Better than sex

[AreliusIII]

There is better feeling for a footballer than scoring in a derby, and local lad Trevor Sinclair knows that better than most.
The midfielder's reaction to his 73rd minute goal in the 4-1 win two years ago was captured by the picture of him ripping his shirt off (above), and it perfectly encapsulates what a derby win means to players and fans alike.

Trevor was happy to describe what scoring in a derby really feels like, although with tongue lodged firmly in cheek...

"Scoring in a derby is better than sex! When I got a goal in the 4-1 at our place I just remember taking my shirt off and swinging it around my head. I’d love to repeat that again. It doesn’t get much better than scoring against United and beating them.

"It is hard to keep a lid on the excitement but you want to make your mark early and start the game well. The first tackle is one you want to win and if you are not involved in it then you want to be in there backing up your mate. It helps, too, to get the crowd behind you."

Despite many years in the game at all levels, including the sterling job he did for England in the 2002 World Cup, for Trevor the derby is one of the reasons why he became a footballer.

"When you come out for the kick-off it is amazing. It is what I came into football hoping to do – play in matches like this one.

"It doesn’t come much better than two arch rivals and neighbours battling it out in the top flight of English football and I know exactly what it means to the fans because when I was a lad growing up in north Manchester supporting City I felt exactly the same emotions."

Another angle on tomorrow's game is the possibility that Trevor will face up to a debutant, with United's new left-back Patrice Evra likely to take part. The City player thinks that the defender will find out what derbies mean from the word 'go'.

"It will be a challenge if I am up against Evra tomorrow,” he admitted. “He will not know about me and I don’t know much about him. He will learn quickly about what a derby means in this city because the atmosphere will be phenomenal."

Tim Oscroft


http://www.mcfc.co.uk/default.sps?pageid=115&pagegid={DBD12D53-8346-431D-A04F-5D0F8664DE80}&newsid=294933&siteid=&pageno=&newscategory=1051&frommonth=11&fromyear=2005&tomonth=1&toyear=2006

[AreliusIII]

Looks like Sinclair got himself some...
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/soccer/wires/01/14/2050.ap.soc.euro.rdp.4th.ld.writethru.0703/index.html