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Love vs football: a match made in hell?
Can your relationship survive the football season? Yes, if you play the right game, says Susan Quilliam
The football season. It feels like it never ends! For those who've survived the football-fest that sends every British male scurrying for the six-pack and remote control, otherwise known as the domestic football programme and thought it was all over, well it's not. So how do you make your relationship work with a football addict?
Join in
The first and possibly the most challenging strategy is to join in your man's passion, to get involved and enthusiastic.
You can't fake this. Some intensive study may be in order. Buy the book Soccer for Dummies by Michael Lewis (John Wiley & Sons, Inc.), which, because it's not aimed at a British audience, is prepared to answer your most basic questions. The section aimed at you is 'A Spectator's Guide'. Then ask your man to add in some extra tuition. And be rigorous - don't just let him witter on if you don't understand. Stop him the minute you get out of your depth, ask questions to clarify the finer points, get him talking about what he loves.
Follow the scandal
But what if you just can't appreciate the technical side of the game? There are still aspects of football that can motivate you to stick out the 90 minutes with grace. It's a star-studded cast for one thing. Play Spot the Hunk - Beckham's is not the only body that can set your hormones zooming. Or keep up to date with the scandals - the papers are always full of gossipy titbits about the players, the team and their wives.
Because, all jokes aside, football can be fascinating if you understand what the beautiful game means to your partner. He values the skill involved, identifies with the players and has a fierce loyalty to the team. Appreciate that, and you'll start to genuinely understand your man's compulsion. In return, he will appreciate your efforts to support him.
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