2/5

It is pain. The pain is red. You come up against the edge of victory, you shiver, tremble and shake, and stumble. Why does it not end? This pain of lost opportunity, the pain of hope , the pain of the inevitable.

Take them into the arms of comfort and bring them to peace. Give them strength to fight it and let them soak it in. It is too tight, too close and too strong, the bond between us. It is permeable and the pain flows. I will remember yesterday for how each of you fought. I will remember that you conducted yourself with grace and respected the badge. You are a part of its enormous soul and the pain will not go easily. It will ebb and flow and seep into your bones. It will tire you yet hold you,its arms around your arms, its body moving in tandem with yours. It will place its hands over your eyes as the stars in your eyes die out. It will rock you to sleep and you will wake up with its head on your chest.

You deserve the win. You deserve our pride. You are worthy of honour and history, and you will become it. One day, when the slights of fortune are disregarded by your valour, when the sun is blinded by your passion and the rain and snow that you have worked in are bowed in submission to your sheer will and collective strength you or triumph will be etched into the grass and the grey skies of the city you today are a part of.

You have lit fires within millions of souls. You have made us dream, made us feel pure exultation, made us hope for a God and made us believe in destiny. You have fought till the field was immersed in your worship, your offering of sweat and tears, your stigma of pain and heartbreak is now washed away in this shrine of sport by your respect and hard-work.

This is who you are warriors, you are surrounded by enemies and you will stand strong, you will dig your feet into the ground and your spirit will be your wall against your disappointment.

1/6

This day is a monument to your spirit, your strength and our love for you. Each of you is now a part of the club history that has etched its name on the cup forever. Remember this day, for such a day will never come in your lives, such an overwhelming outpouring of support and admiration will never come in another city, another club.

When the nights get darker and colder, when the quiet stills your soul and the gales batter your love for this city, remember the night and day that you have lived today, remember the red and the heat, remember the screams and the tears, and remember this blurred memory. This day and memory is both shared and personal, it is like the love the fans hold for you.

When your legs tire easily, when injuries pull you down, and the jeers threaten your will, remember your truth that was revealed to you on this day, remember your pounding heart and your soul on fire and for one last time get up for this team that once was. Remember you are always forgiven and cherished in a corner of history that is alive and flows in the legacies that are passed on.