I was football mad when I was a boy. I used to go down to my local park every night looking for a kickabout. In those days, if you wanted to join a game that was already in progress, you would stand on the touchline (if there was a touchline) and shout ‘Whose game is it?' at one of the players.You would then be taken to the boy in charge, usually the owner of the ball. He would enjoy his little moment of power by looking you up and down, frowning, and then saying ‘Nah, the sides are even,' or, more often, ‘Well … all right then, Upvote kicking that way.'
