Looking at football through the eyes of a child

 

It might just be because I am getting older but I have recently missed the innocence that came from watching football as a child. No underlying stats, constant background reading and memorizing transfer fees or random excerpts of knowledge in the hope of gaining an edge on someone in Fantasy Football or to show off in pub quizzes.

Seeing how my 6-year-old watches football has rekindled that love of the sport in me. Regardless of the team that is on, he will come up to me and ask if ‘so & so’ is playing. He is at the age where he just likes certain players and just wants them to do well, regardless of what colour shirt they are wearing.

This becomes a particular sticking point when watching Tottenham Hotspur play, especially in derby matches. Whilst I don’t actively dislike any players, although there are a select few that I find irksome, I have to stop myself from scolding him when someone like Bukayo Saka or Cole Palmer scores or has a good game for the opposing team. I have an ingrained dislike for Chelsea and Arsenal players due to the nature of the rivalry with Spurs, but I feel it is wrong of me to instill this into a child as the most important thing in my mind is for him to just enjoy what he is watching. If Spurs win these games, as infrequent as it has become in the last couple of seasons, that’s just a perk.

Naturally part of my love for Spurs has trickled down to him as he loved watching Harry Kane play in a Spurs top and now is just as excited whenever Bayern Munich or England play as it means he can still watch one of his favourite players. He still celebrates whenever Spurs win but this joy isn't just reserved for Spurs games as my son is just as likely to celebrate a well worked goal by Trent Alexander-Arnold or Ollie Watkins as one by Mickey Van de Ven. 

It is this innocence that has led to me looking beyond rivalries and just enjoying football for what it is. A group of individuals who are far better than me at a sport I enjoy, but I can sit back and enjoy them excelling at it as I can see it as people in the top percentage of their chosen vocation doing it well, similar to watching the elite athletes perform at the Olympics. I couldn’t dream of doing what they do, but it sure is fun to watch someone do it well.

It is this mentality I will be adopting for the rest of the season as I just look forward to seeing the top players do what they do best. I still don’t necessarily want to see them play a blinder against Spurs, but for 36 out of 38 games each season, I am more than happy to appreciate what qualities each player brings to the table. Sport is meant to be entertainment after all.

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