Yes, I know that a lot of these entries are going to have a footballing theme; for those of you who don't like football I apologise, but also urge you not to ignore these posts. The positive thing is that the point to these stories do not really relate to the game itself.
In 1984 Stockport County were drawn against Liverpool in the second round of the league cup. For a team languishing at the bottom of the league all season, every season; this was not a big game, it was gigantic. The chance to pit our team against the likes of Grobbelaar, Neal, Whelan, Hansen, Nicol, Dalglish, Lawrenson was the match of a lifetime; and for me - a young lad of ten years old - it was impossible to comprehend.
We played fantastically throughout; and if that 25-yard shot had gone in - instead of 'ga-doinggggggggging' off the crossbar (note to self; find the press photograph of that which Paul bought me, ad get it framed!) the stuff of pleasant reminiscence would have become legend. We got a 0-0 draw at home, which meant a replay at Anfield. Unbelievably we managed to get to full-time with the score still at 0-0, and we had three of the best seats in the house to witness it. Sadly, the fairytale ended in extra time, when Liverpool finally broke us down and won 2-0. At the final whistle, it all became a bit too much for this young lad of ten years old. After all that effort, it was all over and I couldn't bear it. I burst into tears.
Paul (my older brother, whom I have to both thank and blame for my love-affair with Stockport County) didn't know what to say to console me (he couldn't change the result); so, he put an arm of comfort round my shoulders and said cheerfully 'never mind Adrian, we'll give Crewe a good stuffing next Saturday!'
Instantly a guy directly in front of us chirped up; 'orrrr norrr yerr wornt!!'. When he turned around, looked at us and gave us a wink, we realised that in a stadium of over 40,000 seats, we had chosen the ones directly behind the chairman of Crewe Football Club! We had to laugh, and it cheered me up no end.
And in case you are wondering........orrrr norrrrrr...........we didn't!
2 comments:
Not the biggest football fan, but your story made me smile and I will now go and Google to see the 'own goal' you mentioned in your former post. I need all the smiles I can get today :)
@Isabel B
Hope you enjoyed it my dear; and keep smiling. I've been reading your blogs too and they are inspirational, not to mention wise. Whatever is happening, you can do it with tears or a smile on your face Hope you choose the latter xxxxxx
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