football is coming

I’m excited. The return of the football season is upon us. My first Bournemouth game of the season is so close, I can almost taste it. I will soon be found at an array of northern stadiums on a Saturday afternoon and I can’t wait.

 

I’m a bit of a peculiar football supporter. I live 5 hours drive away from my ‘home’ games, so they are extremely rare experiences for me. I genuinely feel more in my comfort zone at an away game, smaller crowd, familiar faces and me and my dad navigating back alleys to find a place to park. Not to mention walking through crowds of the opposition’s fans in my Bournemouth scarf, simultaneously proud and a little bit frightened. That is what football is to me. 

My interest and dedication has varied throughout the years. I remember when I was in year 8, our English teacher gave us the task of a presenting to the class on a subject that we feel passionate about and I chose AFC Bournemouth. Looking back, I think this was extremely brave of me. To do a presentation on an unknown football team in the area (Bradford City or Leeds is the norm where I live) as a teenage girl in possibly one of the most judgemental years of your life? Yeah, brave. I took in my Dad’s flag from the 2003 play off final, hung it behind me, and waffled on about Bournemouth. I particularly focused on James Hayter’s record breaking hatrick, and the fact that his missus had given birth the day before, 'cos I'm a huge softie and I love things like that.

Then this year, whilst being at university, it’s been up to me to keep track with what’s going on. I can no longer rely on my dad’s daily updates when I only see him once a month, and I genuinely think this has caused me to be more into it than ever.

However I don’t tend to join in debates about Bournemouth, I’m blessed (or cursed) with the ability to look at each side of an argument and always see the positives. But something that has stuck with me since I was younger is taking the personal aspect of a player’s life into account. When Danny Hollands moved to Charlton this summer, I didn’t berate him for it, if I had a family, and in his exceptional case triplets, I would do what I had to, to ensure they have the best possible life. And however much I adored Jason Pearce as our captain, I understand him wanting to move on, as shown through the heartbreaking example of Ryan Garry, a football career does not last forever.

I think as a supporter it’s important to remember that loyalty, such as we have found through the legendary Steven Fletcher, is extremely hard to come by, and shouldn’t be expected. The loyalty is provided by the fans. I went to my first Bournemouth game when I was 5 and I’m now 19, how many players can devote 14 years to a single club? And of course my record of support is pitiful in comparison to many fans. A fan can give allegiance to a team that a player could only dream of. Overall, we’re more important.

For me, all I expect is a full team, trying their absolute hardest. I don’t even mind losing if I feel like the lads have genuinely fought hard for 90 minutes. So I’m excited for this season regardless of summer goings on in the squad, and I’m counting down the days ‘til August 6^th.