When it comes to football, my eldest daughter is possibly the most superstitious person on the planet. As far as possible, everything has to be the same as the corresponding match in a previous season. Any slight deviation could mean a defeat. Obviously, the entire football world runs on the basis of what happens in this house on any given day.
So, just for today, and in order to try and calm her down from the state of superventricular hyperventilation she has worked herself into, I have decided to go along with it and do my best to re-create the day in 1999 when United last won the European Cup.
I have mentioned in a previous post, that for reasons known only to herself, she remembers what we had for tea.
Steak and onions it is, then.
She also remembered something with custard.
Apple crumble? Will that do?
She spent the first fifteen minutes of the match in 1999 at Brownies. The Father of This Lot had to pick her up and moaned all the way home.
Now, with the best will in the world, I could not see Brown Owl letting a nineteen year old into a Brownie meeting (and believe me, she wanted me to ask). However, we seem to have solved the problem - The Fixer went to athletics training after school and the Father of This Lot had to pick her up. He moaned all the way home. So that was alright.
I was wearing jeans and flip-flops. That was easy, since I always wear jeans and flip-flops.
The kids were decked out in United shirts.
Check.
We had flags and various other bits of memorabilia hanging out of the windows.
Check.
I did not watch the match. I paced about upstairs until five minutes from the end.
Check, check and double check.
The plan seems to have gone a little awry in that, in 1999, the Football Fanatic was not ensconced in a bar in town, surrounded by everyone else who has not gone to Moscow, with the intention of partying all night and turning up sometime tomorrow morning. When mentioned, however, this was classed as 'a mere detail'.
So there you go. I've done everything I can to re-create the day to the best of my ability.
Although how the hell I'm going to fit The Noise into a 0-3 month old sleepsuit and start breastfeeding again I've yet to work out.
UPDATE: I CAN'T SPEAK. I CAN'T BREATHE. I WAS IN THE BACK GARDEN DURING THE PENALTIES. AND I'M BLOODY GLAD IT'S OVER!!
CHAMPIONS OF EUROPE
2008
29 comments:
In honor of the game, I give you an relevant excerpt from my hereto unpublished book.
"The second good thing about Friday was that her mother allowed Jelly to wear her Manchester United jersey. Manchester United was Jelly’s favorite soccer team. The jersey, which had the name “ROONEY” emblazoned across the back and sported the famous striker’s number 9, was a trophy from her trip to England last summer. Jelly had worn it almost everyday until her mother put her foot down and insisted that Jelly could only wear it on Fridays and game days. This week was a double bonus because Manchester played Arsenal on Saturday and she would be able to wear her beloved jersey twice."
God bless Manchester and thwart Chelsea!
All in the name of sport!
It's funny how we get those sorts of superstitions! What a good mum you are to humor her!!
My eldest step son supports Chelsea and the younger one supports Man u. Just thik what it's going to be like in our household tonight?!
I hope everything you've done works!
Congratulations Man U!!!!!
YES!!!!!
OMG I had to read it first and I am glad I did! Just watched it - shouted for Man U in honour of you, the FF and my mate up the road. Also because the blue ones beat Liverpool and made my boy sad.
So..... YES!!!
Nice one Man U. Bout time.
Obviously the planning worked. How did the breastfeeding go? Hope FF gets home ok. ;0)
European Champions 2008.
And they are lifting the trophy....
(wait for it...)
NOW!!!
Oh WOW ! ! ! I am exhausted just from watching it. Thank goodness you didnt do the laundry.
looks like the steak and onions worked then
Holy Hell, that's exciting!
Awesome!!
One son elated, one son sad..
Congratulations. I shall hoist a Boddington's in your honor after work tomorrow!
Being across an ocean in a country that thrives on being "other," I cannot share the enthusiasm. However, I can let out a big "whew," right along with you. I felt the tension, an ocean away.
It was also good for a laugh...
Congratulations! Hooray! Here is a song I found for you:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzgIU5jLc20
Enjoy! ;-)
My parents are rabid Steelers fans. So, every game, they have to take out this host of swag and arrange it just so. The framed photo of toothless Jack Lambert must be placed on the couch so he can see the TV, the Steelers Build a Bear also must attend, the Steelers throw must be tossed over the back of the couch, and so on. It's getting to where the preparations are longer than the game.
Calm down.... its only football.
Ouch, did you hit me?!
Football? what football. Too busy being bemused at the exit of Raef from teh apprentice to worry about silly old football. Runs away.
Exciting, wasn't it? :-D As a neutral, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Congratulatons to your lot - though it won't have done Ronaldo any harm to miss that Pen ;-) x
I remember when I was a kid Man U were playing Liverpool in the cup final. I was all decked out in RED. Only to be told by a neighbour that Liverpool were playing in their away kit! Needless to say Man U flippin won! Congrats Jackie, I hope my Dad never reads this comment.
Pud x
Hooray! I bet your daughter is over the moon!
Thank the football gods/goddesses .. I heard this on the news last nite and thought of you ...
:-Daryl
Wahoo! Many congrats!
so, you got that breastfeeding thing worked out??? ;)
i do not understand football. (we are into wrestling. with mud and unicorns usually.) but i am very pleased for your delight!
14 yr old daughter stayed up till 11:00 for the first time before a school day. Welsh (pass the egg fan) wife/mother wondered if a football game was important enough. I think she was teasing. She was ignored.
I never get these football superstitions. Husband has to have 'lucky pasty' from the same vendor at the stadium. You'd think he'd realise by now that 'lucky' is a misnomer for a City superstition!
I was watching something on one of the news channels the other night and suddenly, across the bottom of the screen, there was a bulletin about Manchester United's winning and it dawned on me that is the team you are always talking about here! Congrats to your team.
Now, superstitions -I don't have any pertaining to sports and such, but two of my cousins are rapid Penn State fans (even more than I am) and they always have to have some kind of stuff made with salmon to eat while watching the Nittany Lions on tv and if they get behind, they run and get a can of salmon and shake it at the screen. Judging by the last couple of seasons, they must be using old salmon or something though.
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