Jumpers as Goalposts.


Today, I watched 22+ men play a game of soccer at a place called The White Heart’s Lane in North London.

(I’ve misunderstood the terminology for comic effect.)

I accompanied my mum to the Spurs vs. Watford league match today, in place of my dad, who wasn’t well; thus making my first visit to White Hart Lane (save a tour of the ground a little while back) in a good twenty-two years. The last time I went to a game, the likes of Klinsmann, Sheringham and Anderton still played for team; the time before that, I was watching Gasgoigne, Lineker and Mabbutt; don’t let it be said that I’m a part-time supporter.

To be fair, I was never really a fan at all, which has already gone on record. While my parents have been avid supporters since the early 1960s, I grew up showing little-to-no interest (infamously taking a book and a Walkman with me to a childhood match, and tutting every time the crowd made a noise, which isn’t something I’m proud of).

Thankfully, I’ve lost most of my youthful precociousness and sports-apathy in the intervening years, and therefore didn’t feel the need to take any distractions with me today, except for a half-time Cadbury’s Twirl and a final-score apple. I genuinely enjoyed myself today, and would happily go again as proxy to Mr. Ephgrave Senior. I found myself getting increasingly tense in the second half as the game got more exciting, and at one point, the roar of the crowd gave me goosebumps. God, I’ve changed; 1994-me would be ashamed.

Poor turnout.

Popular posts from this blog

Shakerpuppetmaker.

Image
Have Parker from Thunderbirds and Noel Gallagher ever been seen in the same room? The resemblance is uncanny. So much so, I think something’s afoot. If my suspicions are correct, I've stumbled across a secret that will blow the music and puppet industry wide apart. In the mid-60s / mid-90s at least. It doesn’t take long to see the signposts. There’s the similarity between the name of Oasis’ first single, Supersonic, and Supermarianation, Gerry Anderson’s puppetry technique. The Gallagher brothers would often wear Parkas . Live Forever was clearly a reference to Captain Scarlet and Standing on the Shoulder of Giants to the size difference between Noel and his bandmates. The more you think about it, the more brazen it gets. It’s fishier than Area 51, Paul is Dead and JFK's assassination put together. The only glitch to the theory is scale . According to Wikipedia, Anderson’s marionettes were 1’10” and Gallagher is 5’8”. How does he maintain an illusion of avera...
Read more

Stevenage: A (Tiny) River Runs Through it.

If ever a river was mis-sold, it’s the Roaring Meg in Stevenage. I just walked past it on my way to the retail park that has taken its name. They’re similarly uninspiring. The river is less of a roar and more of a dribble; cystitis sufferers produce greater flow. The retail park is soulless. What was once a thriving enterprise is nearly devoid of atmosphere, save an underlying essence of emptiness and despair. With a Toys R Us. When it was first built I was excited. Back then, the thought of a bowling alley, an ice rink, a Harvester and a Blockbuster Video within a small surface area was enticing. I celebrated many birthdays on site. There was an indoor cricket pitch there for a while where I once had a joint party with a friend. Why someone with an almost pathological fear of sport would agree to such a venture is beyond me, but I did it. Now, there’s very little at the Roaring Meg of note. The river would be a metaphor for the shopping ce...
Read more

Hoo-ray and up She Rises.

So much has happened since my last post in March that this blog risks sounding like an itinerary. The main news is that Hitchin Mostly Comedy will return in the summer at a new venue, the Queen Mother Theatre . The road to this decision was convoluted, though enough fell into place en route to leave me optimistic about this new start. The catalyst was a survey I ran via our mailing list a few months back, in which I asked, "If the club returned in the current climate, with tickets still around £15 (and with similar line-ups), would you still attend?"; the response to which, in simple terms, was a resounding yes. Nearly 250 mailing list subscribers responded in a single week, with around a hundred also taking the option to leave some feedback. And only two people were abusive, which counts as a win when you consider they posted their comments online anonymously. Imagine how many more insults we would have received if the comedy club was a woman. Particularly if she was Diane ...
Read more