I’d rather support Blues than Man U (From Bucks Free Press)

I’d rather support Blues than Man U

6:40pm Friday 7th October 2011 in Look Who's Talking By Colin Baker

MY paternal grandfather died when my dad was just four years old. Had he lived longer he may well have taken my father to see their local football team play, and team loyalties being tribal (particularly back then) that team would have become my team.

This would have meant that today I would probably be a Colchester United fan, as my father was brought up not far from the town whose team is the long term rival of and provides the far from ‘local’ derby match for Wycombe Wanderers.

There’s a thought now. But, perhaps because my father had no real male influence while he was growing up, he had no interest in sport whatsoever.

As a result my interest only surfaced when I went to secondary school. My primary school years were spent in Rochdale, so again, if my father had been football orientated, I suppose the Wanderers’ defeat at Spotland on Saturday might have been a reason for exultation rather than the slump of disappointment I suffered on Saturday evening as I came off stage to get the footie results after my matinee in Basingstoke.

I went to secondary school in Manchester, so along with my contemporaries I supported and went to Manchester United and that’s when my love of football was born.

Years later, in the days of Lawrie Sanchez and Brownie and Rhino, a friend took me to see Wycombe Wanderers play in Reading (yes, that long ago!) and my support of my local team began.

Supporting a local team is much more satisfying (as well as less expensive!) than supporting a Premiership team. The lows are counterbalanced by highs that the supporters of Premiership highfliers never experience. Man United and Chelsea fans expect to win and therefore never, or rarely, experience the wonderful high of the truly unexpected victory.

When the Blues triumphed over Sheffield United a week ago, we were all a thousand feet in the air above Adams Park. Our lows are there too, but not as low possibly as, say, the Arsenal supporters are currently, because they expect and have had years of success. Wanderers’ supporters dare to hope; sometimes, the hope may get over-inflated perhaps, but occasionally a ram does bring down a million kilowatt dam and we all want to be there when it does.

For many Premiership fans it’s just ‘more of the same’ – for us each day is a new day.