Lads on Tour

[sinkov]

The Clitheroe game against Runcorn Linnets yesterday was proceeding amicably enough, just another game of non-league football, when the liner on the top side, close to where we were stood, asked the ref to come over and they engaged in a whispered conversation for several minutes. No one knew what it was about, the players stood about looking bemused and the fans began to get restless, by this time the ref had got his little black book out and was making notes, this was obviously serious stuff. After what seemed like ages he trotted over to the other side of the pitch and started talking to the two managers, still no one had clue WTF it was all about. Then the Clitheroe manager trotted over to the top side towards us fans, who were asking him what was happening. He said the liner had heard homophobic chanting and if there was any more of it the game would be abandoned. I'd heard nothing of the sort, neither it seems had anyone else in the vicinity and we told him so, to which he replied 'The liner says he's heard someone calling one of the Runcorn players gay'. Well maybe he had, but again neither me nor my mate had heard it, and we were in that area. So 'Just cool it lads eh' our manager said and trotted away again, and after about a ten minute delay, the game proceeded to it's natural end.

I suppose it couldn't last, but I thought non league was a PC and Woke Free Zone, an oasis in a desert of lunacy, but no, it's now arrived in non-league as well. I expect it will do the big-eared liner's career no harm at all, he'll soon be reffing at a higher level, but it's the double standards, the hypocrisy that pisses me off. There are numerous women, young boys and young girls at non-league games, and they are subjected to an absolute torrent of foul and obscene language for every 90 minutes from the players and the coaching staffs and the officials let it all go, they're not interested. Why is it that the officials find it perfectly acceptable for women and children to listen to effing and blinding throughout a game of which they are in charge, but when one fan calls a player gay, they are prepared to abandon the game.

Seems a bit queer to me, if you'll pardon the expression.