What are the motifs in Fever Pitch by Nick Hornby?

Despair is a recurring idea in the book. Nick Hornby says in his memoir that the natural state of the football fan is despair. Serious football fans always expect that their team is going to lose the game, and Arsenal fans are no different. From the first game he attends, Nick notices that all the men around him seem angry and personally hurt by the team. After his own obsession picks up, Nick has a sick, queasy feeling in his stomach throughout each game, not being able to relax unless Arsenal is several goals ahead.