British football fans

The metro ride home from school was unusually packed that evening, due solely to the near-majority presence of throngs of red and white-clad Liverpool F.C. fans in town for the big game against Barca.

One balding, thick man had what I assume was the team's shield tattooed prominently on a robust, hairy forearm--the same one that was casually holding a 24-can tray of beers. He offered one to the Spanish business man sitting nearby (the Spaniard did not partake).

Beside him was a woman about four times my age, nodding along to the team songs that the group was singing through at least five stops. I say "songs" and not "cheers" because these were no mere cheers. No, "go team go," for these fellows. Oh no. These were full-out songs, with verses and choruses and I can tell you that in that half-hour long ride I did not hear them sing the same ballad twice.

I have no idea who won, but even if that train load comprised all the fans Liverpool brought with them, they surely had no lack of spirited support.