Opening Day

Apart from the 3rd round of the Cup, this is my favourite day of the season: optimism before we kick a ball, can’t beat it. As such I’ve always tried to manipulate holidays so I’m at home on day1, but having had a new knee last month I had to stop kidding myself yesterday that I could manage 3-4hrs in the car & a day at the match & have turned down my ticket. As far as I can remember, the only other opening home game I’ve missed since my first seaso in 78 was the 1-6 debacle vs Arsenal when Lescott didn’t want to play. We’d driven through the Rockies from Vancouver & then done a few days in Toronto, & were in a pub before flying home that night. My mobile was pinging more & more with every goal going in, when a lad I recognised from the match walked in. We’d never spoken before, but we both sat in the Paddock with different groups of mates. He marched straight over & his first words were “have you seen the fucking score?!” 🤣