You're (We're) getting F_____ On the Telly...

I attended the Reading-Arsenal game last night. Reading is a town ~30 minutes west of London with a smaller club that has bounced bw 2nd, 3rd, and occasionally 1st division. It felt a bit like a minor league baseball stadium.

English fans are meticulously separated bc of the old hooligan problem. Away fans in one corner surrounded by police, home fans everywhere else. My tickets said "Reading Supporters Only" and had I worn red or shown any enthusiasm for Arsenal I'd have been escorted out of the stadium.

Naturally we ended up seated on the very border bw home and away fans. Songs flew (both ways) over us and we received some gentle barracking from the Arsenal supporters. An unusual situation.

In this post-game picture from the Arsenal section you can see our group of 4 underneath the white screen and above the last neon-jacketed policeman. Right on the border indeed!

Reading are in last place and were desperately poor. Arsenal have been mediocre this season but scored 3 goals in the 14th, 30th, and 32nd minutes. Some funny songs flew back and forth.

(Arsenal) "Is there a fire drill" (to an opera tune!) at the Reading supporters that were leaving

(Reading) "We Support Our Local Team" (many Arsenal fans like me, are not from North London so are perceived as "bandwagoners")

(Arsenal) "We'll never play here again" (you're getting relegated to 2nd division)

In the 60th minute Arsenal scored a 4th and the Arsenal fans started up.

(Arsenal) "You're Getting F_____ On the Telly" (the game was prominently featured on TV and the whole country is seeing how bad you are)

but the Reading fans had had enough  of their own team and agreed

(Reading) "We're Getting F_____ On the Telly" (yup- we are and its bad)

(Applause from the Arsenal Fans respecting the Reading fans self-awareness)

(Reading) "I Know I am I'm Sure I Am I'm Reading til I Die" (but we still support our team)

(Applause from the Arsenal Fans respecting loyalty to a poor team)

Arsenal then handed Reading a goal on a silver platter.

(Reading) "We scored a goal, how useless are you!" (You must be terrible to let us score a goal)

(Arsenal) "We're winning away, how useless are you!" (If we are winning away from home you must be really bad)

(Arsenal) "Chamahk Scored Twice On You" (Our worst player scored twice against you so you are really bad)

(Reading) Reading Reading Sign Him Up! (He's bad but better than any of our lot!)

(Arsenal fans join in) Reading Reading Sign Him Up (We'd Love to get rid of him)

And both fans sang together. And for once- football created unity.