Missing a match/Background

For those of us that love our clubs, and all of us do, we know the power of a match.

I admit that I'm a bit of a late bloomer when it comes to following football, but the lovedrug is flowing through my veins. I came to know Arsenal Football Club about 2 seasons ago. It's been non-stop since then. We all know the tricks, spending hours on Wikipedia looking up everything about everything about every club in every league. You memorize cheers, songs, and traditions that you may never even get the chance to do. Immersing yourself in a culture that I would pay dearly to have Stateside. All other sports have taken a back seat. There are clubs that I will watch in other countries, but for me, I am a fan of football, and a lover of Arsenal.

I'd be lying if I said that I didn't fall asleep thinking about the match and how it would fall into place. Which players will do well? Who's going to deserve a sacking?

For weekend matches, I wake up about 5 minutes before kick-off, drag my pillows and comforter to the television and plop on the couch. I live with 12 other guys, and it's always just me, out on the couch alone. I swear heartily underneath my breath so as not to wake anyone, and I take my victories with a confident composure as I fall back asleep on the couch for another few hours as the next two clubs get underway.

But I love the mid-week matches. Another great excuse to go to the pub, have a few laughs with the rando's like me who show up, and usually a few ex-pats who don't mind tellin' the tales of how they got booted from Shite Hart Lane for pissing on the walls in the visitor's section. I yell at the screen and I try to have something witty to say for each of the opponents. And when those delightful moments when the Gunners put one into the net, I'm on my feet yelling as loud as I can, much like the rest of the room wearing red and white.

But every so often, those days come when I can't make it to the television or the pub. I've been known to throw arms up in triumph in class thanks to the beauty of ESPN Gamecast, but everyone knows it's not the same. The worst part about missing a match is that one instant when you realize that you won't be able to watch. It sinks my day.

When the day of the match rolls around, I'll still be walkin' around in my jersey, doing whatever it is that I have to do. If I find out it's a win, you'll see me with arms raised high the rest of the day. A loss might dampen my spirits, but you'll never find me removing the jersey. And you couldn't pay me to stop takin' so much pride in the Kings of North London.

Here's to those of us in it for the long-haul.

COME ON YOU GUNNERS!
C. Tech