The Coach's Words

There’s nothing like a sat’dy when the dews still on the ground, and I can take me young bloke where they kick a ball around. To see the highs and lows of me kid who does his best, and barrack till I’m hoarse by encouraging the rest. When we’re winning I’m a grinner and a happy chap at least, but when fortune doesn't smile there’s the hinting of a beast, and on this day we’re losing but me young bloke’s playing well, so I made a move to tell him when they rang the half time bell. I wondered why the coach had beckoned him, over to his side, where he’s giving him a lecture and me young bloke nearly cried. He’s played a ripper game, considering the situation. I stood behind the coach and heard the tail end of his conversation. He mentioned that with footy it’s the spirit of the contest. It’s important not to swear at others when they do their best. When an umpire makes decisions that you might see as wrong you must not throw a tantrum or keep slandering on and on. “Do you understand what I’ve just said”, the coach said to me son. “This club has got a reputation and this is not the way it’s done”. I was just about to step in when the coach said “Now me lad, I want you to take what I just said and explain it to your dad”.