Great story: "Dad? I want to support Man United."

Dad? I want to support Man United.

Mid-September 2010. After finishing 7th last season, I’m struggling to convince my two boys that Liverpool are the greatest club in the world. And now, under Hodgson’s guidance and the increasingly worrying Hicks/Gillett ownership, my job is getting more difficult. I arrive home from work one day, and my 9-year-old approaches me sheepishly.

“Dad? I don’t want to support Liverpool anymore. I want to support Man United.”  Six words that any LFC-supporting father dreads.

“Me too!” chips in my 7-year-old, helpfully.

“Why?”  I reply calmly, struggling to hide the panic and anger bubbling up inside.

“Everyone at school supports Man United, and I don’t want to be the odd-one-out.” It’s true. We live in Surrey, a few miles from Chelsea’s training ground, and about 15 miles from Stamford Bridge. Chelsea run the local soccer schools. And yet the kids support United.

Unfortunately, my anger gets the better of me. “Well, you have a simple choice to make boys. Either you can support Man United, or you can have a Dad.” This sends them running to Mum, and you can imagine the trouble I’m in.

Once calm returns to the house, chastised, I try a different approach. “Well you can’t support Man United can you boys? Remember the first rule of football: You can only support the team your Dad supports, or your local team.”  I’d taken them to see Reading when they were in the Premier League, including the time they beat Liverpool. But they got bored when I took them to Championship games, and they’d lost interest.  “It’s got to be Liverpool or Reading.”

“Reading? They’re rubbish”, declares my youngest.

“Well it’s got to be Liverpool then”, I say, in a matter-of-fact kind of way.

“Reading aren’t our only local team you know”, offers my eldest kindly. Unfortunately geography is one of his stronger subjects. “If I can’t support Man United, I want to support Chelsea.”

“Fulham are closer”, I reply confidently, not sure if it’s true.

“Fulham? They’re rubbish”, declares my youngest, again.

I’m really panicking now. “OK, you can support Liverpool and either Arsenal or Tottenham for a bit, until Liverpool improve. They both play good football and are both only a bit further away than Chelsea.”

“I’m going to support Liverpool, Man United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham” declares my youngest.

“Then you’ll have a very successful season”, I mutter.

“I’ll do you a deal”, offers my eldest. Always doing deals. “I’ll support Liverpool and Man United until the end of the season, and then decide.”

With Liverpool still in the picture for both of them, I decide to leave it there for the time-being. Let them go on a journey of discovery - plenty of time to steer them back onto the righteous path before the end of the season. “Deal”, I agree.

“But…” continues my eldest, “if Liverpool drop into the relegation zone, I’m supporting Man United”.

“Relegation zone?!” I laugh. Never in my lifetime. Never. “Alright boys, no problem. You don’t have to support Liverpool if we drop into the relegation zone.”

3rd October 2010. Home to Blackpool, absolute banker – home win, 99 times out of 100. Even a draw will keep us out of the relegation zone, so absolutely no worries at all.

Of course you know what happens. Total humiliation. The most humiliating defeat at Anfield since…. well, since Northampton won there 11 days earlier. My boys see the result, and I pray they won’t see the table.

“Dad, Dad, Liverpool are in the relegation zone! You said we don’t have to support them if they’re in the relegation zone! Yeessss!!!”

We don’t play again for two weeks, and they’re two of the worst weeks of my life. On top of everything else, Liverpool face administration and probable relegation if they can’t sell the club. I seriously wonder if the club I’ve loved for my whole life is dying before me.

The week of 11th to 15th October I can’t sleep properly or focus on work. I sit at my desk clicking the refresh button on the live news feeds a hundred times a day. Finally on 15th October, just an hour or two before the deadline, the LFC board burst out of the High Court declaring victory. The club can be sold to NESV. I should feel euphoric, but I’m broken, exhausted, and slump on my desk, numb with relief.

Confident that Liverpool will climb back up the table, I explain to my boys how Liverpool will now be great again, and sit back and wait for the victories to roll in. But of course, they don’t. Week after week I pray for Liverpool victories, while at the same time a shameful part of me hopes we lose so that Hodgson will be sacked.

