PREFACE
I wrote this blog post back in 2014. I recently decided to start blogging again for a few reasons, so I blew off the cobwebs of the Villa Blogger website and got cracking. Firstly, I needed to clean things up at the back end of my website, as it had been lying there dormant for nearly five years. Then I came across an old blog post that I had written but hadn’t published. It had been lying there in my drafts for 11 years. WOW! Then I started to read it, and it brought back some very nice memories from a long time ago. All of those interactions with my son are true, and back then I remember thinking how comical they were, so I thought I’d write a little comical post. I don’t know why I didn’t publish it; my memory fails me, but I came across it, and I thought it would be a nice thing to share it with you.
Here we go.
I’m going to take you through parts of the 2013/14 Premier League season, seen through the eyes of my 10-year-old son, Sean, who is in his first year of being a season ticket holder. My boy doesn’t go to away matches.
Arsenal 1-3 Aston Villa, 17th Aug 2013
“Hi Dad, how did we do today?” my son said. “We beat Arsenal 3-1, yes!!!”
Aston Villa 0-1 Liverpool, 24th Aug 2013
“Dad, why did Liverpool beat us today?”
“They only just about beat us, son. Don’t worry Sean, the football season has only just begun.”
Aston Villa 1-2 Newcastle, 14th Sep 2013
“Dad, we got beat again today?”
“I know, but it was a very close match though.”
Aston Villa 0-4 Tottenham, 24th Sep 2013
“Dad, are Aston Villa crap?”
“No son, they caught us on a bad day. Just you wait and see when we play our next match.”
“Who are we playing next, Dad?”
“Manchester City, now shut up and eat a burger.”
Aston Villa 3-2 Manchester City, 28th Sep 2013
“Dad, we won!!!
“I know, I told you we would win, son.” How the hell did we manage to win that one, I thought.
Aston Villa 0-2 Tottenham/2 Everton, 20/26th Oct 2013
“Dad, why do we always lose more games than we win?”
“I don’t know, son, I’m starting to wonder myself.”
Aston Villa 0-3 Manchester United, 15th Dec 2013
“Dad, can I ask you a question?”
“Sure, fire away, son.”
“Can I support Manchester United?”
“No, you bloody well can’t! That’s it, no SpongeBob SquarePants for you!”
Aston Villa 0-1 Crystal Palace, 26th Dec 2013
“Dad, you said that Santa was going to give us a win today?”
“I know, son, but have you ever heard the song by Kevin Bloody Wilson? Well, that’s what Santa is.”
With further losses against Sheffield United, Arsenal, West Ham, Stoke City, and Fulham, Villa sent out their season ticket renewal notifications.
I said to my son whilst on a family shopping trip, “It’s time for us to renew our season tickets, son. Do you want me to get you one?” I asked him enthusiastically.
“Nah, it’s okay, Daddy.” he replied without a hesitation. “Well, you’ve got no flipping choice, because I’ve already bought you one!”
Showing my son (who I love very much) that supporting your club when they’re going through a real bad time will hopefully teach him a valuable lesson he’ll understand one day. Hopefully, it will teach him that in life, commitment, loyalty, and support are something very hard things to adhere to, especially when times are rough, and they don’t look to be getting better anytime soon. UTV
Just a quick note to say you may notice a few older posts being re-uploaded over the next few days and weeks. I’ve been dealing with a couple of serious technical issues behind the scenes. I appreciate your patience while I get things back in order. Glenn