Penalty

Up at the crack of dawn. Drink coffee. Drag A out of bed. Grab scarf. Refuel the car. Drive. And then drive some more. Stop for breakfast at the services - everything shut. Drive more. Park the car. Walk across Stanley Park. Buy a pie from the pie shop. Through the turnstile. More coffee. Find seats. A’s first time in the kop.
Sing. Shout. Sigh when the opposition score first. Shout and sing some more. Cheer when we equalise. And then when we score a penalty (pictured). Half time. Fail to get an internet connection - some things never change. Second half. Nervous. Tense. We look vulnerable. Finally a third and then a fourth and we can all relax.
Shuffle down the stairs. Cross the park. Find the car. Sit in a queue of traffic. Leave the city behind. Onto the motorway. Listen to the next round draw on the radio. A home tie! Hurray - we get to do it all again in a few weeks time.