good evening, its a rainy Sunday and I’m just putting down some thoughts.

When i grew up football was always around me, it maybe be from my mates who were lads or my family and a variety of teams from Birmingham city to Manchester united all different leagues and expectations from fans.

I use to in my early years it was great because i got to spend time with my grandad or dad watching football. It was great spending time together we experienced stuff together that no one else knew which was special.

The first football ground i went to i remember feeling so excited but a little nervous as i was no longer just 2 of us enjoying the game there was thousands of us! I loved it though!

When i got poorly with my Rheumatoid and went into my wheelchair full time i really thought it was over but i was wrong, i joined MUDSA (Manchester United Disabled Supporters Association) which is for supporters with a range of disabilities.

These days football fans from all over the globe connect via social media and I’m so lucky to have made some amazing friends and they have become part of my family not just football friends, Lee and Andy are the people i refer to and meet both on social media!

Last season was a particular bad time for me with football in particular i felt so alone in the stadium no longer part of my extended family, just an unknown on a platform around the country and Europe and if I’m honest i really did nearly just give up, i won’t go into details, its not the time or the place.

However one thing i remembered during this difficult time was my grandad when i was a small child saying “football is a family the you choose and when things are bad on and off the pitch you’ll see your new family come around you.”

Now at 32 i didn’t think he was right but suddenly my football family really stepped up, from Lee for our late night chats and reassurance to Andy B who practically carried me into stadiums, to Andy M who was there to talk to and hold my hand when i was crying. Importantly thought my MUDSA family stepped up and helped me none stop Chas and Ann Marie were there for me day and night no matter how stupid the question or how daft i felt.

My point is football isn’t just 90 minutes its a family 365 days a year not just August to May

Vicky xx