"G'WAAN Mah Son!!"

We couldn't be watching the footie in the sunshine now could we?

Once the deluge got us all nice and fucking soaked we settled in to watch the U-8s chase the ball around the pitch. It has to be said that American soccer parents can be more entertaining than the actual game. Especially Southerners.

"GAWD Dang!! That goddanged rowferee is blinder'n mah ol' coon hound!"

Still and all as much as I make fun of them sometimes they are they ones on the sidelines in all weather cheering their kids and their teams on. You can get more of a crowd here watching 6 year olds than you would at a League of Ireland fixture. It's fucking awesome actually.

Finn has been getting his game with a local team and while he hasn't come to the attention of the AC Milan scouts yet he has been improving steadily these last few weeks. He's a scrappy little bollix and not in the least bit afraid to get stuck it. He's not the biggest or the fastest but he is always there plugging away. He's also got a bit of passion for the game and he fights for everything.

I hardly need reminding that he's my son but one incident today brought a knowing smile to my face. Finn goes for a 50/50 ball towards the end of a tight 1-1 match and it's unclear who it came off when it rolls into touch. The ball rolls under the opposing teams bench but that doesn't doesn't stop Finn. He blems his way right into the middle of their subs and coaches to grab the ball for the throw-in. About 6 of the other team decide that it's their throw-in and decide to relieve him of the ball. He's having none of it and eventually the ref (like refs everywhere in the world-myopic and smelly) gives it to them and I can see the snarl on Finn's face.

I know exactly how he felt. That was exactly how I played when I was a kid. I gave up nothing and scrabbled for every throw-in, corner, drop ball and free kick. I would argue everything (lots to argue when you had 20 a side games on the street with no refs and goalposts that were a few rocks or a thrun down coat) and more than one match ended in a fistfight.

" Yer fuckin' claimed pal"

And so on. None of that today though. Just a warm fuzzy to see that in this one aspect the apple hasn't fallen far from the tree.