Football Mum xxx 

So, it turns out I’m now a football Mum!

Like most things that seem to happen to our family, it started by accident. 

Harry wanted to play football on real grass! Not indoors, not on a playground, but on real grass. I thought it might be a whimsy that would pass, but it wasn’t. 

The Summer holidays came and went in the blink of an eye, but I managed to reach out to quite a few local under 8 football teams. Most ignored me, one came back to say you’re too late, but a jolly nice person from Priory Pumas contacted me over messenger to ask for my number and say they’d get the U8s manager to contact me.

Okay, I admit it, I was naive, I didn’t know how this all works or when it’s supposed to be done by. 

Luke sent me a lovely message to say their team had all registered and the boys would not be able to play actual matches, but they were welcome to come down to training and have a kick around. 

Well how nice is that I thought to myself?! I think my emojis might also have relayed that message in my responding texts. 

So off we trotted to get some boots. The sales assistant in Sports Direct had to coach Ollie and I on what actually were football boots and not just to choose the pinkest!

We’ve got some basic ones with the promise of dead fancy ones at Christmas if the boys stick to it! 

The first Tuesday was upon us in no time and as luck would have it, it was a beautiful evening. 

Second lesson, take a folding chair.

I envied the women walking past me with their must have accessory seat, more than any designer bag. 

The getting down on the pavement was fine, but my arthritic knees forced me to get up with the grace of Robin Williams as Mrs Doubtfire!

My goodness the boys were good! I’m bound to say that, I’m their Mum, but Harry seemed to be a magnet for the ball and Ollie so fast! 

It was noticeable from the offset that the coaches demand sportsmanship, respect and kindness!

The manager came up to me afterwards to say the boys had done incredibly well and had some real potential! They totes get that from their Dad, he was a bit of a local legend of Lockleaze back in the day! 

Lee made himself free to come with me the following week and was also incredibly impressed. However that was the day we got the news that training day was moving to Wednesday in direct conflict with their favourite martial arts class. 

It was a resounding football over fighting from the twins. 

We came to realise that the quality of training they are receiving from Rising Tide is to such a high standard compared to others that it is worth staying with them for one lesson a week rather than transferring for a possible two elsewhere! Good to know!

Lee is dismayed that I have treated myself to a Dryrobe! The Croc of coats! He believes they should be saved for cold water swimming as intended, but I showed him the blurb on Amazon on my Ponch which definitely says suitable for dog walking, camping and watching sports! So there! I could possibly have chosen a more discreet one, but I liked the camouflage one with a bubblegum pink fleece! 

Last Wednesday I was plonked in my chair in my dryrobe aka sleeping bag and all my worries melted away into the warm, snuggle, windproofness of it all. I do believe I may have made up a new word! 

Two weeks ago the coach gave us some very exciting news and said there was still time for new players to register! I had practically ordered their team kit before he’d finished his sentence! 

Actually that isn’t true! I had technical difficulties when trying to register the boys which made me feel incredibly old! Turns out iPhone photos don’t save as JPEGs or something equally as interesting, but coach was very patient and we got there in the end! Both him and Lee enjoyed telling me it was because I have a scabby Apple! It’s my IFriend and that is final. 

So 5th October finally arrived and with it the popping of the boys football match cherry!

It was a grey beginning and there had been plenty of rain during the week, so much so our garden had turned into a bog. 

I won’t sugar coat it! The boys had been particularly hyper and I had reminded them I didn’t have to take them and stand in a cold, wet field pretending to be excited about children kicking a cow skin about!

Mutter, mutter, whinge, whinge, nurgle! 

We got there. I plonked myself in my chair regretting forgetting a flask of something nice. No! Not alcohol!

I had warned both boys they were lucky to even be there supporting their team and if they got a second on the field it was to be considered a Brucie Bonus! 

Well they both did! This is bitter sweet though! The manager had definitely said to wear any old T-shirt as if they were swapped in they could borrow a match top from another player. 

I took him literally. Harry was in his stepbrothers old pyjama T-shirt top and Ollie was in an Unspeakable T-shirt which must have shrunk in the wash as was looking a bit on the crop top side! 

There was no swapping. Both my boys played wearing those tops and even for the team photo as I didn’t get a chance to get their coats on first! 

We watched in awe as the first team played. Should I have been amazed at how talented these children are?

The sun came out, the atmosphere was electric and there was great camaraderie between the parents. 

Ooh I could get used to this I thought to myself! 

Ollie actually chose to be in goal and he was magnificent! He caught a power ball hurtling towards his face and held it to him like a baby. Another he literally caught with his knees! He most definitely caught more than he let in. 

It was not good for my nerves however and I was so grateful whenever Harry came on as he really kept the ball down the other end where we wanted it! 

Our team did not win, but my goodness they came off the pitch with the biggest smiles and proud to be a part of something!

Away game this weekend. Wondering if I can get away with a portable fishing tent or is that one step too far? 

Love and hugs, kisses and wishes xxx