Who was it that said: “A cynic is something an optimist calls a realist”? I can’t remember actually, so I’ll just pretend I came up with it instead and claim all the credit for such a wonderful chunk of homespun philosophy! it is this sense of cynicism, tinged with grim pessimism that dominates my thoughts as to Bristol Rovers home game tonight against Hartlepool United. I haven’t been to a game for three and a half years and I am scheduled to be going tonight. I just know what’s going to happen. Just look at the weather forecast!
I am now in a state of excitement, or at least as much as excitement as is good for a middle aged man. Now the new order at Bristol Rovers has replaced the former ‘regime’ at the club (‘regime’ is an interesting word used by the new chairman: it’s certainly one I’d use) and overturned a ludicrous banning order against a supporter for ‘consistent criticism, I’m really looking forward to making up for lost time.
Ironically, it’s the meteorological start of spring today so the sun should be shining brightly and I should be wearing spring clothes, which is to say, in my case, a T shirt. Instead, it’s chucking it down here in Bristol and my sense of innate pessimism is in full swing. The Hartlepool game was postponed a few weeks ago due to a waterlogged pitch. Please don’t let the rearranged game be postponed again tonight!
I am not the only person returning after a long absence. None of us regard ourselves as special for having conducted what were individual spells of absence. In true Rovers style, there was no organised boycott: we just decided independently. And now the reason we stayed away no longer exists. A wrong has been righted. Tonight, we will all look at the Bristol Rovers website at around 5.00 pm to find out that the game is off!
This fretting about postponed games proves again I am back in the swing. I’m optimistic about the football, looking forward to meeting old friends.
See you soon, Irene.
