Not for the faint hearted

Lue Glover 10/02/2008 7comments | Jump to last

We've all had a few words to say about yesterday's game. The most positive outcome is that we got three points and the defence, Jags in particular, won the game.

It's been a while since I've sat at the game, praying for the final whistle, cursing the inevitable heartburn and stomach churning that goes with the 'hoof it and see' type of headball we played yesterday. On my return home, I headed straight for the fridge and the soothing calm of a bottle of beer, such were my nerves torn to shreds. A bit OTT maybe but I seriously wonder what damage this game does to my insides, not to mention the obvious premature ageing that has occured to my once youthful looks.....

I, like many other women of a certain age, spend much of my hard earned cash on lotions and potions to melt away those lines and hide away the hint of grey that adorns my unruly mop of hair., all to no avail, I must add. Then, of course, there's the psychological damage. The stress of the final few months of the season, the shoulda, coulda, woulda got the points, won the game, beaten the RS, it all adds to that gnawing feeling of never quite knowing which team will show up today. The good one with all that wonderful football that swept aside almost everyone in it's path? Or the team from yesterday - tired, accident prone, colour blind and seemingly intent on giving us a 90 minute roller coaster ride.

So, moving on, what next? More nail-biting until we regain the wonderful rhythm which swept us to the giddy heights of a very long unbeaten run of great, great football? I hope for the sake of my nerves, my stomach and my looks that the former shows up again soon otherwise I think i might be asking EFC to subsidise a week at a Health Farm for me and many of my fellow suffers to recoup and indeed build up for a fantastic end of season run in. Perhaps Season Ticket holders should get concessions for counselling sessions, BUPA membership and industrial size jars of Oil of Olay to counteract the effects of attendance at the games!

The reality is of course, that I don't give a stuff if I look in the mirror and see my grandmother looking back at me, I don't care if my stomach churns and rumbles or my hands shake with nerves. I'm not bothered if I wake up on a Sunday morning with yet more grey hair and that the local offy thinks I'm an alcoholic.

What matters is my team. Winning ugly or pretty isnt really THAT important but feeling that the team has a good future IS important. I feel we have so much to look forward to in the coming months and years that it's all worth it. A few months ago, I just couldn't stop grinning, we were playing with a swagger and a confidence that was intoxicating and I'm so looking forward to feeling like that again. It WILL come back, I know it will and for the sake of my liver, hopefully it'll be back very soon. Come on you Blues.

Reader Comments

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Mark Dutton
1 Posted 10/02/2008 at 17:09:08

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Obviously I’m far too in touch with my feminine side, Sue, but I share the same anxieties and whilst my beloved EFC haven’t caused me anything like the stress that choosing women badly (and repeatedly) has, I think the passion that we true-blues have, whether we play superbly or dreadfully, affects our bodies in ways that the medical profession would find hard to understand.
In so many ways, it’s stronger than any religion, often stronger than family and when the relationships explode, Everton are always there. Like it or not, for 20 years now we’ve been a rollercoster club - but as a lover of all things chaotic, I’d rather have that than be like, say, the Arse.
Great article - got any tips on male hair-dye?

Denis Byrne
2 Posted 10/02/2008 at 21:23:34

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Great piece Lue, and that horrendous and pradoxical emotion of being unsatisfied with a win is a torment shared equally among the Everton family. There is something not quite right about ?winning ugly? because we have a heritage that doesn?t do ?ugly?. And ?Its the three points that matter? just ain?t good enough either; its three points and a bit of grace and beauty that makes us a smile and makes the ale taste sweet. Maybe we?ve been blessed with a shared gene (born blue) provided by god; or is it a curse? Whatever, the School of Science is just that and I don?t know why playing rubbish and winning leaves a a bit of an empty feeling, but it does. Look forward to hearing other peoples views on this cruelty.

Peter Jones
3 Posted 10/02/2008 at 21:46:24

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Regardless of what affect the mighty blues may have on your youthful looks you will always have a beautiful blue soul.
Also I don?t think that you need to worry about the grandmother thing just yet as you don?t sound the mad as a hatter type which my Nan was.

Micky Norman
4 Posted 11/02/2008 at 17:57:40

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Great post which puts it as I’m sure most of us feel. But not so long ago (after the 7-1) I was talking to a mate who supports Sunderland about this same thing. We worked out that in the 40 years he’s been supporting them he’s had about 25 last day of the season heart stoppers where promotion or relegation was decided. He’s 50 now but looks 70. No fingernails, no hair and a triple bypass,(and this season might also go to the wire for them). So really, being a Blue is not so bad for the body.

Lee Spargo
5 Posted 11/02/2008 at 23:37:54

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and that’s why we love football, and in particular, EFC.

Trudy Boston
6 Posted 12/02/2008 at 16:57:10

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An interesting post from Ms Glover. I have been following everton since the gordon lee days and not a hint of grey hair. And i very seldom venture down to the off licence for beverages. If everton finish in 4th place and do make it to at least the semi finals of the uefa cup then i may treat myself to a drop of sherry. Nice to see other women supporters putting their views across. A big move on from the thatcherite days of all standing fenced in enclosures. Football is no longer a male dominated sport.

It shows something when supporters see a draw at blackburn and a dissatisfactory result and even a top five finish is deemed not good enough. No teams will batter us like in the old days and while i expect that we are a long way off from braking the stranglehold of the top four we have firmly established ourselves as a consistent side who can give anybody in this league a run for their money, but the referee in charge must be of a fair and unbiased nature in order for us to stand a chance of victory.

Craig Ashford
7 Posted 14/02/2008 at 17:16:21

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I know the feeling well, and wonder if the stresses of being a blue will eventually bring around and early end. Lol But I have to say i disagree, sometimes we need to win dirty. Given a choice i?d love to see flare, skilled, showboating style football but its not up for discussion by us the fans. Did Chelski win the leage playing every game well, with good football flare, No (and im not saying i want to win like them, by diving and cheating our way to victory) but sometimes grinding out a win however sloppy is as important a victory.