You know what it's like...The first fixture of the season is the One Day when all teams are equal, and any team at all can have Hopes of that one wonderful season.And all the fans are in a Good Mood!It's usually a sunny day, everyone's in shirt sleeves and even the hot-dog van looks like it's been cleaned for a change... So I thought I'd make this page a tribute to the day when Hope is so strong.On the right hand side of this page, click on the link to see my (very arty) photo gallery of pix I took down at Stoke City's Britannia Stadium on the first day of the season back in August. PoemBut also, I got our Matt Newsum - who's a bit of a poet - to write something about the First Day too. Have a read; and I hope you like it as much as I do.... ********A blank slate, a new beginning.Riding upon a wave of optimism,The sun shines bright in the skyand the first pint tastes the sweetest. It's back. No more weekend shopathons,Football's here to take you awayFrom packed out shopping malls,And into pubs, terraces and pie stalls. Nerves jangle, familiar chants you start to roar,Acquaintances renewed, shaking of hands and warm smiles,Especially if you've travelled miles!For this is a game you cannot miss... Outside the ground bodies amass,the sound of cheers and too many beers,Hoolies prowl like rabid dogs,Dressed in £400+ togs. The smell of burgers and onions,Churns your knotted tum.Your scarf is bagged - it's just too warmAs you soak up that afternoon sun. A buzz goes up around the ground,The turf so lush and green.Chants and songs make up the sound,Here once again to support your team. Players come out, up goes the roar,You're confident that you'll score four.Defence is good, new striker's ace - "We'll put these jokers in their place" At 3pm it's all equal,Fingers crossed, nails 'a bitten.We all start level,The page unwritten. The game begins, omens looking good...You soon start to relax,Then with one poor pass, possession gone,They've got us on the rack. The pressure's on, concede a corner,The defence is all pinned back,Ball flies in, heads go up,the ball flashed into the net. Heads go down, the fans do groan"I can't believe we're losing at home"In 90 minutes a season's hopes gone - in disarrayNothing quite like the opening day...Matt N | 
