A fan: this is what we live for

Day -135 WorldCup2018

This one could be a justification(?), an explanation(?) of what makes us crazy football fans happy, how our minds tick, especially in this age of silent forms of media. Huh? Allow me.

It could be the World Cup. It probably will happen during the World Cup. It could be frantically trying to follow your local team's very important match while you are on a family holiday. Whatever the circumstance, there are many similarities. Those in the know will nod their heads ('ah, yes, it's happened to me"). Others who don't feel the inescapable (call it ridiculous) need to follow a football team, or any team might think, "ok, I see". Or maybe still think we are all ridiculous.

Today was a good example. The team that I have followed, supported, willed to win every Saturday since 1981, Aston Villa, were playing a crucial match in the Championship (English second division) at Sheffield United this afternoon, evening in England. Before today Villa were fifth in the table, United seventh. Teams 1 & 2 get promoted to the Premier League at the end of the season. Teams 3 to 6 enter the playoffs to earn one more spot. It's a tight race. A win for Villa could have seen them move into second place, depending on Derby County's result. A win for United and they would be only a point behind Villa.

So that's the background. Now here's the scene. I'm at work but have to leave at halftime to catch a train home. At work I've got twitter and BBC text on in the background. Really, I was working. Nothing happening, apart from reports on constant United attacks and moans from Villa fans about how terrible they are today.

I walk to the bus. Phone battery is low. Will it last? Still no score. I get on the train. Twitter and BBC are both still alive on my dimmed screen, now in battery saving mode. The last "battery under 10%" warning has come up. I text Kristine to tell her why calls or texts may go unanswered. How long do I have? It's around the 75th minute and that flashing light is teasing me, taunting me: "ha! you might not to get to see the final result." Cruel, cruel technology.

BBC gives me the facts: United have the better chances, an onslaught even. Villa are holding on. Twitter gives me what the fans are thinking and seeing. As always the comments range from "awful and abysmal" to "this could be a hard earned, well earned point". With the battery ready to give up at any second I feel I have to choose. Close one window. But I can't. What if one updates quicker than the other and I miss a goal.

Then the first, potential "oh no" moment happens. "Derby just scored", somebody tweets. It's about the 85th minute. BBC are not confirming it. How many times can I refresh without my phone dying? That would increase their lead over Villa to 5 points. Still no confirmation. Why not?

Now before I get to the 90th minute let me add one detail to the scene. I'm on the upper level of a GO Transit train. GO trains proudly advertise that the upper level is a "quiet zone" on all rush hour trains: phones must be on silent and no phone conversations. What is rush hour? When is it? Nowhere does it say it on any of its' posters. Happy hour in most bars lasts at least 2 hours. So how long does rush hour last and when does it start and end? An important detail, which could have been more important if I wasn't by myself when the 90th minute came around and this happened.

"Snoddy, what a goal." "Snodgrass, you beauty!" "Snoddy, 1-0". Robert Snodgrass scores for Villa. And what does the crazy football fan in the quiet zone on the train do? Only thing I can do. I send a yesssssss!!!! tweet to my Scottish friend who always updates me on Villa scores when I'm not able to follow. And he's Scottish. And so is Snodgrass. I have to celebrate and it's the first outlet that comes to mind. I refrained from professing my love for all things Scottish. But I was close.

And what about that Derby goal? Ruled out for offside. Scored, but not counted, by another Scot. Derby draw, Villa win. Villa in third, one point behind Derby. A long way to go yet. This was one match. There are many more to be won or lost. But "turning point in the season" comes to mind.

And the phone? It keeps playing it's cruel tricks on me. Half an hour later on the bus home my pocket buzzes and it's Kristine calling me. So much for all those final warnings and flashing lights. So much for the "we are never going to see this through to the end." Cry wolf, I tell you.

Today it was the train and the phone. Sometime in June and July it may be an important meeting, or internet problems. There will be obstacles but the challenge in overcoming them to keep updated is almost as exhilarating as it must have been for those Villa fans in the stadium today as the clock hit 90 minutes.