Football craziness on a sunny Saturday

Even though I was born in New Zealand, I have been an avid follower of the English Premier League for a large chunk of my life. I think this was largely due to the influence of my father, who has been a fervent Manchester United supporter since sometime in the 1960s. Me being me though, I decided to support Chelsea at a point in the early 1990s, mostly to annoy my father. 


Moving to London then offered to me the lure of attending Premier League games.... 


So when tickets to Chelsea v Arsenal in the Premier League became available through The Man of the House's work late last week, we jumped at the chance. The seats were awesome. Simply awesome. Right at ground level, corner post, close enough to smell the grass pitch. The game itself was sensational - 8 goals - a true rarity in this day and age of modern football.


But what intrigued me far more than this was the fans. It is one thing to support a team from thousands of miles away on television, it is truly another thing to be there in the thick of it. One guy seated right behind me managed to keep up a running commentary about everything his beloved Chelsea FC were doing wrong throughout the whole match. He barely drew breath. I thought, at several points in the game, he might blow an optic nerve out. The guy should be on coaching staff he seemed so opinionated about every aspect of the game. Then there was the other 'fan' behind me who insisted on using various colourful expletives at every opportunity... don't people bring their small children to these matches??


I thought to myself, sure, disappointed that my team ultimately lost but it's not going to ruin my day or even the experience of being at Stamford Bridge. I got the feeling though that most of those around me would be in an emotional fug for at least another week, or until Chelsea notched up another win. 


I think Australians and New Zealanders have a different approach to sport. There is no separating of supporters at games of any code, nor is there a need for mounted police to patrol the stadiums after matches. Being an All Blacks supporter, I have sat right in the middle of hundreds of Wallabies fans at Bledisloe Cup matches with no fear whatsoever. We take the good with the bad and roll with the proverbial punches. Sure losing is disappointing but I don't think that anyone takes it that personally. Conversely, on Saturday afternoon at Stamford Bridge, I got the feeling that most of the fans most certainly took our loss very personally. 


I understand that football fanaticism runs deep here. But why let a game ruin your life? Lighten up fans....life is way too short. 


Till tomorrow....