For the first time I wonder if I’m being cruel, insisting my boys support Liverpool. Then I bump into a mate who has his son dressed in a Brentford shirt. Immediately, I know that encouraging them to support Liverpool is one of the greatest gifts I can ever give to them. I just need to bide my time.

In mid-December we lose to Newcastle, and I tell my boys that Hodgson will be sacked the next day. Then we lose to Wolves at Anfield, and I tell my boys that Hodgson will definitely, definitely, be sacked the next day. They find my pain hilarious. Then on 5th January we lose to Blackburn, and finally the axe falls.

8th January 2011. Liverpool announce that King Kenny will return as manager until the end of the season. Now, I’ve loved Kenny my whole life. Two years ago, in an interview for a business magazine, I told them Kenny Dalglish was my inspiration, because no-one has achieved so much as both a team player and a Manager. But I have my reservations. If he can still do it, why has he been out of management for so long? Anyway, I can’t let my boys know my concerns. This is too good a chance to miss.

“Kenny Dalglish? He is such an old man”, offers my eldest generously.

“Right”, I said. “Both of you wait there.”

I went upstairs and fetched Kenny’s autobiography and my LFC history books. “Right. Guess how many league titles Kenny has won.” I didn’t wait for an answer. “Nine. Nine league titles. And, and three European Cups.” They sat there with their mouths open, catching flies.

Finally my eldest spoke. “Yeah, he was a good player but that doesn’t make him a good manager, does it?”

I smiled. “Well, he was Liverpool manager for five years. In his first season, he won the league title and the FA Cup. Not only that, but he also played 29 games that season, and scored the winning goal at Chelsea to win the title on the final day of the season.”

“What? You can’t be a player and a Manager at the same time.”

“Kenny could. And in those five years, he won the title three times. Then he went to Blackburn, and won the title for them too. Blackburn! So do you think he’s a good Manager?”

“Yeah! Brilliant.”

The next day, and Kenny’s first match is away at Old Trafford. I fear the worst. My boys cheer when United score just to wind me up, but I can tell they’re not sure who they want to win. Our performance overall is much improved so I feel quietly optimistic about the future.

During the next few weeks, Liverpool gradually improve and we get some victories under our belt. I subliminally try to influence my boys by leaving Liverpool scarves and pennants around the house, and put a picture of Kenny in a frame next to the TV. I leave their Match Attax collection album open at the Liverpool page after they go to bed, and I tell them all the transfer rumours about the players that the new owners may be buying for us. They increasingly play as Liverpool on PES, and beg to stay up to watch the first-half of our televised evening games.

Then at the end of January a set-back. They love Gerrard and Torres, and all of a sudden it seems Torres may be going to Chelsea. I quickly go into damage limitation mode, reminding them how bad Torres has been for a year or more. He goes, and I quietly remove their posters of him while they are out. I show them a video of new-signing Luis Suarez on YouTube, and they watch Carra stop Torres getting anywhere near our goal as Liverpool thrillingly beat Chelsea. Torres is forgotten, and Liverpool’s good form continues.

6th March 2011. Liverpool versus United, and a true test of their loyalties. They join me on the sofa at kick-off, each with a Liverpool scarf draped around their neck. I’m happy but nervous. Are we good enough yet to beat United? As the game progresses, my nerves ease. We’re playing well. Then, with his back to goal, Suarez takes his first giant step to becoming a Liverpool Legend. He suddenly spins between two defenders, beats a third, and rolls the ball under the on-rushing keeper. Kuyt taps it in, and me and my boys go wild. Before half-time it’s 2-0, and we’re all delighted. Half way through the second half, and a fantastic Suarez free-kick is parried into the path of Kuyt, who hammers it into the net.  The boys leap on me and I find myself twirling around the living room, one of them held high in each arm, their arms raised, fingertips touching the ceiling.

“Kuyt’s got a hat-trick, Kuyt’s got a hat-trick – against Man United!” they scream in delight, and I know our journey is complete. For the first time in months I can hold my head up high and walk on, with hope in my heart.

