And the winner is

We all know them. Manchester United or Barcelona supporters, or any other club that might win a top trophy supporters. The supporters who support by merely keeping their television licence up to date but who have never paid a penny to support their club. Probably never even been inside a football ground in years, if ever.

Not for them the search for a ground in distant back street, the search to find a place to park their transport and the trudge along uneven footpaths to the ground. Not for them the decisions of how many layers to wear to keep out the cold or which sensible shoes to wear in case there is a patch of muddy water to negotiate before arriving at what serves as a turnstile. Summer football ? It would spoil it.

No voice in their ears to tell them who is who and is doing what. Clubs once supported by thousands in the early years of the 20 th Century now struggling to remain in existence with crowds of less than one hundred. Clubs that owe their very existence to volunteers and the lucky few with financial backers. A good run in the FA Cup or Vase or trophy brings survival not medals.

But what do I care if Real United win the Super Cup. I get to see former legends like Jake Sedgemore still plying his trade and others like Duane Darby and Gary Hackett giving back to the game that they served so well by passing on their experience and managing grass roots football.

But I am the winner, and the folk like me who pay their shillings to watch good honest football and go home happy in the knowledge at the Beautiful game is alive and well, but maybe with reduced numbers watching it.