“You have totally missed the point Tyldesley…..I am talking about folk with no excuse, if someone has a genuine reason fine”
I know exactly the point you were making and I will repeat who made you (or anybody else for that matter) judge, jury & executioner as to what is a “genuine reason” for missing tonight’s game.
I could rattle of half a dozen excuses tonight why I aint going:
a) Just about getting over a virus I’ve had since the middle of last week & the thought of sitting in the cold & rain for the best part of 2 hours doesn’t appeal to me
b) On top of the above my 11 month old daughter has the same virus, isn’t sleeping for more than about half an hour at a time before waking up crying & therefore I aint getting much sleep either so to be frank sitting in the wind & rain for the best part of 2 hours doesn’t appeal to me
c) Its after Xmas which skinted me & whilst I’ve just been paid now I have my daughter’s 1st birthday stuff to fork out for
d) I have a large bill to pay
e) Latics have won 2 out of their last 12 league games & were recently held to a draw by a bottom division outfit in the cup. The peformances have by & large been dire in that period & the thought of spending my hard earned cash to sit in the cold & rain for the best part of 2 hours to watch more of the same doesn’t appeal to me
f) Quite frankly I have other more important things I could spend my money on
Hopefully some of the above qualify as “real excuses” for not going tonight
If not then having followed Latics for the last 23 years home & away & visiting over 70 grounds in the process, using my student loan to travel from Wales to watch us when we were truly shit & dole money to fund trips all over the shop in our 97 promotion side when I’d been laid off, not to mention the thousands of pounds spent of my wages over the years, I really couldn’t give a stuff whether anyone considers me a real fan anymore
Sorry for the rant, and it isn’t aimed particularly at you but its always been a pet hate of mine when people who do go have a go at those who don’t & decide what is & isn’t a valid excuse for going. If you go fine, if you don’t fine has always been my motto!!
