Roar of crowd is my footie thrill
IT is so strange watching football with no crowds. Nothing beats being there in the stadium – so it’s fantastic to hear that fans might be back soon if it’s safe.
The noise and passion of the crowd creates such an adrenaline rush it’s no wonder most people become addicted to attending matches the first time they go.
It took a little while for me to get used to blocking my ears from the choice language in the crowd, and years to work out how to wear the right clothes to be comfortable during the match.
I watched my first game with my late husband Colin when we were courting. He took me to cheer on Wrexham and I turned up in my smartest mini dress and black patent three-inch stilettos.
Wrexham must have won promotion, because at the full-time whistle Colin lifted me over the wall so I could walk on what he called the hallowed turf. It ruined my shoes.
I was a lot more casually dressed years later when Robbie was at Manchester United and we turned up to watch a match. But there were only two tickets. I insisted Robert and Colin took them, then Robert’s gentlemanly coach Joe Brown invited me to the players’ lounge.
Everyone there dripped with gold and designer labels, and there was me in my flip flops from Asda. I kept trying to hide my feet, not just because of my cheap shoes but because I realised I’d left the price tag on the bottom.
As Robbie’s career progressed there were more official invitations to the players’ lounge.
But I always preferred being out in the cold stands, queuing for hot dogs and really lapping up the atmosphere.
Years later when Robbie’s wife Sarah started coming to the matches, I could hear my mum’s voice when I suggested she might like to wear a thermal vest.
When I bought her a pretty, lacy one from Marks & Spencer, she smiled and was very polite. But I bet she didn’t wear it. It wouldn’t really go with a thong.
Val & Colin