Whenever I mention my support for Manchester United, people think that I support them because of their on and of the field success in the past decade. Nothing could be further from the truth!
My dedicated love relation with this historic club started when I was six or seven years old growing up in Ghana.
My dad's Greek team was going through a spell of continuously getting beat by their strongest rivals. Supporting them brought a lot of stick from kids at school so things had to change. I looked outside the borders for a team worthy of my support, but I didn't like the outfits of the teams in the English First Division.
It was then that I asked a friend of mine, who was at the time going to boarding school in the UK, who the champions of the Second Division were.
"Manchester United" he said, and it took me a couple of months reading it of a piece of paper to memorise it and be able to recite it myself.
Three years later, I watched them live on television beat their bitter rivals Liverpool in the FA Cup final. It was the the concrete set on the foundation of my love for this club.
I wrote a letter to them, asking how I can get some memorabilia and a book of their history and, lo and behold, two weeks later I got a letter back from them. I was ecstatic, that a club of their stature would actually reply to a letter of a nine year old kid!
I smashed my clay piggy bank to smithereens - my dad offered his kind donation - and I ordered all the memorabilia I wanted, including the book.
I learned about the championships, the Cups, the Medals, the honours, the records and, above all, their strength and resolve in the face of disaster when more that half of the team died in the Munich air disaster of '57.
I was a ManU fan through and through!
I listened to the broadcast of their matches on BBC world, watched them on TV, and went to Old Trafford to watch them almost every home game during my studies in Manchester, becoming a club member back in 1987.
Looking back, it's been a love affair that has taken me from the highest depths of despair and sadness to the greatest heights of elation, thrill and excitement.
A love affair that will only end the day I close my eyes!
7 comments:
Good for you Epi! And I'm impressed with your dedication since 9 years old. Man U today has a really large group of quality fans and you sure are one of them :)
Thinking about it mother hen, this is the only love affair where my dedication and devotion has not been betrayed! That's pretty sad isn't it?
not sad Epi - just shows the universality of sport and how it can incite passion the world over. ManU can justifiably claim to be the greatest team on the planet. Doesn't the EPL kick off this weekend?
Sorry, I don't know enough about football to say anything intelligent but hey, they need supporters like you!
Epi, Its amazing how magical and long lasting the bonds we form in childhood are. I think its wonderful that you still feel so linked to the team/organization.
loz, it prides me to say that even if we are not the best team in the world, we are a proud and historic club!
ting, thank you! I tend to dedicate myself in all of my relationships!
hollygl, indeed bonds formed at childhood seem to be the strongest!
awwww.. Epi, I'm so sorry!
You're in my prayer friend.
Post a Comment