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Chapter 13
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Fever Pitch, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Obsession vs. Fandom
Sports, Identity, and Community
Escapism
Sports and Masculinity
Summary
Analysis
Looking back as an adult, Nick finds it upsetting that his mother allowed him to travel alone to away games when he was a young teenager. At the time, though, he loves it. Every Saturday, his mom drops him off at the train station and Nick goes to London or another nearby city to watch the game. When he gets home, he tells his mom about his day, and she acts interested even though she doesn’t understand much about football. Nick feels like he’s acting out his father’s role with his mother, except he does it on Saturdays instead of weekdays.
Nick feels like he is acting out the role of a husband to his mother, but instead of coming home from work he comes home from the football game. This is another way that Nick tries to make up for his father’s absence using football.
Themes
Nick feels powerful when he takes the train to away games and the police escort the mob of fans to the stadium. During the games, though, he is always nervous because violence often breaks out in the stands. Nick hopes the game ends in a tie—the Derby fans seem riled up, and Nick is afraid of being attacked. The game does end in a draw, but Charlie George, an Arsenal player known for his rebelliousness, celebrates his last goal by flashing a “V-sign” at the Derby fans, which provokes them to chase Nick along with the other Arsenal fans all the way back to the train station, throwing bottles at them. The FA sues George for the gesture.
Nick has mixed feelings about the notions of masculinity that football culture cultivates. He enjoys feeling powerful—a traditionally masculine trait—but doesn’t like the violence that ensues. The “V-sign,” a peace sign with the palm of the hand facing inward, has long been a very offensive symbol in the UK. This incident, and Nick’s nervousness about the fans’ violence, continues to suggest that Nick may need to rethink how he thinks of football and what it means to be a fan.
Themes
