Days of Speed, Two. And then my nose turned to blue!

Honest, I'm not a true football fan. I know, it's weird but I'm french and the level of passion for football is not the same. It's been an awesome ritual initiation for me! Please don't be mad at me because I'm gonna speak of Birmingham's Blues but I have to, Simon invited me and I have to respect it. Believe me, I've been really impressed by the fans' commitment, unbelievable. The West Ham's fans too and probably any english football fans. I do understand why there's some english books like Paolo Hewitt and Mark Baxter's one: The fashion of football, from Best to Beckham, from Mod to label slave...

I felt, physically, the Simon's impatience for Football when we had a very nice and friendly stroll in B'Ham Xmas' market... And that awesome mall... I've even bought The Changingman by Paolo Hewitt, I'm reading it and it's a very good Paul's music analysis by the way... I'll be back on that subject later. I felt Simon's passion and I was really curious to discover the place, the Saint Andrews football temple. I've, at last, understood than football is not only a place we can go to watch a match, it's a complete way of living, a life time contract you will never betray! Like a deep tatoo on your skin, it's not football, not only football... It's a kind of social bound between you and the city. I've been really impressed, actually. The singing crowds gave me thrills...

Simon opened kindly all the doors you can imagine, I've been really privileged to visit all the stadium. The fantastic guide, a modern football Stanley Unwin, I swear, showed us everything! I've learnt my lesson well, Gipsy's legend, The "idiot of the day" story with Trevor Francis, the first million pound player when he kicked the showers button twice! The legend of the first million pound player, I was completely under the charm. I've been massively impressed by the place of History in the club , the legends' wall with the underrated (by french only...) Christophe Dugarry. When I Had the pleasure to eat at the boardmen restaurant with Simon and his friends (Cheers Guys), Bobby Thomson (born in 1937) came to have a speech. Never forget where you are from... Never forget history... During the visit, it was a bit cold and my nose became a bit blue... ;) He came to B'Ham in 1969 for 40 000 £! Known as a real fast left back.

Respect and silence were in the air for sure... Every player is a part of Blues' history for ever... Don't think we have the same tradition in french clubs but I'm not a specialist at all...

We also visited the security point system and it's very impressive too, 35 CCTV cameras... No way to be a hooligan again...

Then, We went to the arena for the begining of the match. O god, What a massive shock, unbelievable, crowds are singing all along together from the West Ham's side to the Blues one... Couldn't believe my eyes and my ears when players came to the pitch! On the matchboard it's not even written BCFC but Blues! So it's Blues / Hammers! On the pitch, every player fights all match long from the kick-off to the end.

Lee Bowyer (highly controversial man, bad boy, remember Dyer / Bowyer fight?) scored at 52 nd minute and the biggest explosion I've heard in a stadium arena roared! Every fan strikes actually! What an occasion to be back at the boardmen's club after the match. Oh yes, boy, There's a very important "before the match", there's "half time" and there's "After". I didn't even try to play the other english game! I've disappointed a bit Simon's friend! Well anyway, what a faith in football. We've been there from noon to 7 PM and there was a Ray Davies's gig waiting for us in the magnificent Symphony hall... Got my heart very high on emotion, Ray Davies, English national treasure, the Waterloo sunset and Village green man...



So it's not only football, it's like a tribe identity actually... Bluenose a day, bluenose always. Fans told me they've never been to any other match just for entertainment, you're the twelth man on the pitch, that's it, there's nothing to discuss about it...

Simon gave me the great opportunity to be shot by official club photographer with Lee the scorer. I know gentleman Simon will send it, signed! Could be worst!

A beer later, we were waiting for the cab and there was a very young guy in it. We talked about that incredible level of passion...


Honest, I don't think I will turn into a die hard football fan at my age but it's been an awesome ewperience, for sure! Simon, Thanx again, mate!



All the Georgie!