“you just don’t seem to understand” BAGGIE SHORTS ISSUE 9 - SEASON 2016/17 WEST BROMWICH ALBION LONDON SUPPORTERS CLUB Welcome... department and the dietician. Having celebrated virtually every member of Arsenal Inc., the announcer said “and ...to the latest edition of Baggie Shorts. At the time of a big welcome to our guests, West writing, we have reached the magic 40 points and have A day in the life of an Albion Bromwich Albion” and then the referee arrived at that point in the season when Sam Field gets to fan aged 13 and a half blew the whistle and the carnage com- play for three minutes and the usual doubts set in. 4 by Anthony Nash menced. Happy Days! In an effort to illuminate those doubts, we’ve commis- Arsenal v West Bromwich Happy Days also for Patrick Fahey (The Albion Match Report sioned Albion-nut and statistician Jon Want to analyse story of an Executive Steward), who tells by Aidan Rose the empirical data (see The Pulis Effect: What the Stats 6 us how he secured his dream match Say). Jon’s appearance in these pages is thanks largely day job and for Anthony Nash (Foot- to the dogged determination of Glenn Hess, for it was The story of an Executive ball Through The Ages: In search of the Glenn’s plan to lure Jon to The Exmouth Arms and thence Steward Golden Age) who shares his memories to cause his inebriation by the liberal application of ales, 7 by Patrick Fahey of his first Albion away day and reflects the better to secure his cooperation. In the event, such on what’s happened since. extreme measures were redundant, as Jon was more than Football through the ages happy to share his work with London Baggies. We hope Another development too late for this to carry many more of his articles and you can check out 8 byAnthony Nash edition is the shock departure of Jonas all of his stuff on his website at: jonwant.com Olsson. The significance of Jonas’ con- Foot(y) Notes tribution to the establishment of Albion Jon’s piece, like everything else here, was written before by Glenn Hess as a Premiership Club is universally ac- the crushing of Arsenal, so appropriate celebrations of 12 cepted, but London Baggies have par- that wondrous performance will have to await the next ticularly fond memories of his courage, The Pulis Effect: What do the issue (please let us have your contributions). There is, warmth and all-round greatness and stats say? however, a bit of an Arsenal flavour, with Aidan Rose’s these will be shared in the next issue. bitter-sweet reminiscences (I mean his Emirates match re- 13 by Jon Want port) and Peter Thursfield’s Q&A. Among other things, For the moment, enjoy and, please, let Aidan remembers the chastening 5-2 defeat at Highbury Memorable Away Days: Mid- dlesbrough 1981 us have your: feedback; brickbats; ar- (27 August 2002) and, as I was there, I can’t resist add- ticles; photos; and anything else you ing my own abiding memory. As we waited for Wenger’s 16 by Paul Probyn think should be here. magnificent physical specimens to take the field, we were Q&A: Peter Thursfield treated, on the massive screen, to a run down of the en- Toby Grainger tire Gunners squad: “Goalkeeper, David Seaman” [High- 19 by Aidan Rose ([email protected]) bury Library style subdued acclamation]; “Ashley Cole” On behalf of the editorial team: [HLSSA]; “Martin Keown” [HLSSA]’ etc., etc., through all Anoushka Probyn, Glenn Hess, Aidan Rose six reserves, then the entire coaching staff, the medical & Toby Grainger change for us. White shirts, black proves when I get home; mum A DAY IN THE LIFE shorts. Our team was: has a lovely hot meal waiting. No Jim Sanders, Stuart Williams, Len microwaves in those days just on Millard, Jimmy Dudley, Joe Ken- a plate, over a saucepan of water, OF AN ALBION FAN nedy, Ray Barlow, Frank Griffin, lid on, keep it warm, what more Maurice Setters, Graham Wil- can you ask for, thanks mum, God liams, Ronnie Allen, Johnny Nich- bless yer. AGED 13 AND A HALF olls. What a line-up! Attendance The following home match makes by Anthony Nash 18,731! up for it! We beat Portsmouth 4-0 with two goals from bandy-legged A cracking game ensues, with Maurice Setters, and one each for November 26th 1955 is a typi- A new experience for this young both teams giving their all and Frank Griffin and George Lee. cal dull Saturday morning in the boy travelling through the Black chances missed all round. Then Black Country. But on the upside Country; Tipton, Dudley