The Nation's Passion: The Beautiful Game!

Michael Lynch: If you're on this site you probably already love football. It might be a game that consists of a bunch of grown men running around and kicking a ball, but us men know there is much more to it than that. Speed, skill, control, power and of course: Passion. This is the main reason we all love the beautiful game. The atmosphere when you step into your teams stadium on a Saturday afternoon or a Wednesday night, you go through the highs and lows with your team, the ups and downs, you continue to support them whatever the whether. You'll always be there, and you'll always love your team.

As I sit here teary eyed in the warmth of my living room I remember what it is like at The City Ground, to try and describe the electric atmosphere. Can words describe it? Not to perfection, but I'll try:

As you walk into the stadium you can feel the passion and excitement amongst fans, and can't help but feel it yourself. It is amazing, it is one of the best things you'll ever feel. You can hear and see fans chanting and clapping all around you and you can't help but feel that you want to join in.

By the time the match starts you have gotten over your initial excitement and feel the tension. Will you team win? Will your team lose? Will you be ahead until the 90th minute the lose? You are 90 minutes from heaven and 90 minutes from hell, leave it to fate to decide which.

Nothing like an early goal to take the pressure away though is there. As you see the ball approach the goal, your world shifts to slow motion. Will it go in, will it miss, will the keeper pull of a spectacular save? It's going in... you get ready, you feel all the weight lift of your shoulders. You feel liberated, you want to celebrate this freedom, so as the ball crosses the line you make a big jump and a big shout and a great smile crawls across your face. You've scored, and you don't care if it was an ugly thing to score with, at the end of the day you've got to be satisfied with it- after all, it's going feel good no matter what!

David Hobbs: Football is arguably the most enjoyable yet competitive sports in the world and is loved by many, including myself. But the question is 'why?' I actually love it.

Football isn't just a game in my eyes. It is a passion, a love and it is The Beautiful Game. All around the globe people turn up to football grounds big and small to watch the team that they are most passionate about fight it out with another team. 

And the beautiful thing is- never mind if your playing for a top club like Manchester United etc, or even for your local team or a kick-a-bout with your pals you will always have that competitive element unlike most sports and you will (if your determined) have the desire to play well.

I think one of the greatest things about football is that it's for everyone. It's not just for men, and anyone who says it is is a sexist, which I hate. Women can watch football too. A lot of players are very attractive. Not to me though of course, to women. 

Why do you love the beautiful game? Discuss it here on our Message Board!

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