Tonight, I had a traumatic yet entirely predictable experience. Languishing in mid-table, my beloved Crystal Palace took a two goal first half lead against Owen Coyle's well-drilled Cup giantkillers Burnley. Thirty-five minutes in and the Eagles are looking at soaring to the heady heights of 13th in the Championship.
Three goals in the last 9 minutes turned the table on the scoresheet and the mightly Eagles eventually went down 4-2. Palace are admittedley the least decorated on all of Burnley's capital scalps this year, but in the abscence of any sort of cup run, the loss of three points was still felt very keenly by this author. A lifetime supporting the pride of South London has taught me what most football fans know: this game is a cruel mistress. If you support Crystal Palace, she is a positive dominatrix.
Whilst in the depths of desolation, there is however a slither of comfort to be salvaged. Whilst I will never know the joy of my captain lifting the European Cup, I will have a continual sense of belonging that can only ever be obtained through supporting your local team. I could jack in my 23 years of Eagles fandom and jump on the commercial bandwagon of Liverpool, Chelsea or god forbid, Manchester United. But watching Gerrard or Lampard lift the Premiership over the head in celebration would be empty. Indeed, the very reason for my huge admiration of the Liverpool captain is his unwavering support of his hometown club in spite of the commercial cash cow that lies outside of Merseyside, not to say he isn't sufficiently renumerated at Anfield.
For me, there will always be something more fufilling in supporting perpetual local mediocrity than chasing premium habitual success. I was born in South London, a mile from Selhurst Park and my strong identification with the local area prohibits me from cashing in the chips at the Premiership casino. This loyalty, however blind, gratifys me more that any transcient success and at the same time condemns me to a lifetime of evenings of dissapointment like this!
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