Port, it happens. Baggies concede a But it isn’t a particularly good I am off to the back of beyond - Wolverhampton – excuse the penalty. Vic Metcalf puts the ball period for the Baggies. Between Huddersfield. Why you may ask? expletive – and on to Stafford, in the back of the net. Jim Sand- November 5 and December 31 Crewe and beyond, Cheshire and ers is beaten. We never recover. we lose 7, win 3, draw 1. Against Well the Baggies are playing Outer Manchester, Stockport and The Terriers hold out for a 1-0 Villa we draw one and lose one. there. My very first away match. eventually through the long tun- win. Captain Bill McGarry is well Same against Wolves. We lose Wow! So it’s up early, scoff one nel into Huddersfield. pleased. (The Terriers also won both matches against Blues. We of mum’s fantastic breakfasts and the return game on April 7 1956 finish the season in 13th place, away I go. The weather is now a lot better 2-1. Roy Horobin scored our goal. but climb the table over the next so the walk to the Leeds Road The crowd was 16,141.) few years. Twenty minutes later after a ground doesn’t take long. A num- brisk walk I arrive at the haven of ber of yellow buses pass us car- Though they played well that day More than half a century on, I still train-spotters and Baggies alike; rying local supporters waving Terriers were relegated to Divi- follow the Baggies, albeit from Rolfe Street, on the LMS line, their blue and white scarves. The sion 2 at the end of the season afar. Quite how far? Well, I live was the gateway to everywhere ground is open on one corner, coming second bottom on 35 about 8 miles from the Hudders- (Hawthorns Halt and West Brom- giving a panoramic view of the points. The Villa just stayed up on field ground! Went back there a wich were GMR). Ticket in hand nearby hills, covered in fans walk- the same points but more goals. couple of years ago to see us win I boarded the train and found a ing to the game. I have never for- 2-0 in the FA Cup Third Round. seat very easily in one of the eight gotten this sight. So it is a somewhat subdued jour- So, you see, we can win at Hud- carriages. All the fans were off ney home, but a very enjoyable dersfield! with a blast of the whistle. So, back to the game. Of course day for me even if the result wasn’t there was a clash of colours, so all what we hoped for. My mood im- ARSENAL 1 WEST BROMWICH ALBION 0 THE STORY OF AN 26TH DECEMBER 2016 EXECUTIVE STEWARD by Aidan Rose Patrick Fahey tells us how he got the gig at the Tony Brown suite My lifelong relationship with The Ar- arrogant and continued to be so as senal began wonderfully at Wemb- they started their decline from win- ley in 1969. Third division Swindon ners to also rans. Born in the year 1960, my late prima- my way past walls adorned with for- Town tore soon to be double winners ry school years were filled with The mer glories (some of which I had Arsenal to shreds with Don Rogers One highlight was Darren Carter’s Albion being at or close to Wembley seen in person). I reached the suite in ripping their defence apart on the 76th minute belter at The Hawthorns on a regular basis, which led to an something of a misty-eyed blur, but ploughed up pitch. in 2005, another was Earnshaw’s late easy choice of team to follow as I dis- pulled myself back together when equaliser in 2004. But the highlight covered the world around me. I was asked: ‘Are you here for the Then came my introduction to High- of my Albion watching was the 3-2 match day job interviews?’ ‘I am’ was bury. Those two Art Deco stands win at Ashburton Gove in 2012. Away By 1996, when I married, I had shared my eager reply. I could see that my tie were probably the finest examples supporting does not get any better. in the suffering of our worst decline, and general demeanour were under of football stadium architecture and although, by this time, resurgence scrutiny and I was pleased I hadn’t remain there as part of a luxury flat We have also seen the dreadful cyn- was in the air. Unfortunately, the fi- ditched the suit. ‘Have you consid- development occupied by their icism of Arsenal players. Remember nancial commitments of marriage, ered an Executive Steward role, £5 a nouveau riche supporters. But that the Santi Carzola drop poleaxed in mortgage and kids meant that I could match more and a pie!’ Where do I ground evoked dreadful memories the box when Stephen Reid was no- not justify going to the games.