I have been a football supporter since 1962. Nearly all of that support has been focused upon Hull City A.F.C. - the only professional club in The East Riding of Yorkshire. However, I have also always been a keen follower of the English national team and can remember very clearly watching The World Cup final of 1966 on television when our lads beat West Germany by four goals to two to become World Champions.
Though I have attended hundreds of Hull City matches and have spent hundreds, nay thousands of pounds on match tickets, related travel and programmes, I have never attended a full England international match. All that is going to change today because this evening I am going to watch the national team play Costa Rica at Elland Road in Leeds.
Upon a sudden whim, I ordered the ticket on Sunday night and it arrived in the post on Tuesday morning. All tickets for this game have now been sold. I was one of the very last purchasers. My seat will have a "restricted view" so no doubt there will be a whacking great pillar in my line of sight but I don't care. I am 64 years old and I am going to see England play live for the first time in my life! The game will be the very last "friendly" match before The 2018 World Cup commences in Russia.
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This post is dedicated to my friend and neighbour Richard who died in hospital
yesterday morning. All that cigarette smoke finally caught up with him. Sweet
dreams Richard! It was good to know you and I'll think of you at Elland Road.
So sorry about your friend & neighbor. I just lost a friend to cancer as well. Tumors in her head and chest. She smoked too but I don't know if that contributed or not. Maybe so. Cancer sucks.
ReplyDeleteLet us share a virtual hug Kathy...for those we have known who have gone.
DeleteI smoked for 30+ years before my wife and I both quit 27 years ago. We're both elderly now so perhaps that decision those many years ago prolonged our existence. Condolences on the loss of your friend and neighbor. Enjoy your soccer match.
ReplyDeleteThat was one of the best decisions you ever made Mr C!
DeleteDeath, sadly, catches up with us all. It's always sad...a loss...to lose those we care about.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the game.
"Enjoy the game" could be advice about how to live life.
DeleteYes...it very well could be....a good observation, Yorkie.
DeleteI'm sorry about your friend/neighbour. Smoking can be a very hard addiction to conquer.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the game and I hope your view is not overly bad.
I haven't smoked a cigarette for thirty years. Did you ever smoke Jenny?
DeleteAside from second-hand smoke while I was growing up, and half a dozen at university, no. But my husband did, and still does, and is firmly in their grip. Much to my dismay. At least he smokes outside.
DeleteI am sorry to hear about your friend. It is kind that you dedicate a post to him.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the game. I did not know Costa Rica played British football. My brother has retired in Costa Rica and I learn new things about it daily. From what you have told us about your team I am sure they will win and I hope your view is not too obstructed.
Costa Rica have also made it to The World Cup Finals. I expect we will beat them tonight but they are no mugs.
DeleteI'm sure the game will be an experience to remember! Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteToo bad about your friend. I hope he had a good exit
No. He didn't have a good exit Kylie. He was fighting to breathe right to the end. Three weeks ago I was sitting next to him in our pub discussing quiz answers.
DeleteSorry to hear about your friend and neighbour's death. Dedicating this post to him and remembering him as you watch England play live for the first time in your life seems a fitting tribute to him.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the experience, and I hope the restricted view won't be too restricted!
Thank you for your characteristically kind words Meike.
DeleteEnjoy the match. You'll probably have a very good view because you're not expecting one.
ReplyDeleteI am sorry for your friend's passing.
Greetings Maria x
Thank you Maria. What a shame that Italy did not make it to The World Cup this time round.
DeleteGood for you! I'm surprised you haven't been before, actually!
ReplyDeleteThe trouble is that most England games are played in London and normally they are midweek matches. A big attraction about this match is that it is being played in Yorkshire. Just 36 miles away from home.
DeleteGood for you and I hope you enjoy every moment.
ReplyDeleteSince Tom was diagnosed with his illness all has changed around here. Every moment needs to be filled with love and happiness if at all possible. I realise we can't be happy all of the time but if only we realised how short life is then we would take every opportunity that came our way and not worry so much.
Come on Englaaaaaaaaaaand. lol
Briony
x
From the sound of it you and Tom have had a very happy marriage anyway. I doubt that it has been too difficult to bring more love and happiness into the room.
DeleteSorry to hear of your friend's death YP. My condolences to his family. Having watched my husband fight for breath over the last few months of his life, I know how they must have suffered too. It's most distressing and my husband smoked right up until the last week, when he was in hospital.
ReplyDeleteI do hope you enjoy the match and the result is a good one.
It must be so frightening to lose one's breath - like drowning. Of course we won the match CG. Do you support England or Spain?
DeleteOn first reading I thought of a lighthearted "Not you too, YP, still dining out on 1966". Well, that was extinguished by the rather sobering foot note you left. It's tough to lose a friend. It's even tougher (for the one heading exit) when the process of dying is made into prolonged torture.
ReplyDeleteU
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I see I am doubling up on myself now. As they say in the motherland, and any Yorkshire man would agree: Doppelt genaeht haelt besser.
DeleteIf you have ever sewn on a button (particularly on a coat) you'll know what I mean. Roughly translated, maybe a bit like the English "a stitch in time ...", as "double your effort whilst sewing on the button to save you cursing yourself later".
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