With just a few days to go until the Challenge Cup Final it's time I had a look at my matchday playlist to see if there are any tracks I could do with adding to it.
I've been building my list of rip-roaring motivational anthems since the lead-up to the 2007 Grand Final. It's not a particularly long list.
See what you think. I'll start with the obvious stuff. At no point will Heather Small feature in this list as 'Proud' and 'Hero' are songs that get on my nerves, as Joe Pasquale might say.
Here's what I have playing as I get ready to go to the match...
U2, Beautiful Day
Take That, Greatest Day
Black Eyed Peas, I Gotta Feeling
Reverend and the Makers, Heavyweight Champion of the World
Lostprophets, Rooftops
My Chemical Romance, Welcome to the Black Parade
Natasha Bedingfield, Unwritten
The Killers, Mr Brightside (Just because it makes me euphoric)
The Corrs, Baby Be Brave http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZnQksgZKzg
I am considering adding to the list Alicia Keys, Wait Til You See My Face http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5Y0dn9i3_Q
Have any you think I should add? Tweet me @peneloperadio or post below.
Monday 23 August 2010
Thursday 5 August 2010
Matchday Sausage and Other Challenge Cup Musings
I posted on Twitter earlier that my Challenge Cup Semi Final preparations had begun with getting my roots done and was asked if this was a big game superstition in our household. Well it isn't, it's just a big game preference, but that's not to say that match related rituals are not the norm at Chez Davo.
The gradually evolving requirements that must be met before a make-or-break encounter began in 2002 with the Northern Ford Premiership Grand Final. The husband (then boyf) was Conditioner at Huddersfield Giants back then and their promotion back to Superleague that year was, in some part, down to my carrying of an old dirty gum shield in my handbag.
The story behind this bit of grotty memorabilia becoming my first lucky charm is as follows: For one season (2001) Huddersfield Giants had an Aussie prop called Troy Stone pulling on the claret and gold. He was such a fleeting presence for Fartown that I couldn't find a decent photo of him playing for them so here's him in his Canterbury Bulldogs days. He was my favourite player that season.
When the Giants got relegated he retired and went back to his homeland. According to tradition (apparently) he buried his gum shield under the posts before leaving, but when my husband told him how I'd admired him that year he went and dug it up and gave it to me. So that's superstition one. It tends to work for me unless Huddersfield are involved in the encounter then it works against me. It is a confused little charm.
The second vitally important piece of the victory jigsaw involves our dog eating a sausage on the morning of the match. I don't remember when this started but it is more important than the gum shield. My dad (a 6'4" ex-detective) has been known to get on the floor and pretend to eat the sausage himself to encourage the dog, a toy poodle called Gemima, to tuck in. She has eaten the sausage on the morning of all three of Leeds's Grand Final victories. As the boys are usually away in camp I send Jason a video message showing it happening so set his mind at rest and OMG I've managed to find the clip!
So although my hair appointment was not part of pre-match superstition I will be partaking in other forms of hocus pocus before Leeds v Saints on Saturday. I haven't bought a new outfit for the occasion as I'm holding out for the end game at Wembley (gum shield willing). I've never been to a Challenge Cup Final and am desperate for the privilege.
Tonight the Leeds boys will be in camp so I guess I'll have to either substitute our Friday night take-away for a Weight Watchers microwave dinner for one or have a pizza to myself. It's all sacrifice round here. I guess I'll have to take one for the team again.
Follow me on Twitter @peneloperadio for regular 'matchday sausage' updates.
Oh, and let's hope the Rhinos play how they can as well.
The gradually evolving requirements that must be met before a make-or-break encounter began in 2002 with the Northern Ford Premiership Grand Final. The husband (then boyf) was Conditioner at Huddersfield Giants back then and their promotion back to Superleague that year was, in some part, down to my carrying of an old dirty gum shield in my handbag.
The story behind this bit of grotty memorabilia becoming my first lucky charm is as follows: For one season (2001) Huddersfield Giants had an Aussie prop called Troy Stone pulling on the claret and gold. He was such a fleeting presence for Fartown that I couldn't find a decent photo of him playing for them so here's him in his Canterbury Bulldogs days. He was my favourite player that season.When the Giants got relegated he retired and went back to his homeland. According to tradition (apparently) he buried his gum shield under the posts before leaving, but when my husband told him how I'd admired him that year he went and dug it up and gave it to me. So that's superstition one. It tends to work for me unless Huddersfield are involved in the encounter then it works against me. It is a confused little charm.
The second vitally important piece of the victory jigsaw involves our dog eating a sausage on the morning of the match. I don't remember when this started but it is more important than the gum shield. My dad (a 6'4" ex-detective) has been known to get on the floor and pretend to eat the sausage himself to encourage the dog, a toy poodle called Gemima, to tuck in. She has eaten the sausage on the morning of all three of Leeds's Grand Final victories. As the boys are usually away in camp I send Jason a video message showing it happening so set his mind at rest and OMG I've managed to find the clip!
So although my hair appointment was not part of pre-match superstition I will be partaking in other forms of hocus pocus before Leeds v Saints on Saturday. I haven't bought a new outfit for the occasion as I'm holding out for the end game at Wembley (gum shield willing). I've never been to a Challenge Cup Final and am desperate for the privilege.
Tonight the Leeds boys will be in camp so I guess I'll have to either substitute our Friday night take-away for a Weight Watchers microwave dinner for one or have a pizza to myself. It's all sacrifice round here. I guess I'll have to take one for the team again.
Follow me on Twitter @peneloperadio for regular 'matchday sausage' updates.
Oh, and let's hope the Rhinos play how they can as well.
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