A record of the sporting events I’ve attended in 12 months between August 13th 2011 and August 3rd 2012
13th August 2011 Wigan vs Norwich City (1-1) The one event at which I failed to take a single picture or anything…
27th August 2011 Chelsea vs Norwich (3-1)
We left my mum’s house in the west of Ireland at 7.45am and missed the 3pm kick-off by 10 minutes having had an epic journey including a flight from Knock to Leeds, dropping off eldest at home in Holmfirth before driving to Rickmansworth where we parked the car at Drew Buddie‘s house before taking a tube that we eventually bailed out of at Baker Street when we realised there would be a chance we might miss the whole game. A London taxi took us the last few miles and provided commentary via the radio. Spent a lovely evening with Drew and his kids post-match.
17th September 2011 Bolton vs Norwich City (1-2)
Victory!
1st October 2011 Manchester Utd vs Norwich City (2-0)
An impressive performance from City, missed a few great chances and could have had a draw at least. “We’ve come for our scarves!”
22nd October 2011 Liverpool vs Norwich City
My favourite sporting experience thanks to the kindness of Pete Rafferty and others. Read all about it here.
5th November 2011 Aston Villa vs Norwich City (3-2)
If we knew then what we know now… (Paul Lambert’s departure to Villa).
26th November 2011 6 Days of Ghent Track Cycling
Another memorable ‘away’ trip – this time abroad. A full account can be found on John Sutton’s ‘Irontwit’ blog where I wrote a guest post.
3rd December 2011 Manchester City vs Norwich City (5-1)
Something of a humiliation by the eventual league winners.
17th December Everton vs Norwich City (1-1)
A brief Youtube from this one, too:
2nd January 2012 QPR vs Norwich City (1-2)
7th January 2012 Revolution Track Cycling Manchester
Having enjoyed the cycling in Ghent, we went as a whole family to the Manchester Velodrome.
14th January 2012 West Bromwich Albion vs Norwich City (1-2)
The first of two victories over West Brom in as many weeks.
28th January 2012 (FA Cup 4th Round) West Bromwich Albion vs Norwich City (1-2)
1st February 2012 Sunderland vs Norwich City (3-0)
A miserable mid-week evening fixture. A long journey and bitterly cold. Norwich failed to turn up… I really felt for those fans that had travelled all the way from Norfolk.
17th March 2012 England vs Ireland (6 Nations Rugby) (30-9)
Amazing experience, only marred by the result.
18th March Newcastle Utd vs Norwich City (1-0)
The stadium that impressed me most. Also another ‘take an away fan to the game’ experience. This time we met up with Liam Murphy.
9th April 2012 Tottenham Hotspur vs Norwich City (1-2)
The winning goal:
(Must remember to hold the phone the right way round…)
A sweet, sweet victory.
21st April Blackburn Rovers vs Norwich City (2-0)
Having ensured top flight survival, this felt like players’ hearts just weren’t in it.
26th July 2012 Olympic Football, Old Trafford United Arab Emirates vs Uraguay (1-2) Great Britain vs Senegal (1-1)
A strange but nevertheless fulfilling experience. I wrote about it here.
3rd August 2012 Olympic Park and Ladies’ Basketball Angola vs Croatia (56-75) Russia vs Australia (66-70)
An experience never to be forgotten. The teamimg throngs on the Olympic Park, the buzz, the friendliness and the basketball itself all bathed in beautiful sunshine.
We had a lovely family day out at the football at Old Trafford but it left me feeling slightly strange and I’ve been wondering why.
I think part of it is that I am a regular football goer anyway and the experience was very different to my usual.
Firstly, I’m accustomed to a tribal affair with clearly demarked ‘camps’. This tribal aspect lends itself to singing, chanting and general atmosphere-building. This I think is what was missing last night. The impressive crowd of 72,000 were unrehearsed, hadn’t got to know each other and lacked a slickness and familiarity out of kilter with what was on the pitch. We were like a bunch of well-meaning amateurs thrown together at the last minute who were unsure of the dance-moves or who didn’t know the set list. There was clearly a will, as was demonstrated by the hearty cheering of the GB team, celebration of the goal and warm recognition of scorer Craig Bellamy as he departed the field. But that ‘will’ was unable to express itself in getting behind the team in a conventional way. There were occasional half-hearted ‘GB’-orientated chants but it was a far cry from an impassioned local derby, say. I suppose the ultimate expression of this neutering of the crowd was the regular (often unsuccessful) Mexican Wave efforts.
