A Footballing Psychology

By Jemma Tappenden
February 21 2008

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times”. Well, when the great literary hero Charles Dickens first scribed these words, it seems to me he could quite easily have been predicting my feelings towards this season’s football as much as describing the events of the French Revolution. Then again just maybe “It was the season of light, it was the season of darkness” is more appropriate.

It is probably something most football fans can empathise with. That feeling of impending doom that can just as quickly turn to jubilation before throwing you right back into the gutter. It’s a sensation I’ve been struggling with for a while now. Feeling the frustration of watching Wolves sink even further down the table, whilst for personal and profession reasons trying to retain some sense of happiness for our counter parts down the road.

So much for wearing Old Gold and Black. It seems to me this seasons colour would be far more suited to green. For that is the colour of envy isn’t it? And when all is said and done for me, for certain that stomach churning feeling can largely be attributed to envy.

As an 80s child I just about remember the slump of the 80s, the days of the 4^th division. But these were days that carried hope and a team spirit. My main recollection is from the 90s, a period in which it would still be difficult to pinpoint any real success. Afterall, the majority of it had been spent in the First Division, with more than one manager having a fair crack at the money whip. Millions had been spent on players and the stadium, and yet no real progression had been made.

But what I remember most about the 90s was for the most part at least, having something over our local rivals Albion. We weren’t separated by divisions, not like we have been in recent seasons, but Wolves were the ones who boasted the Multi Millionaire sugar daddy Sir Jack Hayward, and pretty often looked downwards on their local rivals in the table. These were days of great tussles between players like Steve Bull and Bob Taylor. These were our days at least.

It is this I blame mostly for the feeling that now consumes every inch of stomach on a Saturday afternoon. These are not our days any more, and haven’t been since a since departed Dave Jones allowed his side to lose an 11 point lead over Albion in 2002. The last six years have been very much Albion’s days. It is they now who boast the league positions, the cup runs, the great support and match winning squad (which I might add has been developing without squandering anywhere near the money Wolves have over the years).

I won’t lie. It’s a bitter pill to swallow. I have developed something of a soft spot for the Baggies over the last 18 months or so. I have even been to the Hawthorns twice this season – not for the Wolves fixture (for fear of suffering another drubbing) and have seen Albion score 9 goals. I have been entertained. But it doesn’t quite get you in the same way. It’s not the same as watching your own side score five goals in a convincing win. And who knows, if I can still afford football tickets when my pension kicks in I may well live to see it again some day.

On the realistic side, I know that what we actually have here in the Midlands between these two rival clubs is a wealth of great footballing history. Two sides almost inseparable in their achievements over the years, and two sides, for another 3 months at least, playing for the same thing in the same division. But only a misguided hardcore supporter could fail to notice that only one of these sides is close to realising that achievement. So, it is with a brave face and a lump in my throat that I can honestly say I wish West Bromwich Albion every luck with their promotion push this season, and hope that they keep that Midlands flag flying for as long as possible in their FA Cup run.

A Footballing psychology

Posted by: West Brom (IP Logged)

Date: 21/02/2008 14:53

A Footballing psychology