 Support United, or have a Dad? Boys, You’ll NEVER Walk Alone.

http://thekop.liverpoolfc.tv/_34Dad-I-want-to-support-Man-United34/blog/3418467/173471.html?widgetId=415659

 

I'm glad my son isn't old enough to put me through that. Two and a half and all he knows is Liverpool and Ferrari. Great story

awesome story.
we cant blame kids at that age really....they wont have formed the emotional attatchment to the club so young.
but maybe now sharing that special moment with their dad (thanks to the man u win) will mean they have that emotional connection as they associate the warm fuzzy feeling of hugging daddy with each goal, being the same warm fuzzy feeling of watching livepool winning.

but im no psychologist

Little F***ing glory-hunters

Great read that.

A great story....most liverpool fans might have gone through these emotions in the past couple of years...i am Vivek from India....i have been supporting this great club for the past 5years....its my friend who introduced me to this club's rich history and values....since then i have been trying to understand more about us through this forum and many other sites...even most my cousins r manchester fans...not only my cousins, a large part of my country r fans of manure....so i can somewat relate to this situation....but i feel very proud to be a Kop....we r special...

I'm gonna print this story out. Got a feeling I might like to read it again somewhere along the way...

Brilliant story, man we went through a dark patch and so did your boys...Ha

Nice story. I've three boys (11, 7, and 9 months) and they all have Liverpool jerseys. They were  never really given much choice as to which team they support, but they all hate UTD as well.

Mine are 9 and 6.

They've never waivered.

Im a successfully indoctrinating, brainwashing, ego projecting true Red Dad.

They'll never walk alone in this house.


Now wheres me scarf?  Its noon and time for us all to face Anfield.   (Psst. Is that P.C.?)   

Now wheres me scarf?  Its noon and time for us all to face Anfield.   (Psst. Is that P.C.?)   

 
I don't know if it is, but either way it's hilarious

Fantastic story mate!

 

Brilliant that Penguin. Best thing I have read on this forum since I've been on it.

Superb piece!!!!

Great story.

Can't blame kids that young because they are, in fact, kids.

Also shows how much of a mark King Kenny can leave, even to those who have never seen him play or manage the first time.

If ever two kids were destined for the wisdom of Jeremy Kyle.

They'll have to lose a few teeth before then like but I'd imagine their arl fella might have somethin to do with that.

 

F***ing love that mate. My little Niece is turning into an Chelsea fan (I know, but my Dad's hero was Peter Osgood, and he sees her far more than me) but I am trying my hardest to give her the Liverpool way!!!

Love It!!

That is F***ing brilliant and reminded me of a neighbour i had when i was younger who i had to bribe with cola bottles to support the greatest team in the world

Reading that I couldn't help but smile once I got to the end bit, great little story that.

love that story. reminds me of my 13 year old chelsea supporting brother. sometimes when i come home from work and see him the only thing i'll say is "when are you gonna join the family on the red side?" (i followed my old man). one day

It is our duty as Red's to pass the Liverpool torch on
Best get the idea on their heads before they get to school,  then they can recruit their friends as well

Now wheres me scarf?  Its noon and time for us all to face Anfield.   (Psst. Is that P.C.?)   

! Dread to think what you do at 3 O'Clock on a Saturday afternoon!

Great story. My kids both live in Manchester so this has been a fear of mine for a long time but my son's love of Liverpool FC seems to be growing all the time. He's 8 and whenever he comes down he immediately runs upstairs to grab his Liverpool top (last season's black aways top, Gerrard on the back).
My 10 yr old daughter isn't into football at all but rumours have it that she's mentioned being a ManUre fan because her school friends are.... as I said... not into football!

Great read that.

My boys is 7, my girl is 5.

They both support Liverpool because they hate it when I am sad so they always want us to win. 

Great read that.

My boys is 7, my girl is 5.

They both support Liverpool because they hate it when I am sad so they always want us to win. 

Ian you must have happy well asjusted kids since Kenny took over,hope they stay happy for many years to come and that means we will all be happy.Tell them to stand by for lift off next season as it can only go one way and that is right to the top.

