Match Day (1/3) By Andy Carrington

(1/3), (2/3), (3/3).

Why is it you don't see these wankers all week, and then all of a sudden on a Saturday afternoon there they are, littered all over the centre city like they own the fucking place? I hate football. Not that it's changed much since I was a lad. I used to watch it with my Pa all the time, even back when they had terraces. More recently though, namely the past four or five years, I've been exposed to so many drunken yobs come kick off time that I just can't seem to harness my love for the sport anywhere near as much as I used to.

I've been verbally abused, spat at, shoved, threatened with a knife on several occasions, had drinks thrown back at me over the bar, and even witnessed my boss, of all people, break down in tears from the sheer apprehension of being done over in the car park after hours.

I mean, who the fuck do these people think they are? You fill up my senses Like a gallon of Magnet Like a packet of Woodbines Like a good pinch of snuff Like a night out in Sheffield Like a greasy chip butty Like Sheffield United Come fill me again.... Na Na Na Naa Naa Naaaaa, ooo!

Yer not in Sheffield now yer set of cunts! Fuck off back to where yer cem from! one man could be heard shouting amongst the crowd.

I was beginning to think we should have stayed in home. At least we knew where we were then if anything kicked off, and could make a run for it if we really needed to. I only came to buy a smart shirt for our night out, and we ended up walking straight towards a revenge attack. That said, our place wasn't much better; with its reputation of having, arguably, one of Europe's biggest hooligan firms, in the Leeds Service Crew. The only redeeming factor of that is we have our own kind protecting our backs in the midst of things if something should kick off.

'I dunt suppose the's another way around this is the?' I said to Lee. 'Aye, c'mon, we'll try darn 'ere.' So, I proceeded to follow. He knew the area a little better than I did; he had been here a few times previously, and I was visiting for the first time (mainly due to all the good things the place had to offer). It's always handy to have a tour guide I think, even if the 'tour' was completely unexpected at times to even him.

Continued .... Next Page (2/3)

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