When I started to support Leeds, they were good. We were playing in Europe and beating Manchester United (I know everyone does that these days, but it was a big thing back then). Leeds have since became shit. I feel partly responsible. I became a football fan later than most. Generally people become supporters during childhood, I waited until my teenage years, before dedicating my life to the sport.
I only had a couple of seasons of glory. Since then, I have been forced to watch my beloved team battle it out in the lower leagues, with crap players, terrible managers and inept owners. What did I do to deserve this? I shouldn’t have bothered with football and remained a computer geek, when the only misery I would experience would involve losing a battle on World of Warcraft.
In all seriousness, I don’t regret anything. I love football and for some strange reason, still love Leeds. Most importantly, had I not become involved in football, I wouldn’t have met my wife.
Leeds have had lots of owners during my time as a fan. None of them have been good enough to bring my club back to where I believe they belong (Champions of the World). Our latest owner is Massimo Cellino. An Italian famous for sacking managers – it would be fair to say, he gets through them, like I get through Krispy Kreme doughnuts. The managers he does sign aren’t very good either! I sound like right moaning bastard.
However, this may all be about to change! Over the last 24 hours, Leeds have been linked with Darrell Clarke, from Bristol Rovers. I really rate Darrell. He took ‘The Gas’ from the doldrums of non-league to League One. He did lose to Bath City in the FA Trophy, but everyone makes mistakes.
He’s a really likable man too. My only concern is that he took time to build a good side at Rovers – something, which based on Cellino’s history, he won’t get. Unless our new manager wins the European Cup, finds a cure for AIDS and solves world hunger, he will most likely be sacked before we’re putting the pumpkins out for Halloween.
Still, I’m willing to live the dream that Clarkey will join The Mighty Whites, be allowed to put together the best team in the land, and be supported by Mr. Cellino. Yeah right. I doubt we’ll even get him. He’ll stay at Rovers, get another promotion and we’ll be relegated. Sigh.
Why did nobody tell me until yesterday that England’s game against Wales in Euro 2016 was being held on a Thursday at 2pm? This means that I will be in work for the entire match!
I have since requested the afternoon off. No doubt, half the people in England and Wales will do the same. The streets will be deserted, apart from tumbleweed in England and stray sheep in Wales.
If you want to commit a crime – say driving your sports car down the dual carriageway at 150mph – this will be the perfect time, as nobody will be around to catch you… seriously, please don’t break the speed limit, as I’d hate to be responsible for any accidents.
Work will probably be quiet that afternoon, unless everyone decides to stream the game from the BBC website and bring the entire network, which is entirely possible.
I can’t wait for the game. The anticipation; the excitement; the traditional let down when England lose 1-0 to a Gareth Bale free kick.
I travelled far, far away from Bath at the weekend. We went all the way to a little village called London – you may have heard of it. Sorry I haven’t blogged about it until now, I ended up going to jail and I had to miss three turns, as I didn’t have a Get Out Of Jail Free Card.
Our visit to London was just what you see on the movies. Chimney sweeps, people singing in the streets and eating jellied eels… ok, that was a lie. We did drive through a market though and spent the evening at the dog tracks.
We did ‘the dogs’ in style. None of this standing around out in the rain. We watched all the action from inside, while a waiter brought us a 3 course meal. A lady also came to our table to take bets. I really pushed the boat out and spent £2 on each bet. I think I may have a gambling problem. Like gambling on horses, I know nothing about dogs, so instead of looking at odds, form and all that rubbish, I simply picked the names of the dogs I liked. Out of 13 races, I won 2. Luckily, one of my wins was a no-hoper (probably blind, with three legs). This mongrel ran home to victory and I won over £20. At the end of the night, I was a few quid down. I am not going to find a career in gambling, but I did have a good evening.
We spent the night in a Holiday Inn. When we normally stay away from home, we use Premier Inn (endorsed by Sir Lenny Henry). I can see where the “Premier” in Premier Inn comes from – in the past, we have been spoilt. The Holiday Inn we stayed at, was a dive compared to what we are used to. It was more like a youth hostel. It was dirty, the lift spelt of vomit, there were marks on the carpet outside our room and a worrying white stain on our bedsheets. Breakfast left a lot to be desired too – my bowl and cutlery were dirty. Needless to say, we’ll never be staying in one of those “hotels” again.
While I enjoyed getting away from the busy, bustling city life of Bath, and escaping to the peaceful, slow life of London, it was very nice to come home – especially to a clean and comfortable bed (something we didn’t experience at the hotel).
Just make sure you sell to a crazy billionaire who likes to spend lots of money and win trophies. What could possibly go wrong?
While amusing, it isn’t quite as funny as last time…
Probably because I remember them being good when they went down in 2009, and this time they’ve been shit for years.
About Me
So you stumbled across my blog. No doubt after searching for something bizarre on Google. Before you hit that 'Back Button', why not stay and have a read for a few minutes?
If you are after a website which gives advice on how to hack an iPhone X, download the latest Steven Seagal movie, or view nudy ladies, you've come to the wrong place and may now press 'Back'.
However, if you would like a lifestyle blog, written by a 30-something chap, living in Bath (England), feast your eyes on this.
You won't discover how to copy PlayStation 4 games. What you will find is a blog, covering life in the West Country, the highs and lows of supporting two unsuccessful football teams, while sharing a house with a wife and rabbit.
All written by a man, somewhere on the sanity-scale between normal and eccentric.
