I was having a conversation yesterday with one of my best mates about sporting memories.
When sport is a massive part of your life, seeing your team lift trophies, go to Wembley and achieve significant landmarks provides you with a great buzz and a great memory.
As a fan of Grimsby, his memories were from Wembley and when Phil Jevons hit an unbelievable extra time winner at Anfield in the League Cup.
Mine are mellow in comparison. Sadly, in my years of watching Widnes Vikings RLFC they haven’t really been all that good. In fact, they’ve steadily gone downhill in each of the eight years I’ve watched them. Their only significant achievement in those years was winning the 2007 Northern Rail Cup – yet I missed it, on holiday in Cyprus, one of a only a handful of games I’ve missed in the past four years.
Sport takes you to some great places (Toulouse, this year for instance), and provides some wonderful highs and tragic lows (the pain of relegation).
My best memory was Good Friday last year (2008). It was the opening game of the National League 1 season for Widnes after a turbulent autumn and winter that saw us miss out on promotion to Super League following a 42-10 defeat against Castleford in the Grand Final, and then the day later we entered administration.
We started the crucial 2008 campaign on minus 9 – a harsh penalty considering there’s only 18 games a season. We were playing Batley, and it was probably the coldest night ever. There was snow and sleet throughout the game. It was a see-saw game, but we found ourselves behind as the hooter sounded. Play went on, and well, see for yourself…
The video above shows highlights from the whole game, it’s the end bit that matters most 😉
It is perhaps a reflection of the turbulent recent history of Widnes that a late win at lowly Batley meant so much. It was a new beginning. The players went mad, as did the fans. I lost my dad in the crowd as he rushed to the front. I remember feeling relief and happiness, while I clenched my fist in the uncovered terrace. I walked out the ground with a massive smile, something I rarely do.
It was no cup final or significant achievement, but it was something I will remember with fondness.
Of course, I have many sporting memories. Not just from watching rugby, but also from watching and playing football. But it’s the ones that happen to the club you love most that mean even more.
I hope the last minute winner at Batley isn’t the main highlight I’ll look back on in years to come. And it’s this hope that makes sport’s appeal grow stronger.
