Finally!

Manchester United is the only truly winning team I have ever cheered for. I can thank Robert Poole. 

Robert was a friend who moved to England in Grade Four and came back to Canada two years later with an accent and as a rabid Man U supporter. At first we teased him about his new affection, but when he showed me his incredible scrapbook of United memorabilia: pictures, articles, cards etc, and I got the story of the Busby Babes, the Best years, the fall to Division Two and the quick return to the top flight, I was hooked. 

Ever since I have followed United's fortunes as closely as I could from this side of the pond. The closest I ever got to seeing them play was seeing United old boys Jimmy Nichol and Jimmy Greenhoff playing for the Toronto Blizzard. A trip to Old Trafford is on my life list.

 

Since Alex Ferguson arrived to manage the side 21 years ago, the trophies have rolled in. Leagues, Cups, Doubles, The Treble of 99. And today, another Double; the Premiership and Champions League. I thought United was full measure for the win, the game really should have been done at half time, but Petr Cech made sure it wasn't. It is ironic that John Terry ended up being the goat during penalties, since he saved Chelsea's bacon in extra time when he cleared Ryan Giggs' poke off the line. 

The most significant thing for me in today's victory is that this is the first time I have been on the winning side of a penalty shootout. My memories of these things are foul: Italy 1990, Euros 1996, France 1998: Stuart Pierce, Gareth Southgate. "God must be a German," was the appalled reaction of a colleague after we watched Germany knock out England in 1996 at Wembley. (I'd missed England do the same to Spain a few days earlier.)

I'll admit I couldn't watch John Terry today. By the time I turned the TV back on, it was over and my side had won. The shootout just kills me, but when I saw the guys in red jumping up and down, I joined them, and I was relieved. 

Thanks old Bobby, it's good to cheer for a winner.