Y oh Y oh Y

The 'Y' word

Add to the 'N' word, and the 'P' word, the 'Y' word.

There's a fuss going on at S***s (from now on, the 'S' word) about the whole Yiddos thing. Is or isn't it a race / hate / unacceptable word?

I wondered about this when the first articles were coming out recently. When a stadium full of your own fans stand there going: clap...clap...clap-clap clappity-clap “YIDS!”, in support of their team, how do you intend to ban use of the word in and around the place?

Bit of a mystery. One of those things that, to the pragmatic mind, just does not seem worth the aggravation. So it was interesting when Radio % sent a reporter to Sh*te Hart Lane to interview fans before their (heh) Thursday night game in the meaningless European minor league cup for also-rans (by way of explanation for the non-football folk, you know that thing they had about everyone wins at infant school sports days a few years ago when natural competition was made a dirty concept by those militant oddballs in their hooped stockings? It's a bit like that, but for football teams. Ah, bless, did you nearly make the top four? Here's a consolation Thursday night dirt-trackers tournament for you to take part in). He started in the pub. No takers. 100% we'll stick with what we've got and where we are, thanks. “I'm not jewish” one guy said, “but I'm proud to be a Yid”.

Desperate for some balance, the reporter went to the club shop (no joy), the family enclosure (nope, no luck there either), before, in desperation, and in a tone starting to resemble the customer in the cheese shop sketch, he work his way through the likely candidates and nabbed some guys who, by their attire, seemed to represent the best chance for a “ban the 'Y' word now” response. Not in these parts, sir.

Despite the best efforts of David Baddiel and others, the tea cup refused to accommodate their storm. No one was the slightest bit offended. Hopefully that'll be the end of it, before Everton and Liverpool fans kick off (ooops, sorry) about the 'S' word (Scouser), Villa, Birmingham, West Brom, etc about the 'B' word (Brummie), Chelsea about the 'C' (Chav) word, us and Newcaste about the 'G' word.

Charlton v Millwall

MM had the telly on for Soccer AM. I was messing about with something or other. We made tea or coffee, and blathered on about music in the kitchen for a bit. Then we walked past as the telly announced “now we go live to the Valley for the South London Charlton Millwall derby.

Just as I said “result” he said “blindin'” or something similar. That was us sorted.

It wasn't that much of a game in the end, certainly not the up-and-at-them muck and bullets you'd expect, but there were some decent moments, and both clubs were naturally tense and careful after making indifferent starts to the season. But that's the easy-going joy of sharing space with a football-head.

D the Dog's a Gooner

He likes MM (which White Dog has never been able to bring herself to do). He likes me (but then he likes (just about) everyone (not Stoke City fans). He behaved impeccably watching MM play this afternoon. He likes his football.

D the Dog's a Gooner.