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Thought for the Week

Clifton College's Chaplain, Kim Taplin, brings us his 'Thought for the Week'

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Triumph and Disaster

The triumphs and disasters of another football tournament are upon us. Supporters of England are riding the usual emotional roller coaster. In an era when many sports fans miss no opportunity proudly to blow their own vuvuzelas, here is a true story of another way.

The World Cup Final of 1966 is one of my abiding memories...but not for the obvious reason. I was 8 years old and on a camping holiday in Italy with my family. Desperate to see the match, my mum, dad, two brothers and I joined two or three other British campers, and we found our way into the back room of an Italian café. The room was packed with over 100 people. The atmosphere was tense.

When Helmut Halle scored the first goal for West Germany, the whole room erupted with the joyful celebration of approximately 98 Germans! Not long afterwards, Geoff Hurst equalised for England, and the whole room turned as one to spy the weedy cheers of half-a-dozen or so English people perched sheepishly at the back. The rest, as they say, is history.

As the final whistle blew, we were worried. It became apparent that we were not being allowed to leave the room by the German supporters. We were herded to the front of the room next to the TV, and then...the Germans made two lines and a tunnel and they clapped and cheered us all of the way out of the café. I have never come across such sportsmanship. It is something you never forget.

If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same. (R. Kipling)

21 June 2010

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