And for many a parent the go-to Christmas present for kids (and maybe vice-versa) was a football top.
My most memorable was, and this is pertinent in a week when we lost Diego Maradona, La Albiceleste.
Or the sky blue and white stripes.
Truth was that my attempts at long hair never came close to the chic cool of the hero of that year’s World Cup, Mario Kempes.
And physical evidence still exists in a picture album of a rather angst-ridden teen standing by the tree.
In truth I hadn’t asked for Argentina and would have preferred the Dutch shirt.
And I did rue the day I left the World Cup winners’ top behind in a changing room.
So in recognition of Diego and also to flag up a very good cause comedian Mark Watson’s Kitmas appeal for donations of old football tops here are my five faves.
Which will, of course, draw you to these countries.
Dutch of class
Argentina and the Netherlands in the World Cup final in 1978.
The Netherlands: And it was probably just as well that my parents didn’t give me the Dutch top in the Glasgow of the Seventies.
Because an orange top is identified in Scotland with King William of Orange and the Protestant team Rangers.
And that wouldn’t have gone down well in my Catholic school.
Thing was though that as an eight-year-old and uncluttered by such nonsense I was dazzled by that colour.
And the Netherlands of Cruyff and Krol.
And I did manage to blend in with the Oranje Army when I treated the-then Miss F to a night out.
Amsterdam to Rotterdam where the Dutch beat the Greeks 1-0.
Portuguese man of awe
Team of all talents: Portugal in 1986
Portugal: And while it’s mostly always the top you get sometimes you need the whole shirt and shorts ensemble.
So that Portugal‘s red top with the addition of green shorts becomes the Portugal flag.
Our guide Jose Madomis told us from the off that Portugal in the days of the dictator Salazar was run on Football, Fado and Fatima.
So much so that among all the stands of Our Lady merch in Fatima you’ll find the Portuguese shirt and Cristiano Ronaldo towel!
Moroccan roll
Green is the colour: Morocco
Morocco: And not just because they were Scotland’s last opponents in the finals of a major competition, a 3-0 defeat in 1998.
But because of the lengths I went to to get myself a Morocco top
On my travels in Marrakech. I picked the green one rather than the red.
Where I got roped in by a trader after some pointless bartering.
To buy his threadbare top off his stall for more than its worth.
Which set in motion a tragical mystery tour from Jemaa el-Fna around the souks.
And that was just the start of my rocky Moroccan roll.
Roman holiday
Hotti Totti: Roma legend Francesco Totti
Roma: And we’re still waiting to get to see the Gods of calcio after Dad here promised the Son and Heir a match only to forget his passport.
But we did get a Giallorossi (red, more of a maroon, and yellow piping) top snd pencil case.
There you’ll want to visit the Battle of the Boyne Visitor Centre http://battleoftheboyne.ie/ in Co. Louth equidistant between Belfast and Dublin in modern Republic of Ireland.
Men left, women always right as the old sign says… except, of course, when left means going back on yourself to Edam and right means returning to Amsterdam.
It was the one and only time I signalled correctly which is probably why SHE ignored me.
And we cycled around for another 10km in the twilight before returning to the crossroads.
By the time we got back and had our crepes and Amstel beers I was feeling it.
The top table: The Dylan Amsterdam
And I was cramped up the next day.
And did I say that we had only got the wrong day to go out to Edam as it was their half day?
Still we did manage to get a cheeseboard, garlic Edam cheese and one of those slicers with a delft pattern before they closed their shutters.
The cheese might have got a bot smelly in my backpack on the ride home too but I wasn’t telling my parents for whom it was a souvenir.
All of which reminisces have been prompted by an itinerary suggestion from the now reopened Dylan Amsterdam… www.dylanamsterdam.com.
Where I took the by now Mrs M nearly 30 years after our first visit to Amsterdam.
Another power couple
Safe to say we were moving in far different circles and hotels in 1999 than now with the Dylan being George and Amal’s Dutch hotel of choice… George Clooney and Amal’s Amsterdam hotel.
One of the distinguishing features of the Dylan (and there are many) is the fabulous concierge service.
And here it’s almost as if they can read our minds.
Because among their alternative excursions is the Kroller Muller Museum which houses the world’s second largest collections of Van Goghs.
Blooming marvellous: The Dylan Amsterdam
And they are tempting us with a cycle around the Hoge Veluwe National Park afterwards.
Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Egypt, India, Israel, Mexico, Morocco, South Africa and the US.
With the last two turning my clown into a frown.
Having set in train all my trips this year around these countries I’m having to make do with North Berwick beach these past couple of months.
Barbados hotpots
You see I don’t fancy much being one of half a million on Bournemouth beach.
Give me one of Barbados’s beaches, and I’m reminded now of a tub of chicken stew and bottles of Banks beers in Bathsheba, St Joseph East… Let’s rumba in Barbados and My kiss with Rihanna.
Of course the beach is a Bajan’s dining room where the locals put up bars like we do brollies.
And where the flying fish jump out of the sea and onto your plate.
Fish of the day
There are many different varieties of cutters including liver, cheese, ham, egg and more.
Clubbing together: Club Barbados on the Platinum Coast
Or even easier are their fish cakes… do like a local and order a ‘bread and two’. On a bun.
The Bajans will be only too happy to show you how to cook up a treat…
And with my Croatia friends on World Cup final day in 2018
Put your shirt on me
