I first saw soccer in Australia in about 1974. We only got the one hour weekly package of English first division. Was it called The Big Match then? There was no science in why Australian kids would pick a team, but my friends mostly barracked for Liverpool, Arsenal, Spurs, Manchester United, etc, and those who followed big clubs here followed big clubs there. I picked Manchester City for absolutely no reason, and weirdly I always barracked against Manchester United; I say weirdly because I didn’t know what a derby was, I had no local exposure and therefore no animosity to United, I didn’t even know Brian Kidd had played for United, I just always barracked against them. Nor was I a hard core City fan, so that when I lived in London I instead followed the nearest team, which happened to be Wimbledon (the first time I wentto Plough Lane they beat United), I still follow them but since they are in L2 I mainly watch City, who have been a treat to watch. And I still barrack against United, but now I have reasons.
I’m English but don’t live anywhere near a major team. The nearest reasonably big teams were Leeds or the Sheffield clubs, but they were 60 odd miles away. Hull was nearer but it was still a place I had no connection with.
So when I was about 6 I picked a team somewhat arbitrarily – Arsenal – due to the 79 cup final. As the author of the article says there was little football on the TV so the cup final was perhaps the only opportunity to see a game. Arsenal were winning 2-0 with about 5 minutes left, and I did my usual trick of getting too excited to just watch, going out into the back garden to kick a ball about.
On going back inside my older sisters told me Man U had won 3-2. I didn’t believe them but subsequently overheard elsewhere that the game really did finish 3-2. I felt sorry for Arsenal and next season switched to supporting them (from Liverpool, which was the default team to support at that time). It was perhaps years later when I found out Arsenal had actually won that game 3-2, Man U having fought back to 2-2 before Arsenal scored the winner.
I’m still an Arsenal fan due to that mistake, even though there were no other Arsenal fans around as I grew up, and Arsenal were generally fairly poor in the early 80s.
Ha. I remember the 1979 final. My father was for Arsenal, I was for United.
Never mind. We’ll always have that Champions League final against Bayern Munich.
Yes it probably was The Big Match – ITV’s highlights package.
Jonathan Andrews
2 months ago
I really enjoyed this gentle, rather whimsical essay.
Robbie K
2 months ago
The decline of Manchester United has mirrored the way we feel about the country, in its waste and aimlessness, and the sense that what is gone is gone, nothing can be repaired now.
It’s ok, United are now partly owned by a tax exile, who rather ironically believes that the British tax payer should fund the rebuilding of Old Trafford!
Don’t think nothing can be repaired. If not, why are people so angry? X
denz
2 months ago
My wife reminded me that the latest iteration of Eric Cantona on our screens was last week, when he “sang” on Michael McIntyre’s Big Show. The unwelcome memory of Leonard Nimoy’s “singing” was unearthed in my consciousness by comparison. Since then, I speculated that I had successfully reburied that particular mental trauma, until reading this. Thanks Hanif.
Corbyn is a vegetarian and is a big football fan. Have any recent leaders of any party been big into a team? Even Farage is more a cricket and rugger sort of chap.
Benedict Waterson
2 months ago
Nice essay, thanks
Christopher Barclay
2 months ago
Van Nistelrooy ‘brutal’? He threw himself to the ground, whenever someone else was in the penalty area.
I first saw soccer in Australia in about 1974. We only got the one hour weekly package of English first division. Was it called The Big Match then? There was no science in why Australian kids would pick a team, but my friends mostly barracked for Liverpool, Arsenal, Spurs, Manchester United, etc, and those who followed big clubs here followed big clubs there. I picked Manchester City for absolutely no reason, and weirdly I always barracked against Manchester United; I say weirdly because I didn’t know what a derby was, I had no local exposure and therefore no animosity to United, I didn’t even know Brian Kidd had played for United, I just always barracked against them. Nor was I a hard core City fan, so that when I lived in London I instead followed the nearest team, which happened to be Wimbledon (the first time I wentto Plough Lane they beat United), I still follow them but since they are in L2 I mainly watch City, who have been a treat to watch. And I still barrack against United, but now I have reasons.
I’m English but don’t live anywhere near a major team. The nearest reasonably big teams were Leeds or the Sheffield clubs, but they were 60 odd miles away. Hull was nearer but it was still a place I had no connection with.
So when I was about 6 I picked a team somewhat arbitrarily – Arsenal – due to the 79 cup final. As the author of the article says there was little football on the TV so the cup final was perhaps the only opportunity to see a game. Arsenal were winning 2-0 with about 5 minutes left, and I did my usual trick of getting too excited to just watch, going out into the back garden to kick a ball about.
On going back inside my older sisters told me Man U had won 3-2. I didn’t believe them but subsequently overheard elsewhere that the game really did finish 3-2. I felt sorry for Arsenal and next season switched to supporting them (from Liverpool, which was the default team to support at that time). It was perhaps years later when I found out Arsenal had actually won that game 3-2, Man U having fought back to 2-2 before Arsenal scored the winner.
I’m still an Arsenal fan due to that mistake, even though there were no other Arsenal fans around as I grew up, and Arsenal were generally fairly poor in the early 80s.
That cup final was when I first discovered my aversion to United.
Ha. I remember the 1979 final. My father was for Arsenal, I was for United.
Never mind. We’ll always have that Champions League final against Bayern Munich.
Yes it probably was The Big Match – ITV’s highlights package.
I really enjoyed this gentle, rather whimsical essay.
It’s ok, United are now partly owned by a tax exile, who rather ironically believes that the British tax payer should fund the rebuilding of Old Trafford!
Don’t think nothing can be repaired. If not, why are people so angry? X
My wife reminded me that the latest iteration of Eric Cantona on our screens was last week, when he “sang” on Michael McIntyre’s Big Show. The unwelcome memory of Leonard Nimoy’s “singing” was unearthed in my consciousness by comparison. Since then, I speculated that I had successfully reburied that particular mental trauma, until reading this. Thanks Hanif.
Haha, your comment reminded me of this 1960s gem: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7o4ZQ4v7pg
I moved to Aberdeen in 1974. The World Cup and the Dutch team sparked my interest.
“….my youngest son, Kier, has lost interest in football and become a vegan.”. Ha! Love it.
Corbyn is a vegetarian and is a big football fan. Have any recent leaders of any party been big into a team? Even Farage is more a cricket and rugger sort of chap.
Nice essay, thanks
Van Nistelrooy ‘brutal’? He threw himself to the ground, whenever someone else was in the penalty area.
Great essay. Enjoyed reading that.