Fingers Crossed

By: Todd Bontoft
Date: 15/01/2001

As a football fan, don't you find yourself doing those 'quirky' little routines? You park in the same place, go through the same turnstile, wear the same gear, buy the programme from the same vendor, doing anything else may result in 'bad luck'.

For a while, I stopped attending away matches as when I went they lost and when I did they never! This of course, was entirely illogical and singularly stupid. This season I have made only four away matches, not having seen them pick up one single point but the rest of the away form is nothing to write about.

During one season, while dating my future wife, I banned her from away matches as we were getting annihilated every time she came with me. Clearly this was her fault not mine! Fortunately, she put up with my idiosyncratic ways and still married me. Nevertheless, to this day I am still uneasy when she goes to the away games!

Even going to the club shop on a matchday can be traumatic. A purchase before just adds extra pressure to the game, who in their right mind wants a new scarf that on its first outing finishes in a defeat? Is it an unlucky scarf and one that should only be used for proudly hanging around the team's shrine in the bedroom? If we win, let's worry that it hasn't used up its luck! Going to the club shop after a game is just as bad depending upon the result. Justification for a purchase after a defeat is that I tell myself it's the forthcoming one that counts!

Is it just me or are you a soul mate that can empathise? As if it's not good enough toiling this 'labour of love' in supporting our team, we need to pile on the agony!

And doesn't it just ruin your weekend, when you lose!

On Saturday, I watched the 'classic' Grimsby v Crewe game, I did all my usual things, but it didn't make the slightest difference. At the end of the game, I noticed that I had been sitting in the next numbered seat along from my usual. Am I to blame for the defeat?

The article continues in Part Two

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