None of this is to say I didn’t enjoy the experience. From a purely footballing perspective, it was an enjoyable spectacle – although the first game between United Arab Emirates and Uraguay was perhaps the better of the two encounters (sad, when Team GB featured in the other, against Senegal). It was great to see the plucky underdogs of UAE competing well against favourites, Uraguay. I also enjoyed the family feel to the night as well as the rainbow diversity of club shirts represented in the crowd – great to see club rivals bantering and united through the sport.
I suppose it was just ‘different’ and had its own virtues as an event.
If Andy could just nail this one deal, they might just keep the house and car.
“I’ve got to tell you Andy, I’m a massive football fan. Been a season ticket holder at Bramall Lane since I was 12. Went to my first game before I was out of nappies.” Bruce lifted the sleeve of his T-shirt fractionally to reveal a tattoo of the twin scimitar blades cupping the white rose of Yorkshire.“Who do you support, Andy?” Andy’s hand was too slow to cover his own tiny tattoo of an owl before Bruce’s eyes fell upon it disapprovingly.
Footnote: For those less familiar, this piece identifies one of English football’s greatest rivalries – that between the two teams of Sheffield (Sheffield Wednesday and Sheffield United).
A couple of weeks ago, my 9 year old son (Fionn) and I (who are fans of Norwich City) went to watch the away game at Liverpool’s Anfield. When I first knew (back in August) that we would be attending many away games this season, I let my Twitter followers know. Almost immediately, teacher and Liverpool fan, Pete Rafferty (@raff31) replied saying that I must park at his house and accompany him to the game. I have met Pete a couple of times and follow him on Twitter. I know him to be a good guy. I was delighted.
A week before the game, I confirmed the details with Pete and he shared his address and further details for the Saturday evening game.
When the big day arrived, I made a final confirmation with Pete and Fionn and I set off. On arrival at Pete’s, we were made incredibly welcome by Pete, his wife Gill, son Steve (@stevie_raff) and Steve’s girlfriend Lois (@loishonora). This, in itself was lovely. There was some friendly pre-match banter and Fionn was asked to predict the score and which Norwich players should be looked out for.
Fionn liked this.
Soon after we arrived, our transport to the game showed up in the form of Tony Boyham (@tboyham) and his son Matthew (@mboyham). We headed into Liverpool. Tony and Matthew made sure we continued to feel welcome and also engaged Fionn in friendly, pre-match speculation.
We parked up in their usual spot – inhabited by ‘reliable’ yoofs prepared to ensure no harm comes to your car for a nominal fee. We then walked to the ground. Together.
I liked this walking to the ground bit.
Fionn and I have been to many, many away fixtures with Norwich City recently and, although I feel fairly insulated by having a small(ish) boy with me, I always feel slightly nervous amongst large quantities of (obviously passionate) footie fans. Well, to approach Anfield on foot with Pete, Tony, and Matthew could not have been a better build up to a game. Fionn and I were party to stories of the history of Liverpool FC, Anfield, anecdotes, accounts of big nights etc. We were shown where we needed to go and arrangements were made for rendezvous after the game. The result of the match is immaterial because the process was exactly the same post-match. We met with our friendly hosts at the appointed place and flooded away from the ground in the comfort and companionship of fellow fans (colours didn’t seem to matter). In the car, the game was dissected and discussed and a small boy’s views were heard and valued.
The night ended with hand-shakes, warmth and fellowship despite the rivalry that underpinned the day. (Read on below the picture – not much more).
All of this was a very good thing. A good thing that I hope my son will take away and value.
This should happen more often. This is surely what sport should be about. How can we make this happen? A hashtag? #takeanawayfantothegame? I know that, for Fionn, this was the best game of the season so far. Was that because of what happened on the pitch or what happened off the pitch? Who knows?
I’ll be looking out for opportunities like this one in the future. Any Aston Villa fans out there want to take me and Fionn to Villa Park next week? Or Manchester City on 3rd December. Everton 17th December? (You have a hard act to follow and I now know where to park!). Or any Norwich away game for that matter? We’re nice. Promise.
PS On the way home, we had a full, frank discussion about the Hillsborough disaster. Another very important bit of learning for a young fan.
21st December 2013
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