READ WORLD of BALL Visiting No
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WEALDSTONE v TORQUAY, GLOUCESTER BY MARTIN READ WORLD OF BALL Visiting No. Just no. received at the other end of the for some time I kept this collection on a scarf. ground as if we’d been asleep all Obviously I blame Toby, but honestly, how the while. long can you stay mad at a man whose glori- fans: a list of Actually, from our perspec- ous badge displays make every visit to the tive, sometimes it really is nice Vale feel like Christmas Day? (I drew a line at to know the opposition fans are last year’s range of badges for every match, here, as indeed they will surely though - the work of the devil.) minor irritants be in some numbers from our But here’s my red line: taking such a scarf, visitors Torquay today (and weighed down with those shiny metal adorn- Gloucester fans, respect is due ments, and wrapping yourself in it to visit ugh, can you believe last week’s for any of you here on Monday an away match. Again, there’s no maximum result? The ultimate sucker-punch night). The amount of times badge-to-scarf ratio to divide the acceptable and a final five minutes from hell. you can look over and see just enthusiast from the utter madman, but here, AIn all the heat it was good to see the re- three or four blokes, a couple of today, I offer such a number: four. More than sponse of our fans: sympathy for Bradley full-kitters and a flag they could four badges on a scarf and you’re trying too Bubb, who just forty minutes earlier had all be wrapped up in together, hard. How many times have you had to edge seemed to eradicate our penalty taking is appalling at this level. How’s past an oppo fan in a scarf seemingly trans- curse; and applause for the hard-working that going to up the atmos? ported out of the nineteenth century made up Stones team which, despite succumbing in Instead of ‘It’s nice to know like a chuffing Christmas tree? Unacceptable. the most appalling way, had clearly stuck you’re here’, sometimes we to a game plan against notably stronger get ironic cheering amounting 6) Shirts of success from decades past National League Premier opposition. to the same thing. And ironic Leaving last week’s devastating defeat I got It’s in the nature of the game that fans to cheering of any kind can only walking behind a Sutton fan in what looked go into grief mode following such a dramat- be replied to in one way - ironic like a replica of the 1989 kit in which they ic exit, but perspective is all and to my mind cheering of the ironic cheering. beat cup holders Coventry City. the bigger disappointment came with the news a few days later of Wadah Ahmidi’s Hmm. Is this acceptable? I’m not so sure. 4) Flags OK, so it’s a match that has become, under- sudden long-term absence from the team. mery’s got a strong roofing service to sell That’s quite the skills gap we need to fill. Here’s a rule of thumb. The standably, a huge part of (for full details, please email info@gmum- bigger and more ornately Sutton’s history. But come on Anyway, as we were adjusting to our meryroofing.co.uk) so you, grubby away fan, crafted the opposition sup- mate, it’s hardly yesterday cuplessness last Saturday I couldn’t help are getting in the way of his message. Desist! porters’ flag, the fewer the “Try clapping is it? You’ve gone on to play turn my eyes to the celebrating Sutton Can you imagine us doing the same, or cov- fans likely to be accompany- Arsenal since then. (Mind United supporters. Nothing against the club ering one of your club’s ad panels with a flag ing it. This is no hard and some time. You do you, here’s a suggestion for and their uniquely coloured kit, but seeing about us? Of course not. Never. fast rule, but you must have the mega-store: a (definitely them jumping up and down as if they’d won noticed. not skinny-fit) replica t-shirt the final - which, to be fair, we would have 2) Keeping The Vale untidy Huge flags are fine and NOT, repeat NOT based on our double win- happily been doing ourselves - left me oddly ning 1985 kit would, I have compelled to list some of the things that get Wait a second, that bloke’s just dumped his dandy if accompanied by chip wrapper / tea cup / coke can on the massed hordes of opposi- need a drum” little doubt, sell in decent my goat about fans of ‘the oppo’ when they numbers.) visit our humble abode. (Oh, and