Thanks Uncle Dickie (RIP) and thanks for supporting such a great team!

Saturday 8 January 2010. Woke really early and got up early for a Saturday. Probably a lot to do with the fact that I slept so early yesterday night. Had breakfast with BBC 24hr News and heard the sad news about the Togo national team being ambushed! Condolences go out to thoses who lost their lifes and their families. I pray the press don't go to town with this one and ask whether this is what they can expect in South Africa; considering most people think Africa as a country and not a Continent.

Got alot done around the house today. I couldn't exercise one of my new year's resolutions - not drive as much. I had planned to walk my daughter to swimming lessons, but the paths were to icy! Usually we drive, so I can get back in time for football! She doesn't like walking either but that will change.

I have arranged to do a course in PA systems, starting in February lasting four weeks. Plus arranged to start some musical instrument lessons. Looking forward to that challenge. I aim to get graded to some sort of level by the end of the year!

The Alistair McGowan book came this morning, I started to read it, its quite interesting so far. Slight difference between us, he was challenged by an ex partner to give up football, I challenged myself. One interesting point they have addressed is analysing where the addiction to football came from. His came from his Dad. I believe my addiction to football or introduction to football was via my older brother, my Dad is not a football fan at all and couldn't care a less. So looking back it was my brother who introduced me to the game, but my late Uncle influenced my team choice. For years, I have been accussed of glory hunting, you should follow your local team and all that (Milton Keynes weren't to get a professional club there until some 23 year later!!), but how I came to support Man Utd was through my Uncle who supported them and at the time I was four or five I didn't know who Man utd were. I'm so glad like Alistair McGowan's influencer that they didn't support a rubbish team like Cheltenham Town!

The story is quite simple my cousin's and uncle were down from London for the weekend and my cousin's and my brother were winding up my Uncle because I think Man utd were losing that day, they were saying he's the only Man Utd fan in the family and he said he wasn't. They asked who the other fan was and he turn around and said 'Kevin!' A Man utd fan was born. By the way they all support Arsenal. It's ironic that I started this blog by mentioning death and I end it with death. Don't get the wrong idea, I'm about life and positivity, but I wanted to share this poignant football story.

Dec 3rd 2007, I remember the date clearly, it was a Monday, I had tickets to go and see Man Utd play Fulham in the Premier League at Old Trafford. It was my second visit to the stadium, first time seeing Man utd play there. On my walk down to the stadium, I received a text from my sister saying that my Uncle had pass away that day! It was ironic that the first time I got to see them play live at Old Trafford he passed away. In fact if it wasn't for him then I wouldn't have been there in the first place, as I may have supported a different team or not even have been a football fan. That day got me thinking about how football has shaped my life.

Thanks Uncle Dickie (RIP) and thanks for supporting such a great team!