HEART & SOUL OF FOOTBALL!

Harrow pull out the stops

- TIM DALTON

TIM DALTON discovers the true power of football after Harrow Borough FC gave his disabled friend Michael a 50th birthday he will never forget

THE soul of football is not dead, it is hiding, and as with anything hidden, you can find it if you look in the right places.

Let me tell you about my long-time friend Michael. He has just turned 50 and lives in a care home in Harrow, northwest London. Michael loves heavy metal, wrestling and football and is one of the funniest, most irreverent people you will meet.

Michael is also disabled, he has very limited use of his legs, is registered blind and has learning difficulties.

One of Michael's releases is football, he listens to it on the radio and talks about it constantly. He grew up in Palmers Green and thus supports Tottenham but aside from having a weird obsession with Derby County he also supports and watches his local team, Harrow Borough, in the Isthmian League South Central.

Michael's 50th birthday was coming up so we all put our heads together to decide how we should celebrate it. One idea topped the bill - a day out at a Harrow Borough match, so I gave the club a ring.

It was about 5.15pm on a quiet Thursday and I was not expecting anyone to answer, but the call was answered directly by the chairman himself, Peter Rogers.