A repost: because you’ve got to love dogs on the pitch….
Into all order, a little chaos must fall.
Once I was listening to some golf commentary- Wentworth, a local match- on the car radio.
“…..And if you’re standing by the third green right now”, the voice informed us in relaxed tones,” you will see there is a dog in among the crowd, receiving quite a lot of fuss from local bystanders.
“A beautiful golden labrador in the prime of life, that one.”
The commentator went on: “Her name is Millie, and she lives at an address” (which he reeled off), “just a couple of minutes walk from here; and the reason I know this,” he finished with a perfectly intoned cadence, “is that she is my dog: and I believe she must have staged an escape.
“If anyone at the ninth hole is listening to this commentary I would be extremely grateful if they could pop her back home. Thank you.”
There are many reasons to pause a game: but surely the most uplifting is the dog on the pitch.
After a grey day I was sat next to my son, watching old football highlights on the television, when on ran the dog.
It magically transformed the play: the ref blew his whistle and there was a jovial air to the crowd’s banter. It appears this is not an isolated incident. Dogs get onto pitches with more regularity than one might suppose.
My favourite incident has a Polish commentary. It is a Polish Premier League game between Polonia and Wisla, and the play is all at one end, near the goal. It’s quite fierce. And then it all goes belly-up as the most exuberant hound appears from nowhere, bounding happily on to join in the action.
Where would something like that come from? Did some fan forget to ask their mate to look after the dog, and end up with a four-legged companion in the stands? Has it just wandered in off the streets? How did it get past the stewards?
Whatever its source, it clearly finds one aspect above all others enlivening: this is more space than a city dog is used to in a month of Sundays.
If you look carefully, you can read the body language. This is a multi-directional unfettered sprintfest.
Add to this the fact that 23 malodourous men are running around too; toss in a crowd which seems to be having a party in a handy nearby seating area and you may suppose this hound is in doggie Utopia.
It takes the well-built Polish players some time to remove their delighted visitor from the pitch.
Eventually the goalkeeper falls into step beside it, and runs companionably away from the game. The goalie sits it down and gives it an affectionate headrub. The dog has clearly found a friend: a makeshift lead is located and the dog led off to the cheers of the crowd.
There’s a lovely instance of a great black shaggy hound stopping play at an Indian league one-day cricket game. Time ticks on as around 35 staff attempt to rein him in, but to no avail. Cricketers charge after him and throw themselves prostrate in his direction, but he is agile and nimble as only a dog can be, and he evades capture.
Eventually he takes himself off, straight into the VIP stand. The commentator notes: “That’s one way to get in without accreditation.”
Into the order of a top professional game, a little four-legged chaos must charge: and television cameras, moneymen and highly paid players are compelled to stand and concede national, and sometimes international attention to one who has probably never known scrutiny like it.
What a breath of fresh air.
Image source here
Kate Shrewsday 
the unexpected fun; that seems like a special bonus really.
Every life needs that.
Maybe I need to do something today to be ‘the dog on the pitch’ somewhere
I look forward to the blog about that one, Sidey 😀
it may be unpublishable on a public forum 😉
Nice repost, Kate. Reminds me of an incident during dog-training some years ago when my brother’s German Shep puppy Amber (ball-obsessed and world-class tackler unlike most of our England players) slipped her lead and streaked off over a vast sports field to join in with a Sunday league footie game. She was but a speck in the distance but got the ball effortlessly, demonstrated her dribbling skills and then seized it in her teeth and brought it all the way back to dog-training class – at speed! _
And I bet she went obediently straight up to your brother, Jan 😀 Awwww….
Yes!! She was ever so pleased with herself. My bro had a long, long walk to return the ball… 😀
Great tale but for the football. Even the word is enervating to me:)
*Maintains mute silence and respectfully remembers that husband and son are dyed in the wool Man U supporters*
What a charming post, Kate! I love it.
Cheers, Tilly 🙂
People never get the idea that chasing the dog just makes the game even more engaging and more fun. Ah, canines! 🙂
I know, The four-legged living embodiment of chaos theory.
The game of life is cheerfully going to the dogs.
And it’s all the better for it, Lou 😀
I’ll get in there and say the dog should play for England! Remember Match of the Day used to dleight in showing Jack Russell’s hurtle around grounds in the West Midlands with parka bedecked youngsters trying to catch them!
I know, Jum: fond memories. It almost makes you ant to go out and get a purpose-built Jack Russell…or perhaps there is scope for a hire company.
Kate, I think you have hit upon a brilliant money making idea – A Dog Library!
Refreshing… Dogs stalling matches not a common sight but jovial definitely… 🙂
I know, Jas 😀 Roll on the next dog….we really need one in the European Cup Final…
Apparently, not to be outdone, man must also occasionally upstage the dogs! http://www.totalprosports.com/2010/03/16/streaker-hits-the-dog-show/ 🙂
Today, my mind went where Karen’s did. 🙂
What fun this is to read on the second go-round, Kate. While these “events” are fun to view, they are even better, I think, to listen to on the radio and see where our imaginations take us.
It is a bit of conundrum, isn’t it, to wonder, now where did that dog come front?
Your post brought me a big *grin* today, Kate! What a lovely story and my favorite part was the commentator’s remarks “and the reason I know this…” Something about dogs makes us more human.. and now I’m off to walk mine who has been waiting patiently while I read my morning’s blogs:) xo Smidge
Dogs, like children, I guess, creating chaos yet somehow everyone smiles! I suppose it’s the unselfonscious way a dog enters a situation just hoping to be included. Never mind the interruption! I don’t really enjoy watching many sporting events, but had I witnessed this complete disruption I would have enjoyed it very much! 🙂 D
Enjoyed this immensely, Kate. Who can resist a little furry friend with a great big smile on its face – especially when that face is totally out of place.
Kids say the darnedest things; Dog will do their darnedest to do what you least suspect.
What’s astounding about this post Kate -you were driving listening to a golf game. I would have fallen asleep behind the wheel an ended up in the rhubarb.
Oh how lovely, what fun it must be 🙂
We’ve had a brace of Foxes on the pitch late last season and our Chairman is really not happy that he didn’t sign at least one of them – always likes a fox i the Box does Aron 🙂
Dear Kate, you deserve a writing award for having coined the following: ” a multi-directional unfettered sprintfest.” Peace.
I love the thought of a dog receiving fuss. Cleverly written Kate!
Thanks, Tammy 🙂