It's a boys' thing

Although our guests from Australia, Graham and his little boy Cleve, left our house on Tuesday to continue their travels on the other side of the Pennines, they don't actually depart for home for another few days.

And yesterday our mutual friend Smiley Simon (below) and I hooked up with them at Turf Moor, the home ground of Graham's beloved Burnley Football Club.

Graham has been a manic Burnley fan since his very early years but, until last Saturday, had never seen them play in the top flight of English football (they only got promoted to the Premier League this season). Sadly, Spurs stuffed his boys 5-0 at White Hart Lane. So, would yesterday's visit of Birmingham City allow him to witness Burnley winning a Premier League game before he travelled back Down Under?

He took Cleve to the club shop before kick-off - he is very determined to ensure that his boy is a chip off the old block when it comes to who he supports, and quite right too.

Cleve then had the rare honour of meeting Bertie Bee, Burnley's famous mascot (yes, famous in Burnley).

Graham himself had the chance to taste a half-time drink for which there is apparently little demand back in Australia (can't think why).

It was 0-0 at that stage but, in the second half, Burnley began to lay siege to the Birmingham goal.

And eventually they scored - twice, in fact. Making two little boys very happy indeed.

Birmingham secured a consolation goal with virtually the last kick of the game, leaving the final score 2-1 to the home side.

Graham was very excited and not a little emotional at this - and I was more than a little relieved on his behalf.

I'm fortunate enough to be meeting Graham very shortly for a couple of farewell pints in Leeds before he heads south tomorrow, and I'm sure it will be fun.

But yesterday was a day I will always remember and will always feel privileged to have shared with him and his boy. Hopefully it will not be too long before they're back.