World Cup 2005 - A supporter's view

by Keith Pointon

Contrary to popular opinion, supporting is an exhausting occupation! Like teams, supporters need tactics! Which kit to wear, what hat, which songs and chants and the all important, where to sit! The latter being essential to Mrs Elsmore who always had to sit on a seat numbered 14! Can’t guess what Cath’s number was then!!!Flag waving is essential and I personally always come prepared with a good pole! You can get ‘flag waving arm’ strain so a light pole helps along with good consistent training beforehand.Getting to the match is another operation! On time somehow was always a struggle for Marie and me, regardless of when the match was! Packing the ruc-sac, getting the sun cream on, food, money, match pass, water bottle, flag, hat, cornet… the list is endless. Oh for those playing days when I only had to remember my gum-shield! Then of course all the post-match analysis and discussion. Where do I start? Usually along the lines of ‘whose round is it!’The supporting crew was magnificent. Husbands, boyfriends, mums, dads, brothers, sisters and friends were all there in full force. I guess the supporting highlight had to be when Wales were minus a president and Luba stepped in at the last minute and became part of the opening ceremony. She looked very important and fulfilled her role better than any president! ‘Go Luba!’Marie, Vivien and I stayed in a house with three England supporters, Jan, Neatley and Bethany. Never a dull moment with huge post match discussions, games of hunt the flags and song competitions. We always won the song competitions it has to be said! Marie beat me on the silliest hat competition with her crab effort. Especially as it seemed to loom larger than life when the team were looking to us the supporters whilst singing the Anthem! A few shoulders were shaking I feel.Annapolis was very hot and humid! So were the matches themselves! the first game …. Canada. So much history between these two sides in close, nail biting matches where so much depended on the result. (‘93, ‘97, ‘01 supporters will know!!!!!!!!)The first match is always an exciting, nervous affair and I think a few players showed some nerves. A good positive performance though despite the loss. I was disappointed as a supporter but the players afterwards were encouragingly up-beat. There was after all a long way to go and a lot of Lacrosse to be played.The U.S. match was a fine Welsh performance. The best yet in a world cup. Marie and I unfortunately didn’t make the first-half and had a ‘supporters group’ telling off for being late and not playing the cornet…….oops! However, what a game. My lasting memory is of Esther who, after the final whistle was bouncing about in Helen Talbot style excited that there was no mercy rule applied! (ie the clock carries on running after goals when a team is 12 goals up!) Brilliant!I won’t go through every match but there were certainly highs and lows. The main low for the supporters was that Wales failed to win a game! This was more disappointing, as the team was so fantastically fit and injury free! All the players played well, no-one hid, young players stepped up and played with confidence and the experienced players played with passion, skill and excellence.The England game! Talk about heart-rate! Wales were magnificent. Fit, fast, passionate, skilled and confident! They out played England in every department! The supporters did too. The England ranks on our right became quieter and quieter as the game continued. Goal for goall the game was finely matched. At 5-4 to England with only seconds remaining of the game, Ros Lloyd had the ball behind goal. Her patience was phenomenal as she waited for the right cut to feed the ball. A mistake now and the game was over. Then Laura Warren cut, a quick feed, a couple of Laura dodges and GOAL!!!! Jeepers what a finish 30 seconds to go! The utterly defining moment of any Welsh supporter is to sing to the tune of ‘Guide me o’, the words, ’you’re not singing any more!!!’ to England. The supporters were totally stunned to miserable silence. What had gone wrong? you could see on their faces. A brilliant Welsh team had confronted them, that’s what!!!!Extra time loomed and then, that goal!!!! All credit has to go to Lucy Lynch of England, who at the end of extra time shot and …… did the ball cross the line before or after the hooter? Was the hooter hooted late or on time? What were the umpires doing not having a discussion before the lead umpire gave the goal? Obviously in the Welsh camp the ball did not cross the line before the hooter and the hooter was late! In the England camp the goal crossed the line beforehand!! So the debate will continue. The crushing reality is that the goal stood and England won the game in extra time 6-5. Sport apologises to no-one and despite being the better team, Wales were defeated.Japan were interesting opponents with a different style of play, Twice Wales met them and the scores were the same. 12-8 each time and another 6th place to Wales in a world cup.Despite such a disappointing finish, the good news is that there were young players in that team who will never let that happen again and are training hard as we speak for the next World-Cup. There is a greater confidence in the camp that the gap has closed between Wales and England and the rest of the world. Good always comes out of disappointments. Determination and perseverance become greater. Passion and desire increase and performance is enhanced. I can’t wait for the next one and am totally confident that a Bronze Medal can become a reality. Get supporting it’s a wonderful experience!

Comments? Questions? Email Here

© HowtoAdvice.com

How to Advice .com