Liverpool vs. Manchester United

I attended a reserve football (soccer) match with a group of about 20 guys from Langdon Community.  Some people were telling me the reserve matches are better and others said they simply weren't the real thing (to me that meant -no Cristiano Ronaldo.)  As an outsider, the event was a completely new experience and filled with unexpected surprises. We were the guests of a friend of a friend, so we had access to a comfy clubhouse within the stadium before and after the game and the guys all really enjoyed it, but I knew they would because we'd been talking about football every day since my arrival.  The team's fan rivalries are a real cultural phenomenon here. Geographically, hardcore opposing fans are all mixed together in close proximity, as the home bases of the teams aren't as spread out as in America.  

As I approached the concessions, I told a friend that I hadn't eaten all day, and he said, "Oh you'll just find your usual selection of stadium fare here; meat pies, sausage rolls, etc."  Oh, my! As I ordered a sausage roll, I explained to him about hot dogs and peanuts.  The sausage roll was quite nice and better than a hot dog, but I couldn't see sitting in a crowded stadium eating a messy meat pie without a fork.

Well, soon it was time to take our seats in the stadium, and we all crowded into our seats. About the time the game was supposed to start, I was again confused when a large group of children ran out onto the field.  Half were wearing red and half were wearing white, and I realized that they were the players when the game started.  I guess those "children" probably weren't children at all, but only my own eyes getting older.  The action of the game was non-stop right from the start, but I was soon thinking about that meat pie again, and looked around and saw people eating their little chicken-pot-pie looking things in their seats.  I hoped there would be some left at the break when I could try one in the comfort of the clubhouse (I did try one, and I would recommend the sausage thing.)

As a sport, I did find it fun to watch.  The skill of the players was impressive with their ball handling and covering that huge field.  I preferred the constant movement and action to the stops and starts in most American sports. The game is played in two 45-minute halves and I was to experience a totally new concept at the end of the tight game.  The match ended in a draw!  2 to 2! Everyone was happy!  I was thrilled that there was no need for overtime.  There was no possibility of the game going into the wee hours of the morning.  Going to a Football game here simply meant an hour and a half time commitment and then, everybody can go home happy!