A series of anecdotes with or without any connection to the running of a restaurant.

Tuesday, June 13, 2006

Balls...














"Come on ref...There's no need for that!"

The World Cup has taken over my spare time even though I have lots of it...
I could watch any team kicking a ball around for 90 minutes...
There are three matches a day and so far I have only missed two!

When I was a kid after we moved to the town, I played football (badly) on our square like all the kids from the neighbourhood. We rolled up our trousers, made goal posts out of heaped coats and jackets.

Our ball was not one of the fancy ones you see kids kicking about these days. It made of light brown plastic and if it got a puncture, that spelt the end of the match.

Playing on that square was forbidden and this invariably attracted the local police on a regular basis. Officers came either in their black Peugeot 203 or on foot.

As soon as they were sighted, we picked the goal posts and the ball and scattered like pigeons.

Once a vicious gendarme managed to snatch the ball from one of the fleeing children. He pulled a knife from his pocket and slowly sliced the ball. This brought tears to our eyes.


During the chase, the older ones among us often went and stood against buildings or lamposts psyching the officers to go after them. These always left the square satisfied that they had successfully disrupted the game.
No sooner that they turned the corner, out came the teams, the coats and the ball.
The play resumed exactly where it had been abandoned.

It was such fun!

For me football is much more than a new strip, a shiny leather ball or flags. It is memories of a happy childhood.


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23 Comments:

Blogger Caroline said...

I used to play football though no girls were allowed in the school team so not for the school. Then when I was working I played again until the day I broke my nose... cheapest nose job ever... huge improvement ;-)... but I was banned from playing it at lunchtimes... so that was that...

However I never have enjoyed watching it... I did try going to some "real" matches but they didn't do anything for me...

Glad you enjoy it so much!

13/6/06 8:25 PM  
Blogger Identikit said...

I'm feeling a bit of a Grinch about football at the moment. There's just nothing else on the TV and the boys just stare at it all evening when they should be doing their bloody schoolwork.

13/6/06 8:45 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Seems like a fun, happy childhood. Thanks for sharing!

I have fond memories of playing soccer as a child, too. As I recall I was a tomboy when I was 11 and used to play soccer in the church yard with my younger brother and his pals.

13/6/06 9:27 PM  
Blogger andrea said...

I saw a news clip about the Brazilians and why they're so dominant. Apparently the general rabble were banned from playing football on the beaches so they developed this form of volleyball where you can't use your hands. Now that's a way to develop ball control!

13/6/06 9:34 PM  
Blogger Annie said...

Not being a sporty type (ahem) I never really got football until I was on holiday in Vietnam and I saw these kids playing with an old ball in a field half-submerged under water. Then it clicked, why people love it all over the world. It's such a democratic game, you don't have to be rich and well-equipped, you don't need much at all to play it.

(And when people found out we were English, they'd give us a huge smile and say "English? Aah, David Beckham...")

13/6/06 9:42 PM  
Blogger ramblingwoman said...

Ah, I like Annie's comment.

A boy is never alone if he has a ball to play with!!

13/6/06 10:19 PM  
Blogger Identikit said...

Carol Vorderman eh? You've certainly got balls, Cream!

13/6/06 10:30 PM  
Blogger neena maiya (guyana gyal) said...

The one thing I like about football year is an absolutely ridiculous Pepsi ad this year with the Bavarians hee hee hee.

How's the pain in the neck, Cream? I'm reading your posts.

14/6/06 1:36 AM  
Blogger neena maiya (guyana gyal) said...

I mean, the one thing I like about football...

14/6/06 1:37 AM  
Blogger Romeo Morningwood said...

Of course we in the Colony called it Soccer because the Yanks played Football.
I loved playing it and I love watchin' it! So pure and simple, the World's Game. It's catchin' on here.
Following my DNA I am rooting for Sweden(B) or Germany(A) (no Belgium sigh)
but I love watchin' Brazil(F),Holland(C),Italy(E), England(B)..ah who am I kidding .
the whole thing is so great.

14/6/06 5:25 AM  
Blogger Cream said...

