The first petition

announced itself

with the cheery signature tune

of the over eager and the punished

by expectation gone wild.

Several more landed on my desk

before the night was out

and all bearing the same

words of elation,

the same impassioned glee

from a nation of fans who had witnessed

their heroes too often bite the dust.

I read the cheeky E-Mail

and then signed my name,

after all, how often do we get to enjoy

schadenfreude at the expense

of our fondest foe.

“Dear statistician”, it began,

“Can you please now refer

2018 as England’s greatest World Cup campaign,

more so than ’66 and all that, for we

the undersigned now recognise

our success and happiness

depends on

Germany going out of the competition

before we do.” 

Yours sincerely,

Every England Fan

who laughed themselves silly.

June 2018.

 

Ian D. Hall 2018