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Gavin
Total Fanatic
Joined: 06 Aug 2006
Posts: 4119
Location: The Tenters (an area some ppl know),Dublin 8
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 Posted: Wed Mar 10, 2010 12:15 am Post subject: Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more |
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| Quote: | To most people it is just a normal Friday. To a small band of football supporters across the island, it is the first day of the season.
I can’t make the game, something which pains me more than I can even write about. Working on a project in Laois, a 7.45pm kickoff in the Brandywell and an exam at 9.30 tomorrow in Dublin meant something had to drop out and unfortunately it had to be the game.
I met someone wearing a Shelbourne scarf on Grafton Street this morning, there was an imperceptible nod and the fella shouted “Best of luck against the Langers” as he passed me by. It’s like a secret club, 99% of the population don’t know exist but for those of us that do, it is truly special.
Midway through a season, when you are driving home from getting hammered away from home you promise yourself you’ll get another interest. Something that doesn’t take over your life. Something that doesn’t mean you spend most Fridays driving hundreds of miles and meaning that your Friday night meal consists of a bag of chips from some terrible mobile outlet. Something that means that you’ll be able to answer “Yeah I’m free this Friday” instead of “Naw, I’m going to Longford for a game”.
But you know you won’t. You know that being there, to see it, means more than anything. Knowing that the craic on an overnighter in Cork is unmissable. Knowing that sure once you hit Ardee you will be home in two hours. Know that if you meet Tom the Gom and he backs your team for the League your f*cked.
This is the mental anguish of the League of Ireland fan. Once you are bitten, you can give it up. You can’t just give up on like an underperforming fantasy football team. You may be mid-table and it is an 12 hour round trip to Waterford, but **** it you’ll go.
The first night of the season is what I imagine an addict feels when they relapse. The hit, the high and whole buzz. It has been building for weeks, you have seen snatches of the team in a friendly but this is the real deal. There may be only 500 there, but they are your 500. 500 people who feel the same way about the same thing about it as you.
It always reminds me of that scene in Fever Pitch
“Sarah Hughes: Paul, it's only a game!
Paul Ashworth: DON'T SAY THAT! Please! That is the worst, most stupid thing anyone could say! Cause it quite clearly isn't "only a game." I mean if it was do you honestly think I'd care this much? Eh? Eighteen years! Eight-teen years! Do you know what you wanted eighteen years ago? Or ten? Or five? Did you want to be Head of Year at North London Comprehensive, I doubt it. I'd doubt if you wanted anything for that long. And if you had, and if you'd spent three months thinking that finally, FINALLY you were gonna get it and just when you think it's there it's taken away from you... I mean I don't care what it is, a car, a job, an Oscar, the baby... then you'd understand how I was feeling tonight. But there isn't, and you don't, so... "
To another 8 months of madness, away we go...... |
http://foot.ie/entries/29-Once-more-unto-the-breach-dear-friends-once-more
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KilbarrackRed'
Newbie
Joined: 24 Nov 2009
Posts: 266
Location: Kilbarrack
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| Posted: Wed Mar 10, 2010 11:08 pm Post subject: |
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Brilliant 
_________________
'We do not dwell in the past, we beleive in the future.'
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Anthony
F.T.A.
Joined: 03 May 2005
Posts: 8320
Location: Rhode Island
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| Posted: Thu Mar 11, 2010 9:34 am Post subject: |
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It's very "happy clappy, pat on the back, aren't we all great for being in the minority and we're all in this together" type stuff and anyone who knows me, knows how (even more) cynical i've become about the whole thing.
Rivalries are still the best thing about the LoI, reminds me of this video.....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpzTv5fHgn0
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royaloakred
Newbie
Joined: 02 Nov 2009
Posts: 148
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| Posted: Thu Mar 11, 2010 10:40 am Post subject: |
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| Anthony wrote: | It's very "happy clappy, pat on the back, aren't we all great for being in the minority and we're all in this together" type stuff and anyone who knows me, knows how (even more) cynical i've become about the whole thing.
Rivalries are still the best thing about the LoI, reminds me of this video.....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpzTv5fHgn0 |
brilliant video
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BELIEVE IN 2010
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KilbarrackRed'
Newbie
Joined: 24 Nov 2009
Posts: 266
Location: Kilbarrack
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| Posted: Thu Mar 11, 2010 7:28 pm Post subject: |
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Classic video 
_________________
'We do not dwell in the past, we beleive in the future.'
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Shels1
Newbie
Joined: 07 May 2009
Posts: 172
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| Posted: Mon Mar 15, 2010 9:04 pm Post subject: |
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| Ah Anthony if supporting Shels is such a bummer for you give it up and give over your constant moaning and pessimism
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BD Killester
F.T.A.
Joined: 26 Sep 2006
Posts: 542
Location: The Red Hook Section of Killester
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| Posted: Mon Mar 15, 2010 9:17 pm Post subject: |
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He's right though, supporting a football team is all about constantly sliding back down crap mountain.
_________________
F-T-A
BD Darts Champion '09.
Tosh Travel-Keep on Truckin'.
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Shels1
Newbie
Joined: 07 May 2009
Posts: 172
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| Posted: Mon Mar 15, 2010 9:31 pm Post subject: |
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Ya your prob right!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh well here's to another season of not getting to the top of that mountain.
And you know with Shels you dont even have the luxury of a safety harness.
If you fall you are f$%^&d.
I hate my life
I love Shels
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