Caro, more and more girls are playing footie and many are as good if not better than the boys... Such a shame that you lost football after you stopped playing it...

Kitty...Carol Vorderman? Who the hell is she??? Oooooooops, sorry! I thought I'd break the spell of being constantly funny!
As for being the Grinch, well it's only for a month, isn't it?

Cynthia, I can see the tomboy in you...Yeah, right!
Playing in the church yard? I bet you were often chased by the priest...

Yes, Andrea I have watched that kind of volleyball...They are amazing, those Brazilians!

Annie, that was really sweet and deep and I agree...Football is the only game in the world which anybody can play at anytime with anyone!
Vive la Démocracie!

Rambler, I get both meanings, I think...:o)

Kitty, not really! Just another kick in the balls, yeah!

Gigi, Welcome back!!! So nice to hear from you! Phewwww!
So much to catch up on!

H.E, you are right! It is the World's Game... I like watching anything and I always root for the underdog!

14/6/06 10:22 AM  
Blogger Mary said...

Imagine trying to prevent children from playing ball! I do love soccer. My oldest son played with a great group of boys. They were fun to watch and were the state champs in his senior year of high school.

14/6/06 1:07 PM  
Blogger Cream said...

Trac, almost is half-way there, you know! You are far too generous!

Mary, it was the town's Memorial Square... and, altough traffic was not that heavy, it was quite dangerous when the ball was kicked across the road...
Was that Johnny?

14/6/06 4:15 PM  
Blogger Mike said...

That's what I'm lacking... I wasted my youth on Nintendo and baseball cards!

14/6/06 5:20 PM  
Blogger Tanya said...

I watched the match last night and I wondered why their shorts were so long, I want to see short shorts, legs, bums etc.. that's a good match for me :-)

14/6/06 5:39 PM  
Blogger Mary said...

No, no...Johnny is all lacrosse. He used to play soccer but got the lacrosse bug. Michael is my oldest. He is in the army now station (thank God) in Germany. I think he told me that he is playing some soccer there.

14/6/06 5:49 PM  
Blogger valerie walsh said...

Love this post Cream, i know what you mean about childhood games and friendships. What a wonderful remembrance of your childhood and nice of you to give us this glimpse!!!

14/6/06 9:09 PM  
Blogger Cream said...

Viking, children in the 3rd World are very ingenious! When that Gendarme sliced that ball we got a few socks, made a new one and carried on playing...

I think the days of short shorts are out. But I shall write a letter to Fifa on your behalf, Tat!

Mary, Lacrosse, hey that's posh!
hope your Michael is ok...

Thanks Val...
Childhood stuff is what shapes us! No worries about possessions or anything... Life is about living...

14/6/06 9:48 PM  
Blogger lettuce said...

What a nice post (& comments). You've actually given the world cup some meaning for me! Thats quite some achievement!

15/6/06 5:19 PM  
Blogger Cream said...

Wendz, yep! Still on about the beautiful game!
Just watched England v Trinidad & Tobago and nearly suffered a heart attack...

Lettuce, I'm glad it means something to you now...Pleased to have delivered!

15/6/06 7:12 PM  
Blogger Cream said...

Yep, Trac! They'd better start all their comments with your highness from now on!
I love finding the right YouTube for the right occasion! Sometimes it takes ages...but the result is what matters!

Yes, you are a rubbish fan! Feeling sorry for the enemy, shame on you!

15/6/06 8:52 PM  
Blogger DCveR said...

Strange as it may seem I never was a big football lover, unlike most of the Portuguese population. As far as team sports go I'd rather play basketball, volleyball and of course rugby (played for CDUL).
I do enjoy watching a good game from time to time and of course I'm following the world cup, but it is not my favorite game.

15/6/06 9:09 PM  
Blogger Cream said...

DC, it is strange to have a Portuguese who's not a football lover but I understand... I like all sports but footie's my favourite...

Wendz, Your Highness, African Queen, Trac and I are talking about the King and Queen of YouTube....not some lost kingdom at the far end of Africa!

I like Rugby too... Didier is mad about it...

16/6/06 9:21 AM  

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