ComEnts

My Uncle William passed away yesterday. He'd been very ill. I didn't really know him very well, I'd only met him a handful of times but I think I'll always remember him for this one incident.

I was about 10 or so I suppose, still at primary school. American Football had just started on Channel 4 and it seemed like it was the new cool thing. Everyone was watching it. My friend Paul had been to Minnesota so he even had a team to support, the Vikings! Anyway, my Uncle came down to visit one time with his two sons. I can't remember why. At one point during the visit and found me playing with a rugby ball in the back garden. He was a huge Rugby League fan who controversially supported Wigan despite being from Castleford. So he started playing with me, showed me a few rugby passes and things. Which was cool. Then my little brother, who was probably only 5 or so, came out and said something about American Football. I was really embarassed, but without missing a beat William just grinned said "I think this is how they do it now" and started showing me how to do proper American football passes, holding the laces and spinning the ball etc. (not that our old rugby ball had laces.) Neither of my parents are really sporty and I thought it was great.

Thanks William.

RIP.