Pride Came After the Fall

By John Chesterton

I recently delivered a ‘Father of the Bride’ speech.  A very proud moment.  For part of my speech I wanted to refer to a time I’d been especially proud of my daughter Amy.  There have been many.  The solution lay with football. More specifically, Sunderland Football Club.

Amy and I were at the 1998 Play Off Final at the old Wembley stadium.  We were playing Charlton to see who would win the right to play in the premiership next season. What an occasion. What an opportunity.  What a fantastic day out. What could possibly go wrong?

It was a tremendous match.  A real see-saw of a game.  We fell behind, equalised, scored to go in front. And so it went on. 3 – 3 after normal time, 4 -4 after extra time. Then the penalty shoot out.  13 successful penalties later, up steps Michael Gray. We lost.  Heart-breaking.

Half an hour later we were slumped on Wembley Way, exhausted.  I felt like a lost sock in the Laundromat of oblivion.

Amy and I were staying in London so in no hurry to go anywhere.  I was trying to piece myself together before tackling some sightseeing, when we became aware of a small group of people walking towards us, coming away from the stadium.

As they got nearer we realised it was Alan Curbishly, the Charlton manager.  And he was carrying the winner’s trophy.  He dared to parade in front of us this symbol of victory.  The group of Charlton supporters were all slapping him on the back, punching the air and celebrating.

We could only stare in disbelief.  There was nothing in me left to give.  Not so Amy.  Up steps Amy.  She stood up, walked towards them, raised her red’n'white scarf and proceeded to sing out, at the top of her voice, that Sunderland Are By Far The Greatest Team The World Has Ever Seen!