let’s be ground *next* to the bin? Or just casually tion supporters, but the clear, we’re just as guilty when *we* travel thrown it away? Or left it at the back of the fewer the fans the more we should deride away.) Why not treat this list as a kind of stand? No no NO! Only *we* should be giv- their oversized banners. Unless, of course, 7) Any hint of a drum bingo card and check off how many you ing our hard working volunteers this sort of they recognise this ridiculous ratio and are Look, here’s there situation: this is a football encounter today? clean-up work. Who do these opposition fans sufficiently self-deprecating. I’m particularly match. Can you use that drum to convey your think they are? impressed by Wingate & Finchley’s flag bear- disgust at that last failed attack? Can a drum ing the wonderful legend “Yes, this is all we 1) Low-level vandalism communicate your advice to that flat-footed take away.” Class. number four? No it cannot. It’s like using a Hang on, they they’re banging on *our* cor- 3) ‘It’s nice to know you’re here’, and variants swanee whistle at a funeral or an air-horn rugated iron walls? Surely the instruction not 5) That scarf, those shiny badges in an orchestra. Jarring, stupid and entirely to do that is one that only we are allowed to It’s particularly galling when, if our own sup- port has been subdued after a particularly I’ll admit to a certain amount of schizophrenia unacceptable. You have hands. There’s this ignore? Also, can you stop thumping those high-pitched percussive sound every time advertising panels with your fists, please? I poor passage of play, to find that our own on this one. I’ve a full set of Stones enamel sudden burst of appreciative shouting is spanning the fifties to the modern day, and you slap them together. Try it some time. You know it makes a nice sound, but Guy Mum- do NOT, repeat NOT need a sodding drum… GLOUCESTER CITY WEALDSTONE v GLOUCESTER CITY OPPOSITION IN FOCUS season. In the 1981-82 season a sixth place finish TIGER FACTS was enough to clinch a place in the reformed following season away to Bedminster on Premier Division. They were also runners-up GROUND - Jubilee Stadium CAPACITY - 3,000 Saturday 30 September 1893, losing 2-3. in the League Cup, going down 1-2 to In 1934-35, after winning both the Cup and Wealdstone, who included future England MANAGER - Chris Todd League, City turned semi-professional, joined captain Stuart Pearce in their ranks.Despite 2017/18 - National League South 14th the Birmingham Combination and moved to a Kim Kasey scoring 40 goals, the club were new stadium in Longlevens in which the club relegated to the Midland Division in 1984-85, www.wfcmegastore.co.uk stayed for the next 26 years. after three seasons in the Premier Division. had left off, and the bombshell hit City that They won the Tillotson Cup for being the It is generally seen as one of the lowest Les Alderman had left the club. The squad best club in the Combination, and then had moments in the club’s history. was ripped apart: major players were former Chelsea and Wolverhampton released for derisory sums, some went Wanderers striker Reg Weaver blow away all MEADOW PARK unpaid and took the club to the FA and records with his stunning tally of 67 goals in In 1986 the club moved grounds again, this forced a transfer embargo. the 1937-38 season. time to the Hempstead area and Meadow Park. THE GLORY YEARS AND FA TROPHY SOUTHERN LEAGUE ENTRY AND CUP In 1988 chairman Geoff Hester wanted to RUN SUCCESS appoint a new manager and after an West Ham United and Bristol City striker In 1939 the club participated in the exhaustive search found his man: former Leroy Rosenior took over the club and had to Southern Football League for the very first Aston Villa and Wales player Brian Godfrey. virtually rebuild the team from scratch after time, albeit in a restricted wartime Players such as Lance Morrison, Steve most of the players had walked out. Leroy competition as they took part in the west Talboys, Wayne Noble and Brian Hughes assembled one of the most potent front lines section, a league they would spend the next were among those who walked to the in non-league football and it was no surprise 70 years in, becoming the longest serving Championship title, but the most important to see the Tigers beat all comers. Despite he club was officially formed on members.