Football Emotionally.

A player for Salford FC kicked a goal from near the centre line that won them the match causing huge emotion. When interviewed he said, “I could have done it a hundred times and missed but today it went in.” Equally there are a hundred small mistakes per match that cause supporters much negative emotion over a player’s ‘stupidity.’ Add to that dubious ref decisions and the result is a 90 minutes chaotic emotional journey that over a million fans pay for a ticket to every week. And basically the winners, like Salford FC, are just the ones with more lucky moments. Being brought up on motorcycle sports this emotional roller coaster passes me by. I enjoy football for the skill, bravery and physical fitness just as I would a race. So there seems something about the structure of football that plays out like a procedural crime drama with numerous unforeseen plot twists leading to a simple win or lose. The ones that went in are remembered and revered, the ones that just missed soon forgotten though the difference in skill is minimal. When the goal difference is rarely more than two, though highly skilful and athletic, it’s basically a game of chance hinging on a few throws of a dice. So it seems its appeal is the emotional ride hence the highs and lows of being a fan. One might describe it as a form of surrogate gambling. Nevertheless it’s the greatest of games.