The Empty Seat

 I’m still a bit groggy and jet lagged from the transatlantic flight, but I am ecstatic to be here.  As I follow the usher leading me to my seat, I take a deep breath to soak up the atmosphere. My head is swimming with

excitement.

 I’m at Selhurst Park in South London, the home of Crystal Palace FC (and Ted Lasso’s AFC Richmond), to see my beloved Arsenal win their first league title in 22 years. Today is my birthday, and I decided to treat myself by attending.  My friend, who lives in London, was able to get me a single ticket, so my wife and I flew over from Memphis. She’s hanging out with our friends in Soho, while I’m at this game solo. 

I have followed Arsenal for years, but they aren’t the first soccer team I fell in love with.  My father introduced me to the beautiful game, coincidentally also on my birthday, May 24, 1978, when he took me to see our hometown team, the Memphis Rogues, play the mighty New York Cosmos. 

In that match, the Rogues weren’t given much of a chance, as they were the doormat of the North American Soccer League, and the Cosmos were the class of the league.  The Cosmos were comprised of world class superstars while the Rogues were a rag-tag assembly of rookies and washed-up veterans. 

What I witnessed that night was amazing.  The Rogues, at least a three-goal underdog, were able to somehow miraculously defy the odds and upset the Cosmos.  To make it even sweeter, the lone goal was scored by Tony Field, a former Cosmo.  No one expected this.  The crowd of 10,000 sounded more like 50,000 when the final whistle blew! It was bedlam.

What a birthday gift for a young boy! My extreme passion for soccer was born in this instant.  My father and I not only bonded over this, but we talked about this game until the day he died. Both my father and the Rogues are now long gone, but I still think about them both quite often.

As I take my seat to watch Arsenal play on May 24, 2026, exactly forty-eight years to the day the Rogues beat the Cosmos, I notice the stadium is filled.  The only empty seat I see is next to me, to my right.  As the ref blows the whistle to start the game, I think about the past 48 years: the various people, places, and things that have come and gone from my life. The ups and the downs. The wins and the losses.   It suddenly dawns on me that it doesn’t matter who wins this game.  I’m just happy to be here.

 I instinctively put my arm around the empty seat next to me, and I think of my father. A warm comfortable sensation fills me when I realize that I may be physically sitting by myself, but I am not alone.  He’s here with me. 

Thank you, Dad.  This game is for you. 

Greg Graber is an internationally respected leadership and mental performance coach who helps teams, schools, organizations, and individuals thrive under pressure. With a foundation in mindfulness-based practices, Greg teaches people how to stay grounded, focused, and resilient in fast-paced, high-stakes environments