Cod Almighty | Diary
Friends, Mariners, Countrymen!
17 June 2021
Trentside Diary: Football world has been dominated by the Euros and I haven't seen a full game yet, which is unusual for me. I missed the England game completely due to a long arranged catch up with non-football friends. Were we bothered? Nope. After the last year, friends are much more important.
It got me wondering if I have a hierarchy of what I'm prepared to miss a match for? I'm not much into international games: I don't always care who wins but will root for the other team if I care who loses. Take that Recep Erdogan, beaten by little old Wales. But is there a hierarchy of what I would miss a Town match for?
The 1998 Wembley appearances. I was nine months pregnant and told not to travel. It was not the news you want to hear but my consolation was another lifelong Town fan who celebrated his 18th birthday on the day we won the play-off final. And yes, that time we were there.
2005, when we beat Tottenham Hotspur. Where was I? Stuck at the Auditorium having agreed to take two relatives who couldn't get there under their own steam. Was I bothered? Of course I was. Did the performance of Porgy and Bess make up for it? Nearly, but not quite.
2014, and our wedding at Trent Bridge. Town were away at Kidderminster. I was disappointed to miss what was always a decent awayday and no further for us than a home game. Needless to say we had regular score updates for teams relevant to everyone there. Was it worth it? I have to say yes don't I!
There's a theme here. They are all games missed that I would have routinely gone to, but missed because of commitments with family and friends. That feels about right. With the news that Christian Eriksen is recovering but will probably need an implanted defibrillator, it brings home how fleeting this can all be. Family and/or friends at the centre of our world feels about right. Naturally our thoughts are with him.
To a man who seems like family, and as Disley announces he's hanging up his boots, could we ask that Town bring him back for his 41st birthday so that we can expunge the current record for the oldest player to step out in a Town shirt. Just bring him on for 10 minutes. It would be the right thing to do in so many ways. Keep your boots ready Captain!
The buzz around the new regime at Town has made it feel more like a family than it has for a long time. Not the gobshite uncle who gets drunk at weddings and funerals, starts shouting rubbish about how hard done to he is and nobody appreciates him before falling asleep under a table. Just those little things that bind us together and show one another we care. Long may it continue.
UTM.
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