UK time is: 20:09:18

Choose your club

Other Sites

Network Navigation

Vital Partners

'If It's Football, It's Vital'

Something For The Weekend (106)



By Steve Wade

Genius loci.

The pilgrims march with nervous purpose through inspissated streets. The man, the woman, the child, the youth. Cars creep close and edge - blades busy on windscreens. Light-bejewelled raindrops - silver, red, amber. Rivulets of mercury cascade. Steam. Complaining alternators squeal. Queuers in quandaries. Chip-glistened fingers. Sailboat gutters. Thirsty drains gargle gallons. An anxious hand checks the treasure's pocket. Loud beery shouts of rough men's voices. The girl, cool in her new shirt, feels observed. Touched by eyes. Wary, beware the threat. The cathedral looms up, up, up ahead, with its towers and dome of glistered gold. Urgent faces lit by tobacco embers. Work-tired feet tread pavement mirrors. So many Angels, Mellbergs and Barrys. Wet shirts on booze-warmed backs. The memory-exchange ahead. Worries fretted. But more than hope - belief.

The shuffling line of class-ridden shoes. The turnstile's clunk and clique. The cauldron's roar. So many, so close. The taste of strangers' breath. Shoulder to shoulder at the pungent stainless-steel. The news-glossed book. The familiar face. Stoic's laughter. Empathic smiles traded. Glows the sacred green in a tartan grid. The vaulted arches rise up, too high, too dark, to see. The scintillating heavens. Expectation. Faces turned up. The chosen envied few. The throat-sore roar. Then the little man - the saviour. Through swot-squinting glasses. Yorrick - a crowd borne upon his back. This time. This man. St Martin in the Villa field. More than hope - belief.

The neophyte hoops. And there's the guilty one in 'hisss' seat. Pockets full, heart empty. The child commanded, looks away. But soon, no more. Relief in sighs and groans. Hollow leather's thud. The chorus rises. The many as one. The wait no more. The moment's still. The animal echoed roar. More than hope - belief. The mistake. The cutting hurtful silence. The defiant fist. The out-thrust chin. The run. The fall. The red. The kick. Angel's cool. The baton whirls in the maestro's hand. The band plays. A tune not perfect. The whistle shrill. Relief and hope - belief. False dawns, flagged away. Hearts beat, eyes glisten. Prayers answered. Noble curled parabola. Stooping hero. Unlocked - the gates of heaven. Ecstatic roaring joy unleashed. Ecstatic soaring hope released. More than hope - belief.

The homeward tramp. Grid-lock jammed. The hormone high. Shouter's fatigue. The winner's solace. No matter, sleep-time ticks away. Thoughts replayed. Heroes made. More than hope - belief.

Writer: J P Fear Mail feedback, articles or suggestions

Date:Friday August 25 2006

Time: 10:12AM

Your Comments

I can see Ron Manager saying that right now...football isn't you know...marvellous
clarkey501
 

Have Your Say

Click here to register an account

Have your say
Click here to suggest an article
Click here to suggest a poll

Vital Members League (view all)

1. Pride of Lions 923
2. The Fear 724
3. BodyButter 471
4. kefkat 384
5. CDX_EIRE 311
6. ClivetheVillan 256
7. Villan57 241
8. thefacehead 239
9. DeanoVilla 205
10. mike_field 189

League Results (view all)

League Table (view table)

Team P W D L GD Pts
12. Fulham 38 11 10 17 -10 43
13. Stoke 38 9 15 14 -11 42
14. Southampton 38 9 14 15 -11 41
15. Aston Villa 38 10 11 17 -22 41
16. Newcastle 38 11 8 19 -23 41
17. Sunderland 38 9 12 17 -13 39
18. Wigan 38 9 9 20 -26 36

Breaking League News

Liverpool: Papadopoulos Is The Top Target
» Liverpool : 21/05/2013 18:31:00
Out Through the Exit Door
» Chelsea : 21/05/2013 18:02:00
Sir Alex Cleans Up
» Man Utd : 21/05/2013 18:01:00
Villa's Pre Season Schedule
» Aston Villa : 21/05/2013 18:00:00
Tony Pulis set to leave Stoke City
» Stoke : 21/05/2013 17:43:00
Thomas Tweets Departure
» WBA : 21/05/2013 17:01:00
Vlaar Pleased With First Good Touch Of The Game
» Aston Villa : 21/05/2013 17:00:00

Current Site Poll (view all polls)

Last season was?
Suggested By:  JP Fear
Great 3%
Ok 5%
A necessary evil, don't do it again! 85%
A disaster 5%
I've no idea any more!! 1%