Men Doing Football

Do you remember I started this blog because I was told 'girls can't do football'?

Well last night I got the chance to observe men 'doing football' first hand.

I went to a pub that was almost exclusively populated by men. Not one of those places where you walk in as a woman and feel uncomfortable though. There were about 10 people in there gathered around the bar, talking as a group. They had not come as a group but were there because it was their 'local'. Their sanctuary.

The background music was The Carpenters. "We've Only Just Begun"

When it finished, Basher, who had a bottom significantly wider than the stool he was sitting on said "I like that song. Who was it?"

Landlady: The Carpenters

Basher: Put it on again

So she did.

Basher: Them footballers, I tell you. They earn £130,000 a week and they moan about having to play 2 games in a week.

Pseudo Expert: Do you know what? In 19** (sorry I can't remember the year) they played 62 games in a season. And they didn't get paid nearly so much.

They acted like they were disagreeing with each other, but what was really going on was that each just wanted to be seen to be making a contribution to the intellectual discussion.

Then there were the 2 or 3 who didn't say anything. But they put their hands in their pockets and stood as part of the group. Showing their agreement by drinking John Smith's out of a sleever like the speakers.

And then the others would chip in now and then with the odd comment. Like they could join in if they wanted to but weren't really bothered.

Meanwhile Basher is now on his feet, leaning towards Pseudo Expert to demonstrate the force and sense of his argument, and in the process pushing himself cosily against I'm Not Going To Say Anything Just Stay Part Of The Group.

When Basher thought he had probably won he sat back on his chair, cheeks drooped.

Basher: I've been a Leeds fan all my life

And that girls is how you do football.