Brilliant post and from the heart.A very moving and thought-provoking account of a long-standing Boro fan and his decision to say cheerio to match days, season cards and the "disengagement" between football and fans in the modern day.
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Ha ha.. that is great Specky.Reminds me of the first or second piece I wrote for the fanzine. It was entitled 'Losing: My Religion.'
Punctuation is important.
Amazing post and that story at the end - incredible.Disengagement - It sounds mainly an age factor with DL and defintinely with his Dad (not having the mobility to walk long distances). To be 85 and still going to games is great and something the majority of us will not be able to do when we are 85. I can tell any one on here if you managed to go in the 1981 to 1986 period anything since has been almost heaven.
If DL has a child of say 40 and grand child of 12 going to the games he may feel differently. It sounds like his family has drifted away and it has left him going alone for the first time in his life. Some people psychologically find it very difficult to go on their own, especially when they are not used to it.
For me I probably feel a bit more engaged because I have more time now to go to games now and a bit more disposable income for football. Last season was probably the most Boro goals I have ever seen in one season.
The connection with the area (and how the football helps) I fully understand as I did the same effectively moving away at 22 for work and and not moving back. Although it sounds like he may have moved back.
I can't understand why it takes him a hour to get away from the Stadium nor how he loses 20% of his view nor how it costs £1200 to renew a senior and adult ST. Surely he would be best in the West Stand lower tier with his Dad and avoiding all the stairs - thats £900 for the two season tickets.
What could disengage me is a lack of competiveness for promotion and relegation from the Premier league - I can see soon when the same clubs that are promoted or then relegated back and promoted back etc. It could even happen this season.
Disengagement in full is when there is no buzz on matchdays. This time last year I was visiting a nursing home and passed a door of a very elderly gentlemen with a A4 Boro Badge pinned to his door (I did not know him). The poor blighty was in his 90s laid flat out and almost gasping for breath. As I passed his door. I just gave him a Up the Boro when walking past even Ms Wurzel joined in telling him we are proper Boro fans. I know I should have not have and a big smile came to his face even though he couldn't speak. I took that smile with me to the Norwich game that night and we won 5-1. It might have been his last smile.