it's gone, you miss it like crazy.

(From Previous Blog)