Monday, June 14, 2010

Me and me mum and me dad and me gran


Yes, okay, I crumbled like I always do and watched the England bit of the World Cup. I can't help but find it quite exciting really.

It all takes me back to a time in 1990 when a few of us from work went on a night out. We found ourselves in Islington where the streets were all but empty. We couldn't work out why - until we heard football coming from every pub and bar we passed. Then it dawned on us that this was England's semi-final game and we really should be watching it.

Up to this point, not being a football fan, I had dipped into the World Cup but I wasn't quite so caught up in it. But 1990 was the World Cup to change everything. That's when it really took off among the middle classes, and why you now read silly things like some ad agency art director who'd die if he couldn't see his beloved Gooners of a Saturday. Yeah, right. It's all spiralled out of control until people pretend to follow a team because everyone else does and they don't want to be left out, or it's bad for business.

Anyway, we wandered the streets but we couldn't get in anywhere. Eventually we found a back street, rather rough, boozer where the only place to sit was on the floor, which we did. But it turned out to be one of the most fun nights ever, despite England losing. The atmosphere was electric. But I was quite glad to leave that pub.

Another footy-related fun night was watching England beat Holland in a pub during Euro '96. [Edit: World Cup 98, I have been told]. Yes, that was me standing on the table leading the singing of Vindaloo and Three Lions. What happens during a tournament, stays during a tournament, okay?

Anyway, I've only watched one match. That dreadful bluebottle-trapped-in-a-jam-jar noise drove me crazy. It's almost unwatchable. Ban the vuvuzele now!

At least there's no Nessun Dorma, though.

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

Tsk. Vindaloo was World Cup 1998.

Jon Peake said...

Oh my memory! Yes, you're right, it was the World Cup 98 cos of who I was with. Would that match have been England v Holland though? Correct me if I'm wrong, I'm sure you will.

But I do remember getting carried away with Euro 96 too.

Chris Hughes said...

If it was Vindaloo, then it would have been World Cup 98, and you'd have been watching England beat either Tunisia (which was played on a Monday lunchtime) or Colombia.

Jon Peake said...

Well then I'm confused. It was an evening, must have been 98 now I think about it. I think I was in the same pub for England Holland in Euro 96, hence my muddle. Can't remember the match at all, then.

Chris Hughes said...

It must have been Colombia - it was a Friday night, England qualified for the knockout rounds and Beckham scored a cracking free-kick. Mick Jagger was in the crowd, clapping along out of time with the rest of the fans.

But I'm still clinging to the hope that it was Tunisia, and you were completely off your face by three o'clock on a Monday afternoon.

Mondo said...

Italia was the tournament that reeled me in too. I'd had a blind spot for football (and most sports) until then. And now I'm almost completely absorbed with this one - checking out the heavy hitters, noting the form and technique. Germany yesterday, Brazil tomorrow. Of course it will all pass if England go out.

How does anyone support a league club and not have a breakdown? I don't think I could handle this sort of excitement on a weekly basis.

Jon Peake said...

Some people are so into it, it's unreal. It always makes me laugh when I see how much their team losing can affect their mood. I simply can't imagine it. Well, I suppose I can, but not to such an extent.

Kolley Kibber said...

My most memorable was definitely 86. I was visiting a friend in Italy, and we were the only women watching the England-Argentina game in a room full of macho, Maradonna-worshipping Italian males.

At the Famous Moment, we stood up and spontaneously screamed 'handball!'. Every man in the room turned towards us, and yelled 'puttani!' ('whores!'). We thought we were going to be killed, and we ran for it. Horrible.

Clair said...

I heard my first live vuvuzuela today, outside De Hems in Soho. I wanted to ram it up the player's bum.

Jon Peake said...

If anyone could do that, Clair, it would be you. What a missed opportunity. I expect to see them everywhere now.

Bright Ambassador said...

Of course following a football affects your mood: how would you feel if you paid £30 to see your favourite band and they were crap?

Jon Peake said...

These aren't people who've been to games though, just people who've heard the results.

Labels