As told through the eyes of a child (or two) When I awoke at 7.30 I ran into mum and dads room shouting "Is it today that we go to the football?" "Why oh why can't you get up this early when you have school?" grumbled dad from under the blankets. After I woke up my little brother, we ran downstairs and logged on to the N.T.F.C.co.uk to see if there was any early news regarding team selection. Dad eventually came down and made us breakfast. We ate it in my bedroom whilst we played FIFA 07, the Cobblers were in the Champions League final. After the cobblers won the Champions League and the Premiership, it was time for lunch. I can't remember what mum made but I couldn't wait to finish it, as it meant that we would be leaving soon. When we got to the bus station my heart skipped a beat. I thought dad was taking us shopping again, but no, we were just transferring to a number 27 bus. It was really exciting getting off the bus and seeing all these people wearing claret scarves and Northampton Town football shirts. Dad bought a programme from one of the vendors. It was so shiny and smooth that it almost slipped out of my hands. Dad said that we had an hour to wait until kick off and asked us if we wanted a drink. "Yes please" my brother and I replied. We went into the sports bar and got a coke each, then dad started to speak to some Rotherham supporters who were there with their children. My dad asked the two kids, who were older than us, if they wanted to play pool against me and my听 brother. We lost on the black and I prayed that this would not be an omen for the match. At about 2.30, Dad said goodbye to the the Rotherham supporters and wished them "Good luck!" I couldn't understand this and asked him why he had done that. "Well boys"听he said as he sat down on the outside benches, "It is because they are football supporters and have travelled to see their team. It is called being sporting." My brother听and I were still confused, I asked him "does that mean that you wish bad luck upon the Cobblers?" "No, not at all. When that whistle goes for kick off I will be shouting and praying that Northampton will have all the good luck and that Rotherham will have all the bad luck, but at the end of ninety minutes, I will accept whatever result it is. Win, lose or draw". "And", he said emphatically "I will still shake hands with that Rotherham supporter after the game and say well done." As we walked down the steps to the stadium I said to my little brother "I hope I can be a good football supporter", "Yeah, me too" he replied as he bounced down the stairs. "Right boys" dad shouted, "In order to be true supporters you must wear your teams colours with pride" He gestured towards the supporters shop." In there I will buy you your first football shirt." My brother and I could hardly speak, we were jumping up and down telling dad that he was the best. I got a white away strip and my brother got the claret home strip. This was turning out to be the best day ever. Before going into the stadium dad said that he would place a bet for us. My brother said Kenny Ducher would score first and I said Cobblers would win 3-0. As we sat in our seat in the Alwyn Hargreaves stand I could hear the atmosphere building and my brother and I were awestruck as we looked around the ground and listened to the radio announcer counting down the time and announcing the teams. When the kick off came, it was very exciting and noisy. I kept asking dad what the crowd were singing and he would sing it to me and my brother. And then the most amazing thing happened. The ball went towards the Rotherham keeper but stopped in the mud. The keeper ran out听 to get the ball but Kenny Duchar ran towards it and stuck out a leg to kick the ball. I watched as it bobbled in slow motion towards the net. GOAL 1-0 to the Cobblers. We were jumping up and down like crazy, dad threw me up in the air and did the same with my brother. This was a million times better than winning the champions league on FIFA 07. Northampton then went on to score two more goals and we celebrated again. At half time, Dad got a burger for me and a hot dog for my brother. In the second half we watched the match but were distracted by some girls behind us listening to their MP3 player and talking about something that had nothing to do with football. My brother and I went down to the railings at the bottom of the stand but soon got bored. Before we knew it the final whistle went and we were all hugging again. Dad insisted that we walked past the away supporters and do you know what he did? He met the same Rotherham supporters going on to their coach and did indeed shake their hands. After that we went to the betting shop and dad collected our winnings, it was enough for us to get a taxi home. My little brother fell asleep in the taxi. I can't wait till we go again. | 
