Luca's footballing debut was this reason.
With his 5th birthday still fresh in the memory (so fresh indeed his belated party is still over a week away) he and I attended his new football training class today. The new class covers the 5-7 age group, which naturally makes him one of the youngest attendees. "I can't wait to see the big boys" he has oft repeated to me this week. He was almost giddy during the drive there.
The exercises were obviously more advanced than his previous class. Despite my failure to remember to take a water bottle with us ("I'm so thirsty" he persistently whined) he hugely enjoyed the new activities, particularly the one in which he had the dribble the ball past Dad, stop, spin, nutmeg me (knock the ball through my legs for those of you strange non-football aficionado's) and regain it at the other side again.
But you're not reading this to learn about kids footballing drills. You want to hear about the glory!
The small scale (5-a-side) games began in the sessions latter half. Luca was noticeably nervous as he lined up alongside his teammates. Furtive glances were continually shot in my direction seeking reassurance. My smiles and encouragement clearly weren't needed however.
The game kicked off, and an obviously uncertain Luca began slowly, deferring to his teammates, clearly desperate not to make a mistake. However, as the game began to flow his confidence grew. His shoulders visibly relaxed and he began moving at a surprising pace.
BANG! The first goal of the game was scored, and a jubilant Luca spun away and raced toward me. "I scored, I scored!" he squealed with a look of sheer delight across his face. So excited was he that ran clear of the pitch and bounded into his Dad's arms. He repeated this at every goal, and as embarrassing as his exuberance was it was equally warming and, most obviously, enormously cute.
The pick of the goals was his third, his hat trick. One of the opponents knocked it too far in front in him, and the ball spun away toward the corner, nearest the goal Luca was defending. Seizing on the opportunity Luca outpaced his opposite number to the ball, only just keeping it within the confines of the pitch. He then spun and ran with the ball up the entire length of the pitch, during which he knocked it past a couple of (naturally) flimsy opponents from the "Yellows" (Luca was the "Blues"). He then bore down on goal, switched the ball to his good (left) foot and prodded the ball high past the goalkeeper.
I swear I literally yelped as the ball hit the net, drawing a number of amused/bemused/embarrassed stares from a number of the other patents. Note to self, do not do this again. There are plenty of ways in which I'll inadvertently embarrass my son over the next decade or so without adding to his future humiliations in such an obvious manner.
More than any other entry in this long running blog, today's prose is intended primarily for future consumption by Luca. Whether or not he develops into a player of reasonable ability in later years (I fear the footballing genes I've provided to him will negate that possibility) I'd like him to at least know how dynamic he once was.
And also to know how much his parents love him absolutely.
For any other family members still reading (you're still here?) I can't even offer the recompense of recent images, due to this being my first (I'll fated?) entry from an I-Pad. Technology and Gary, two opposites that shall never collide.
**Useless fact of the day -
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