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Original poster

Help! Ds has changed his mind and tis too late...

30 replies

Flightattendant · 18/12/2009 19:24

He has been going to football club at school once a week since about oct. and really keen on it. He decided he supported a certain team which is actually pretty rubbish, because I told him his father supports them - this is the father whom he hasn't seen for goodness knows how many years.

Anyway cue lots of chanting of said team and ds wanting a proper shirt etc to wear for footie club.

My sister wanted to get him something and I felt sorry for him in his little plain t shirt while many of the others had proper kit stuff, so said did she want to get him a shirt.
She said that would be fine although it was really expensive - I didn't realise but anyway, the other day this beautiful authentic replica (is that an anachronism?) Crystal Palace club shirt arrived and I wrapped it and thanked her, thinking he would be really chuffed. He doesn't know - big surprise for Christmas.

I was just cooking tonight and he came and sat in the kitchen and said 'I've decided to support Liverpool Mum'

All his friends have told him the Eagles are not as good as Liverpool, and they 'all' support the reds and I am stuffed.

What am I going to DO?

OP posts:
Original poster
Flightattendant · 18/12/2009 19:25

...short of permanent marker over the insignia, that is...

OP posts:
RockBird · 18/12/2009 19:26

Oh...dear... How old is he? Are we talking Father Christmas or is he old enough to explain the situation to at the time you feel is most suitable?

Original poster
Flightattendant · 18/12/2009 19:27

6

yy Father Christmas is still the Man.

OP posts:
RockBird · 18/12/2009 19:27

I meant in the sense of 'aunty madge bought you this shirt because you said you supported them. Do you want to try to change it or keep it' (dunno if that's even possible).

Original poster
Flightattendant · 18/12/2009 19:28

I can't send him in a palace shirt now can I, can't return it, can't swap it as the club doesn't sell reds kit!

Oh bugger. Sorry really is a bad situation isn't it!

OP posts:
Original poster
Flightattendant · 18/12/2009 19:28

X posts, sorry, thankyou, yes I could explain but I don't think we can change it.

Sorry was just thinking aloud before. I didn't mean to dismiss your helpful post!

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notnowbernard · 18/12/2009 19:29

"Father Christmas is SO special and clever that he must have heard you AGES ago!"

"And he evidently follows the Golden Rule of football allegiance - you don't swap teams, oh no siree..."

It's great to support a shite club, EVERY kid has a Top 4 Premiership club top

RockBird · 18/12/2009 19:30

Have just looked at the Arsenal site as I do a lot of shopping there...they will take returns up to 28 days, same as anyone else so it might be the same for Palace. It's just whether you can explain why he hasn't yet got a present from aunty Madge.

MissAnneElk · 18/12/2009 19:32

Tell him Father Christmas thinks he supports Crystal palace and he might bring him something to do with them for Christmas. He can after all support two teams anyway and it would be hurtful to FC to say he didn't like Crystal Palace at all now. He'll probably be a Manchester United supporter by the big day anyway.

Original poster
Flightattendant · 18/12/2009 19:32

Is it? Can I really convince him of this though?

I have been trying to show him the club website and he wanted to look at all the players for both. Of course the reds ones look super, all boyish tanned fit young geezers (and breathe) and so I go to palace site and say 'look ds! here's billy the goalie (cue rough as shite bloke with mmullet) Oh and let's try another one, here's mr skiggins the striker (cue 45yo bald man with a suspect smile)

It's no good. He said 'I don't want to be unique mum'

OP posts:
Original poster
Flightattendant · 18/12/2009 19:33

sorry thatw as to Bernard

OP posts:
RockBird · 18/12/2009 19:34

Have just had a look at their website. They allow seven days from receipt of item. Are you within that?

Original poster
Flightattendant · 18/12/2009 19:34

Oh gawd, yes it could change on a sixpence couldn't it and he ahs to have something to wear.

Thankyou for the returns info, maybe that is an option...will ask!

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Original poster
Flightattendant · 18/12/2009 19:35

Oh thankyou you are lovely. Yes, it arrived a couple of days ago I think.

We had best be quick. I am going to ask ds and show him the present and he might be so pleased that he decides to keep it.

If not, back it goes...thankyou. I needed your input, panicked there for a second!

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LilySwalLoosHerTurkeyBaster · 18/12/2009 19:36

I would take it with a pinch of salt , many of ds friends have half a dozen different team shirts.
I think if he wanted a 'proper' shirt then he will be happy with any tbh.
Or do as we do with ds , "Daddy supports Man City as did grandad therefore you have to" , "but mum i want to support Man U cause they are the best and everyone supports them..."
nah it's much better to support the underdog
And with every game they loose i am reminded of this

RockBird · 18/12/2009 19:52

Speaking as someone who has endured football since the day she was born and being a bit personal here if I may...

If your dad supports Walton and Hersham or Staines or whatever and it's a dad that you see heaps of and go to matches with etc then yes it's easy to be different. But, if it's a non existent father and your ds is carrying the team flag on his own as it were, then there might not be as much passion behind it as there would be if he was sharing it with his dad. Therefore he may well gravitate towards the more popular teams.

Am I being terribly presumptuous? Sorry if so...

Original poster
Flightattendant · 18/12/2009 19:53

Thankyou for that note of encouragement!
Well, I put it to him and he was really excited that he has got a shirt at all, and I showed him the shirt, which he held up in utter awe in the mirror and decided that yes he supports palace after all

I explained how everyone supports the top ones because they're the best, not because thye mean something or have a connection...and I said that many people support what their dad supports, too.

And that one day when he has got them into the premiership again (like, when was the last time) and everyone is saying 'er - I support palace' he will know he supported them all along and be very proud.

Thanks again

OP posts:
Original poster
Flightattendant · 18/12/2009 19:54

X posts again, sorry Rockbird! Hold on, will read.

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RockBird · 18/12/2009 19:55

Yay, good news . Now have a well deserved glass of wine cup of tea!

Original poster
Flightattendant · 18/12/2009 19:57

Yes Rockbird I can see where you are coming from and I know it's hard for him to have this dichotomy, on one hand wanting to be loyal to the tribe, and on the other a bit sad every time he wears it because basically his dad isn't around to share the love.

But just now when we were talking he asked if I support them too and I said 'yes of course!' and his eyes lit up, and he was able to be proud of that too.

I said maybe one day his dad can take him to a game. I will have to try and pin down said father in order to facilitate this but actually I reckon he'd be up for it.

OP posts:
RockBird · 18/12/2009 19:58

Sounds good to me. Do you know much about football? (tee hee!)

SleighGirl · 18/12/2009 20:01

RockBird you must live near me!

LilySwalLoosHerTurkeyBaster · 18/12/2009 20:01

Hooray now ds wouldn't support MU with a bargepole , unlike his friends who support them when they win and any other 'top' team.
I think it's good to get passionate about supporting one of the other teams , and usually cheaper too for tickets and kits etc

Glad he was pleased to get the top

LilySwalLoosHerTurkeyBaster · 18/12/2009 20:04

No scrap that about the kits , ds for xmas has just cost nearly £75 all in

RockBird · 18/12/2009 20:08

LOL, did the low rent team names give me away!

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