Proper Football

The players of Gornal and Stourport strode onto the pitch like gladiators with the match officials. Then a curious ceremony took places. Like some long forgotten ritual they lined up and shook hands with each other on the instruction of a far that off body the FA. The small crowd stood and mustered all the apathy they could, barely pausing to watch.
Then the game, the tackles the shots, the runs and blocks that make a football game. Pulsating. Entertaining. After ninety minutes the game ended and the battle was over. To the victors a fleeting moment of glory, to the vanquished the chance to make amends next week. Once again the players shook hands with each other as they left the pitch. No ritual or ceremony this. RESPECT for a game well played. Now off to the changing room and the social club for a quick white wine spritzer and a bag of Prawn Cocktail crisps, a few moments chat and then the rest of the weekend before the toil of the day job starts again on Monday morning.



The ‘Barmy Army’ of supporters, having cheered and sung their way through the afternoon in support of their team, did the same.