Love Romance Fate and Newcastle United

Love

Many years ago I read William Somerset Maughan’s classic novel ‘Of Human Bondage’.

For those unfamiliar with the storyline, it is a tale of a man who falls in love with a woman but fails to get anything in return for his devotion, and his deep love and selflessness towards her.

Getting nothing back to justify his obsession, but still going back again and again in the belief that one day, his love and loyalty will be repaid in the smallest way.

Sound familiar to your love for Newcastle United (or whatever team you happen to support)?

In the end, the character in the book gives up on his love and opts for a normal mundane family life, but you are left with the feeling that that is not what he really wanted and if only…

You and me know that you can never really leave your true love, but actions need to be taken for the good of all concerned, in bondage to the club that we love.

Romance

My young teenage son wrote for The Mag a while back and stated that the FA Cup was not important. Irrelevant even. “It’s all about the Champions League.”

When I was my son’s age and younger, the FA Cup final was one of the best days of the year.  Bottle of pop, crisps and all day entertainment. The term “Romance of the FA Cup” would be bandied about by self-appointed football experts.

I work with young lads in London who love football and when questioned, the seventeen year olds are in agreement with my fourteen year old. Even repeating the mantra that it’s all about the Champions League.

These are lads who claim to follow the big clubs in the Premier League. Probing deeper with the few Millwall and Charlton lads, they love the FA Cup, though the notion of romance is an anathema to them.

Fate

Fine margins. What ifs. Luck.

On Wednesday night, me and my lad sat watching the Fulham game.

Message arrives from my Fulham mate Dave; “Albert (Dave’s son) says it is gonna be penalties, it’s fate.”

Whose name is on the cup? League Cup or FA Cup, is it all fate?

When we hit the inside of the post twice in Leverkusen, was that fate or simply bad luck.

When Nick Woltemade attempted to clear that cross with a header last Sunday, was it fate that his name will be forever linked to that dismal derby performance.

When your luck is out, the emotional rollercoaster plays with your mind.

Was it fate that the homegrown Geordie boy Lewis Miley would seal the win in added time with a header in the quarter-final and so cleanse us of that horrible moment. An ablution from the interaction with that lot down the road.

Love Romance Fate.

It’s all just football.