Saturday. 2:55. Usually, at this time, I am a ball of anxiousness and excitement and nerves. Usually.
This was my pre-pandemic world, with football firmly at the centre. Now, football is on the periphery.
This Saturday at 2:55 football had barely crossed my mind. My focus was on an eagerly anticipated (in my eyes, at least) tennis match with a friend that consumed my afternoon. It was only after coming home I realised my team, Luton Town, executed an incredible comeback away to Wycombe, scoring three goals in the final ten minutes of the game.
It was my Dad’s words which stuck with me. “What an away day that would’ve been!” What an away day, indeed. Instantly, I was flooded with memories of Away Days past.
Long weekends in Newcastle and Blackpool. Day trips to Cardiff, Portsmouth, Southend and more. Evenings in Coventry and Cambridge. Another comeback victory in Wycombe, where Luton left it even later and scored twice after the 90th minute.
Hours spent in the car, on the train or a coach. Quality time with friends. Quality time with my Dad.
The pandemic has taken these precious moments away in favour of the ‘new normal’. Matchdays aren’t the same anymore and it has been easy to fall out of love with football.
Forced to adapt new habits, it’s easy to forget how things once were. Those tiny details that were too easily taken for granted. Searching social media for the general consensus of the designated away pub. Scanning back streets searching for parking that was neither too close nor too far from the ground.
This was my pre-pandemic world, with football firmly at the centre. Now, football is on the periphery.
This Saturday at 2:55 football had barely crossed my mind. My focus was on an eagerly anticipated (in my eyes, at least) tennis match with a friend that consumed my afternoon. It was only after coming home I realised my team, Luton Town, executed an incredible comeback away to Wycombe, scoring three goals in the final ten minutes of the game.
It was my Dad’s words which stuck with me. “What an away day that would’ve been!” What an away day, indeed. Instantly, I was flooded with memories of Away Days past.
Long weekends in Newcastle and Blackpool. Day trips to Cardiff, Portsmouth, Southend and more. Evenings in Coventry and Cambridge. Another comeback victory in Wycombe, where Luton left it even later and scored twice after the 90th minute.
Hours spent in the car, on the train or a coach. Quality time with friends. Quality time with my Dad.
The pandemic has taken these precious moments away in favour of the ‘new normal’. Matchdays aren’t the same anymore and it has been easy to fall out of love with football.
Forced to adapt new habits, it’s easy to forget how things once were. Those tiny details that were too easily taken for granted. Searching social media for the general consensus of the designated away pub. Scanning back streets searching for parking that was neither too close nor too far from the ground.
Seeing old friends and meeting new ones. Brief encounters with fans of opposition teams, as your paths crossed on your cross-country trip. Sure, my bank account looks a bit healthier come Saturday evening when I have not paid out for the various expenses that are deemed necessary for any Away Day to be successful. But I would trade all of that in an instant to make memories that last a lifetime.
Getting completely lost in my adopted home of Nottingham after making a wrong turn. Finding the best Fish and Chips in Lincoln. An eight-hour round trip to Fleetwood. Late to my own birthday party as a fire in Alfreton delayed traffic – we won’t discuss the 3-0 defeat that myself and my Dad often refer to as our lowest moment supporting Luton. Watching a friend’s face drop as he realised he had missed the train to Wigan, leaving myself and another with all the beers – and no bottle opener.
Early starts and late nights. Agony and jubilation in equal measure. Away Days were special. Now, they are an opportunity to find enjoyment somewhere else. In the arms of another sport, no less.
The ghost of Away Days Present is haunting us. However, much like Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol, it is important to remember this haunting does not last forever. Hopefully, the lessons it teaches us will last in a similar way.
We must cherish the memories of Away Days Past. And whilst Away Days Present may not be enjoyable, Away Days Yet to Come remind us that they will return.
The ‘new normal’ will become the old normal. In its place, the old normal will come back. Grounds will be full once more. Fans will cheer and sing and, occasionally, boo.
More and more memories will be made. We will reminisce about that strange, weird time where we were barred from our favourite places. That strange time where we fell out of love with football.
By then, we will have fallen madly back in love. For if this pandemic has taught me one thing, it is that football holds my heart entirely.
Away Days will return, and lifelong memories made. For now, cherish the memories of Away Days gone by. They were glorious, they will be again.
I think I’m falling in love already.
Getting completely lost in my adopted home of Nottingham after making a wrong turn. Finding the best Fish and Chips in Lincoln. An eight-hour round trip to Fleetwood. Late to my own birthday party as a fire in Alfreton delayed traffic – we won’t discuss the 3-0 defeat that myself and my Dad often refer to as our lowest moment supporting Luton. Watching a friend’s face drop as he realised he had missed the train to Wigan, leaving myself and another with all the beers – and no bottle opener.
Early starts and late nights. Agony and jubilation in equal measure. Away Days were special. Now, they are an opportunity to find enjoyment somewhere else. In the arms of another sport, no less.
The ghost of Away Days Present is haunting us. However, much like Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol, it is important to remember this haunting does not last forever. Hopefully, the lessons it teaches us will last in a similar way.
We must cherish the memories of Away Days Past. And whilst Away Days Present may not be enjoyable, Away Days Yet to Come remind us that they will return.
The ‘new normal’ will become the old normal. In its place, the old normal will come back. Grounds will be full once more. Fans will cheer and sing and, occasionally, boo.
More and more memories will be made. We will reminisce about that strange, weird time where we were barred from our favourite places. That strange time where we fell out of love with football.
By then, we will have fallen madly back in love. For if this pandemic has taught me one thing, it is that football holds my heart entirely.
Away Days will return, and lifelong memories made. For now, cherish the memories of Away Days gone by. They were glorious, they will be again.
I think I’m falling in love already.
Written by - James McEvoy
Edited by - 3-At-The-Back
Edited by - 3-At-The-Back