Have been re-reading Fever Pitch by Nick Hornby, as part of my self initiated research, here are a few quotes from the book that have influenced my thinking.
"I had been to the vast majority of the home games and a few of the aways; I had as much RIGHT as any, and probably more RIGHT than most, to a spot on the terraces at Wembley, and so my PRIDE came from the feeling of BELONGING."
"I have learned things from the game. Much of my knowledge of locations in Britain and Europe comes not from school, but from away games or the sports pages."
"I have learnt the value of investing TIME and EMOTION in things I cannot control, and of BELONGING to a community whose aspirations I share completely and uncritically."
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15/2/2011