The longest standing commitment a man ever makes is one decided on a schoolyard or a playing field when he chooses which football team he is going to support. It's a relationship like no other which spans decades, brings pain, joy, misery and frustration. A relationship that defies any sense of logic especially when involving midweek treks to far flung corners of the country to stand in wind and rain for a couple of hours.
A couple of weeks ago, on a bitterly cold Saturday afternoon, I sat in the stands watching yet another soul destroying performance. A second goal inside the first ten minutes proved too much for many and they began to leave, muttering under their breaths that enough was enough and that they wouldn't be back. Of course, in their heart of hearts, they knew they'd be back in those very same seats within days. In the closing minutes I took this photograph. It summed up the loyal, brutal, stoic and often heartbreaking nature of being a football supporter.
(Please click on the photograph to see the full image)
