This weekend represented the end of the league football season. I have attended many games, travelling to such exotic places as the east end of Manchester and the seaside towns of Kent! I’ve spent a good chunk of money doing this, not excluding the amount spent on TV subscriptions to watch the games I couldn’t get to from the comfort of my own lounge. Tickets, match day programmes, souvenirs, replica kit, merchandise, food, drink, fan events and train fares have all added to the bill. And do you know what? It was worth every penny!
Nick Hornby in his book Fever Pitch famously tried to explain what it is like to be an Arsenal fan. It is a great book, (and film with Colin Firth), that really captures the essence of the oxymoronic nature of the word “fan” in its aspects of both love and despair for a football team. However, I think the relationship that each individual fan has with football is a little different.
At the end of the day my fandom is over 35 years old. I was brought up following non-league Enfield home and away with my Dad, and it was sitting watching Arsenal win the 1987 League Cup final on TV with him that cemented my love of The Arsenal. I’ve thought about Dad so much this season since his passing in August as I have followed Enfield Town and Arsenal through their adventures. This is because; firstly, it is something we shared so intrinsically together and I know he would have enjoyed, and secondly, for me football is about family.
In this case there are many levels of family. There are of course my direct relations. My sister, my mum, my aunt, my uncle, cousins and my in-laws have all been part of my football experience this year. Seeing, chatting and messaging with them always enhances my matchday experience and I love it!
There are then the friends of those folk, who I only ever really see at the football and yet, because of this shared passion, we always have something to talk about in the stand at Enfield Town or in the bars/pubs around The Emirates Stadium.
A further step removed are those who I see each game, who in some cases I don’t even know the names of, and yet I have hugged in crazy moments as the ball hits the back of the net! The little group of faces around my season ticket at Arsenal for example, are part of a dynamic that grows organically through the coincidence of our shared location in the stadium and yet we shake hands pre- and post-game, discuss the comings and goings of the club and the managers choices for the day, and we live together through all the ups and downs! (For reference!)
Lastly, there are those that I don’t know and may have never met and yet I know we are a part of a community. I went to a fantastic event on Saturday at Union Chapel in Islington organised by two of the Arsenal podcasts I support on Patreon, Arseblog and Arsenal Vision. There were 700 people there just to listen to a panel of passionate fans/journalists discussing the season. The place absolutely erupted when unexpected special guest, and Arsenal legend, Ian Wright appeared on stage to join them. At that moment, every single person in that room was held in a moment of love and joy. So much so that Ian Wright was moved to tears as fans chanted his name. The following day at the stadium for the 5-0 win over Wolves was equally celebratory, however this time it was the noise of 60,000 fans singing and chanting following an amazing season where we had played some incredible football and challenged at the very highest level. That is the want of every football fan.
And so, as we come to that point in June where, as a football fan, suddenly you are reminded that time is measured in years and days, not seasons and fixtures, there is this moment for taking stock. I’ve had so much fun this season at football. It has done me the world of good, (see this post for more on that), and I can’t wait for next season to come round. That rollercoaster will be ridden again with its full gamut of emotions, but I know it will be fun. And who knows, maybe next year the men will win a trophy or two!
North London forever
Whatever the weather
These streets are our own
And my heart will leave you never
My blood will forever
Run through the stone.
Life moves pretty fast 
Leave a reply to Milestones – Life moves pretty fast Cancel reply