Green Cross Code Man
Wunt be druv
The past month or so has been, for my family at any rate, a very distressing time. I had to pick my brother up from A&E after he was found unconscious one night outside in a street near his home (he suffers from epilepsy). This followed him breaking his arm the week before. Then a week later my mum phoned to say she had gone blind in one eye so I rushed over and took her to A&E which resulted in her spending several days in and out of hospital where fortunately quick treatment for her condition stopped her completely losing her sight. Five days later, she phoned me to say my dad was on the floor and couldn't get up. My wife and I raced over and managed to get him into his bed but had to call an ambulance. Unfortunately my mother had unwisely tried to get him up and half an hour later she was feeling extremely poorly and I had to call a second ambulance which took her to hospital with lights flashing and all. So for the last 2 weeks my 2 boys and my wife and I have taken turns to stay with them night and day due to dad's lack of mobility and mum's lack of strength, and to ensure they can recover as best as possible which is no easy thing when one is in one's mid 80's.
Anyway, onto the football, my brother and I had tickets for the FA CUP game but couldn't go due to the situation at home. I had spent an extremely depressing day with my mum and dad which resulted in me seriously considering that dad needed to go into a home, he seemed to be going backwards in every way. My brother came with my son to relieve me of my duties just before our game started and I returned home to watch the match.
I was astonished to receive texts from my brother saying dad was moving around much better, he'd enjoyed the match so much and that this had somehow stirred him and incredibly, made him feel a lot better. The power of a great performance had inspired and uplifted him. This has followed through with steady progress in the week.
Now both of my parents have a long way to go still, but I genuinely believe that the game we love, played by the team we love can do so much for our mood and recovery from difficult situations. My 2 sons and I did manage to go to the game last night, it was wonderful to get away and momentarily forget the troubles at home for a while whilst watching our team play Chelsea off the park.
Whoever said football is the most important of the least important things was so right, Mitoma's goal, perhaps one of the all time greatest goals, followed by our accomplished display made us simply euphoric.
I am more than ever appreciative of my family and realise so many other Albion fans around us in the crowd have equally difficult or even worse situations they are dealing with, but who go to the match in the hope that the Albion can elevate their emotions and lift them, even if it is just for the small comfort of a few hours with like-minded folk.
Thank you Brighton and Hove Albion, thank you Tony Bloom, thank you all the players and staff at our wonderful club and most of all thank you to all the Albion supporters who just like me and our family have kept the club going through the years and without whom there would be no club. Up the Albion!
Anyway, onto the football, my brother and I had tickets for the FA CUP game but couldn't go due to the situation at home. I had spent an extremely depressing day with my mum and dad which resulted in me seriously considering that dad needed to go into a home, he seemed to be going backwards in every way. My brother came with my son to relieve me of my duties just before our game started and I returned home to watch the match.
I was astonished to receive texts from my brother saying dad was moving around much better, he'd enjoyed the match so much and that this had somehow stirred him and incredibly, made him feel a lot better. The power of a great performance had inspired and uplifted him. This has followed through with steady progress in the week.
Now both of my parents have a long way to go still, but I genuinely believe that the game we love, played by the team we love can do so much for our mood and recovery from difficult situations. My 2 sons and I did manage to go to the game last night, it was wonderful to get away and momentarily forget the troubles at home for a while whilst watching our team play Chelsea off the park.
Whoever said football is the most important of the least important things was so right, Mitoma's goal, perhaps one of the all time greatest goals, followed by our accomplished display made us simply euphoric.
I am more than ever appreciative of my family and realise so many other Albion fans around us in the crowd have equally difficult or even worse situations they are dealing with, but who go to the match in the hope that the Albion can elevate their emotions and lift them, even if it is just for the small comfort of a few hours with like-minded folk.
Thank you Brighton and Hove Albion, thank you Tony Bloom, thank you all the players and staff at our wonderful club and most of all thank you to all the Albion supporters who just like me and our family have kept the club going through the years and without whom there would be no club. Up the Albion!
