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Thom and his friends with their football in the school playground must look like I did all those years ago. Hell, Thom even plays in goal like I did and takes a pride in punching the ball to the halfway point. That takes me back. But look into their heads, and things have changed. Local football heroes aren't heroes like they were. Thom said it all in three words, 'Dad, they're useless!'
He has football heroes, but you've heard of them. David Seaman, Dennis Bergkamp.....highly priced and rare talents. Thom's football heroes are men who can and will deliver most of the time and they're on television so often that being huddled in the stands on a bitter winter afternoon is an alien concept.
We live now within easy striking distance of Gillingham's ground. Their current standing resembles that of the Carlisle team I grew to love as a boy. Thom and his friends express no affection for the Gills and can't name the players or manager. I followed my team through the ups and downs. They demanded unwavering loyalty and I was only too happy to give it.
I don't think Thom will ever see what I saw at his age watching a football match. I think the competition for local heroes is too tough now. Not on the pitch, but in the affordability and availability of computer games. And I’ve come to accept that rainy pitches can’t compete with the lure of the computer. Thom’s love of games has turned me into a virtual reality football manager, and he laughs out loud when he wins. He loves football this way, we love the time together. It’s just that I go to his games more than he’ll ever go to mine.
I'll share this with him. Special and important moments for us both. And, when he marvels at my generation growing up without such delights, I'll struggle to explain how an average football team filled my life.
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