On being a football widow…
I am sure I am not the only one out there but it feels like it.
Whilst my husband is watching the football (not a common occurrence in this house) we will be out supporting a local strawberry fair in Brentwood. They have classic cars on display and I will be able to wander among them admiring them without all the machismo talk that normally surrounds these vehicles. I will be marvelling over the curves, over the edges, over the design of these precious cars. 
Back at The Quiver, hubby will be seated on the edge of the sofa, huggling a rottweiler and watching the England v Germany match through his wonky glasses (thanks Vision Express, I am glad YOU are SATISFIED with his glasses, WE however are NOT) and munching on some popcorn. He will be tense, excited and shouting at the players on the TV as if he was on the pitch with them, and they could hear. Just like all the other football fans. A word in his ear, I say “Darling even if they could hear you, they would ignore you, they are getting their orders from Fabio”. He ignores me and I am left to make my own plans for the football matches he wants to watch.
I know I am not alone as a football widow @RobertaWard tweeted about it the other day, she’s not excited either.
Then there are those that are fed up with the ‘hun’ jokes and the constant references of WWII. Do other national countries have these sorts of quips on the fronts of their newspapers? Was England vs USA billed as the War of Independence all over again? or is it all part of the international bonding process?
Back in February I saw the Canada vs USA ice hockey game in Vancouver. The whole arena was packed to the rafters with families waving their flags, it was all very civilised for something that is billed as the “most brutal sport on Earth”. The commentator announced that George Clooney was in the building and there was a polite cheer that filled the arena. It was lovely and dignified - it is a sport I can be part of, no chanting naughty songs or slurring other nationalities. Then Wayne Gretsky came to the viewing balcony and the commentator announced that to the crowds.
The noise should have lifted the roof, in fact the roof creaked a little from it.
Wayne Gretsky is bigger than George Clooney apparently, probably bigger than David Beckham. He was gently mobbed by his fans for autographs which he happily gave and then he asked to watch the game and the fans thanked him and left – no hassle, all very polite, pleasant and dignified. The poor bloke must have had a thousand flashbulbs go off in his face but he still smiled and signed. How different the hockey player is to the football player! Often our football players are rude and surly, shoving the press and sneering. I know who I want as a role model for my kids!
I believe it was Einstein who defined the definition of insanity as doing the same thing over and over again but expecting to get a different result every time. That describes perfectly how I feel about the England football team and their supporters, who blindly follow and expect a different result every game. I admire their loyalty, truly I do but surely they should know better by now?
Sarah, a proud football widow
About Sarah ArrowSarah Arrow is the managing editor of Birds on the Blog, in real life she is the communications director of a same day courier service. She is an enthusiastic UK based pro-blogger and co- author of the soon to be published Zero to Blogger
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5 Responses to On being a football widow…
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I think the main difference is not the sport so much as Canada vs USA/England.
I've been loving the “Wayne Rooney looking like a thug” pictures in the media over recent days. Is this really what gives the impression that we're going to win? Such playground psychology!
Sadly the impression I get that they are going to win is by them actually playing and scoring goals. As an actor / actress will tell you, you are as only as good as your last job.
Well, as we all know by now, not enough goals were scored by England, so they are now out of the World Cup.
I wonder if Rooney will have the balls to complain again about not getting enough support from the fans? There's a limit to how many other people you can blame for your own shortcomings, Wayne…
It's once every 4 years, I know every man in the UK says the same.