Oyster28catcher
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- 3 Jul 2010
- Messages
- 7,610
- Location
- https://acton28.blog/
- Team supported
- CITY/Aberystwyth Town
One chilly afternoon after a bike ride, I sat down to read a book, with my bicycle stood beside me. After maybe twenty minutes or so later, I became aware of a man sat next to me. The man introduced himself as Zhang Wěi Tāo (family name always precedes common names). Tāo means wave and Wěi means big or great. Disappointingly, though he wasn’t born by the sea. He said is friends called him Tāo. Tāo talked about himself a little and then asked me why I wear such a light colour of blue. He said he rarely sees this colour. I explained the colour was sky blue, like the sky above our heads, and was very common in Manchester, with the reasoning. Tāo asked, “Why do you support Manchester City?” I could have said, “I just do” and left it at that. But, being a passionate City fanatic, I gave him a run down. I explained about Our City, why I’m a blue, defining moments, City legends, highs, lows and more lows… he still seemed keen to listen.
I expanded about favourite players, derby day, other rivalries, away day trips… Tāo explained he knew of Sūn Jìhǎi playing in England; Li Tie (once of Everton, now assistant manager of Guǎngzhōu Héngdà Táobǎo); another Evertonian player Zhèng Zhì (who still plays at Guǎngzhōu Héngdà Táobǎo); and Dǒng Fāngzhuō (who I’d never heard of until searching online - he played for Manchester U****d, once). He said Chinese players rarely travel, they’d miss their families too much! Impressed by Tāo’s English ability, he asked for more…
Next I told of managers, the Premier League years, being Champions, the Football league, the Champions League… “Please tell me more.” He listened with an intensity and interest level I have never experienced. I ran great goals past him, cup runs, the FA Cup, friendlies, folklore, famous fans, families at football, great friends at games, talked about terracing, seating, Maine Road and the Etihad. Tāo told me how he sometimes plays football with his students but they have no goals. They have to use jumpers. I smiled. That is proper football!
Tāo asked, “Do you miss going to games?” “Yes, very much.” He could see I was somewhere else now, my mind wandering away, so he asked, “Do City value the community?” I smiled, and explained City In The Community, school programmes, groups and supporter clubs in and beyond Manchester, City Giving, City and their representation at home and abroad, in World Cups and the like. He then talked of his football memorabilia and his own experiences of football – and barely knowing who 曼城 Màn chéng (Manchester City) was and where we’re from. His football memorabilia, was tucked in his wallet, transpired to be one simple ticket from a game between Brazil and Argentina, held in China. He had saved up for many months to go to this game. He talked with utmost fervency about the game. I stole in, explained that three of the players who played that game, Demichelis, Agüero, and Zabaleta play for City. I glossed over Robinho’s short stay at City. “I keep the ticket. One day I will go to Brazil and watch the same game.”
I looked at my watch (a City one of course) and noted we’d been chatting for one hour. I decided I had to get back, wished him well at his cousin’s wedding and happy new year (the purpose of his gargantuan trip). Tāo said he was an English teacher in Nánjīng and he’d offer me a job if ever I visited. I said, maybe one day, just maybe, but not today. Today, I am happy. As I had a t-shirt (it is quite cold cycling at times in the recent 10°C to 21°C temperatures) underneath my football t-shirt, I gave him my football t-shirt (although large) as a gift. I told him to use it as a goalpost next time he plays football back home.
Tāo said he thinks no matter what, City will win the league, “for your fans are so passionate and speak so clear with love for your club. I won’t support your team but I will wish them luck. Tell all your friends and people at the football, in China you have our best wishes.”
I expanded about favourite players, derby day, other rivalries, away day trips… Tāo explained he knew of Sūn Jìhǎi playing in England; Li Tie (once of Everton, now assistant manager of Guǎngzhōu Héngdà Táobǎo); another Evertonian player Zhèng Zhì (who still plays at Guǎngzhōu Héngdà Táobǎo); and Dǒng Fāngzhuō (who I’d never heard of until searching online - he played for Manchester U****d, once). He said Chinese players rarely travel, they’d miss their families too much! Impressed by Tāo’s English ability, he asked for more…
Next I told of managers, the Premier League years, being Champions, the Football league, the Champions League… “Please tell me more.” He listened with an intensity and interest level I have never experienced. I ran great goals past him, cup runs, the FA Cup, friendlies, folklore, famous fans, families at football, great friends at games, talked about terracing, seating, Maine Road and the Etihad. Tāo told me how he sometimes plays football with his students but they have no goals. They have to use jumpers. I smiled. That is proper football!
Tāo asked, “Do you miss going to games?” “Yes, very much.” He could see I was somewhere else now, my mind wandering away, so he asked, “Do City value the community?” I smiled, and explained City In The Community, school programmes, groups and supporter clubs in and beyond Manchester, City Giving, City and their representation at home and abroad, in World Cups and the like. He then talked of his football memorabilia and his own experiences of football – and barely knowing who 曼城 Màn chéng (Manchester City) was and where we’re from. His football memorabilia, was tucked in his wallet, transpired to be one simple ticket from a game between Brazil and Argentina, held in China. He had saved up for many months to go to this game. He talked with utmost fervency about the game. I stole in, explained that three of the players who played that game, Demichelis, Agüero, and Zabaleta play for City. I glossed over Robinho’s short stay at City. “I keep the ticket. One day I will go to Brazil and watch the same game.”
I looked at my watch (a City one of course) and noted we’d been chatting for one hour. I decided I had to get back, wished him well at his cousin’s wedding and happy new year (the purpose of his gargantuan trip). Tāo said he was an English teacher in Nánjīng and he’d offer me a job if ever I visited. I said, maybe one day, just maybe, but not today. Today, I am happy. As I had a t-shirt (it is quite cold cycling at times in the recent 10°C to 21°C temperatures) underneath my football t-shirt, I gave him my football t-shirt (although large) as a gift. I told him to use it as a goalpost next time he plays football back home.
Tāo said he thinks no matter what, City will win the league, “for your fans are so passionate and speak so clear with love for your club. I won’t support your team but I will wish them luck. Tell all your friends and people at the football, in China you have our best wishes.”