Got taken to the Cardiff v. Sunderland footy match over the weekend (along with Mrs. Likeyoulike) and was struck by the sheer level of vitriol that opposing fans were directing at one another. It was like being stuck in the middle of a riot and I half expected to see bricks flying through the air with people looting television sets & carting them off in shopping trolleys.

At one point we were surrounded by what appeared to be a family outing comprising middle aged dads and various teenage sons. Mrs. Likeyoulike had been chatting to them in her plummy Oxford tones explaining that she wasn’t really supporting anybody in particular but since she was now a local she was most definitely in the visitors end as a favour. The middle aged dad nodded and smiled & then went back to screaming “Fuck you, fuck you, you fucking welsh wankers.” after which he turned to my wife and said “Not you though pet, you’re alright.” and then followed it up with another expletive laden tirade against 30,000 opposing fans.

Sunderland won 1-0 and Mrs. Likeyoulike said she loved it so much she’s going again in a couple of weeks.