Ian you must have happy well asjusted kids since Kenny took over,hope they stay happy for many years to come and that means we will all be happy.Tell them to stand by for lift off next season as it can only go one way and that is right to the top.

Will do mate.

It's been a happy household since Kenny took over. Long may it continue.

It's a struggle being an LFC supporter, with three boys (3,6,8) in deepest Manchester. Oceans of Scum and Citeh clobber on the school run. Their heads were turned from time to time. But they wear their colours proudly now. And that Man U win has nailed it. Great story. Something to lean on for all nail-biting LFC dads everywhere.

Great story that, i can understand his frustration, i have a six year old lad and he's been a red since been a feotus( i think thats how you spell it), his mother(her-bitchiness) and i split a few years back and after a while she met her new beau and he very quickly moved in, you can imagine my relief when it turns out he is also a red and obviously that prevented future problems had he supported someone else and possibly turned my lads head, my daughter is only five months old and although she doesn't know it yet she loves the greatest club in the world and has all the glory to look forward to.

loved reading that, bet your so proud mate, YNWA.

Absolutely brilliant story, sitting here smiling like a fool.

I F***** love that read mate.I also am having problems with a grandson (7).He (Lewis ) started with The Arse,then Chavs.Infact coming out of a cafe with him wearing a Arse top,Chav shorts a lady diner says "that boy has issues"To which my reaction was to turn to Lewis and asked him which team he supported.He raised his arms in the air and proclaimed "Liverpool Liverpool".This as you can imagine caused fits of laughter all round .
Now sadly due to Judas 's betrayal,Lewis is now asking for a SCUM school bag.Where will this end (sigh).

It's kind of hard when your kids suddenly showed some intention of supporting Scum. But I do admire the way their dad injected the values of being a true Liverpool supporter. Never be a turncoat. Stay loyal eventhough the goings get tough and let them know that they will never walk alone!

That's proper parenting.

Great read, thanks for sharing the article!

"Well you can support man utd or you can have a dad"

Absolute great read.

That is exactly why during my generation we had the "glory hunting generation" of United fans.

Luckily for me when I started following at about 6 years of age in 1997, I was hooked on Robbie Fowler and then Michael Owen and had my much older cousin telling me about our European Cups and giving me jerseys.

Not that I didnt have other older cousins trying to convince me to follow United and Beckham. But for some unknown reason, even though I knew Uited were much better at the time, my loyalties never swayed

They will never be better than us. Most of them are a bunch of hungry lions attacking the ref when things didn't went their way. From Keane to Beckham, from Giggs to Rooney, it's all kind of the same. This was the principle Fergie installed in them; In Webb we trust, if not prey on him!

Sound that!

Absolutely class that - am I the only one who heard John Bishop as the father...?

I feel inabit familiar with this problem, see, me brother is a red, he's about 9 BUT i remembered he also struggled keeping the faith when we were under woy wodgson
He didn't care much after the Blackpool defeat, and i was trying to keep the flame burning in him it was abit hard and one day he came to me and said "Guess who i support now"? Me- "Liverpool or what?"he- "No im supporting Chelski" And i was trying to "But you still like Liverpool eh"? and i got this answer "Not that much"....alrite...What are im going to do now, well me dad didn't liked it either, he supports West Ham but he didn't really cared..So i was trying to keep me faith with only me mate with me (He's also a Red).
And as King Kenny came it all started to get better. Me and me brother hadn't really been with each other for a while cause i just wanted to show him inabit that "If you go and support the chelski tw*ts then you can Fcuk Off!!" but after the City game 3-0 he declared "Axel, do you know who i support now?" and i was having me fingers crossed and answered "Can it be Liverpool?" and he was going "YES, LIVERPOOL, F**k CHELSEA THEY ARE UTTER sh*te"

But great story mate, i reckon that yours are better than mine, but i just aved a go YNWA

Great story that

Shame my eldest (6) is a manc, its his grandads fault, he doesnt listen to me

But there is hope my youngest lad and girls are all reds

I don't think age 6 is too late to turn away from the dark side of the force. Keep up a high level of indoctrination and you might have a chance, Blood!

Great read that! Glad I didn't miss it