SHORTS ISSUE 15 WEST BROMWICH ALBION BAGGI LONDON SUPPORTERS CLUB e contents View from the Chair 08 What appeared so promising a went up, would many of the younger couple of weeks ago with wins at players get a chance to play when the Villa and QPR has now fallen a bit flat emphasis will be on ‘experience’ and Villa Match after the Sheffield United and Leeds survival? Unfortunately, without the 03 Report 14 defeats. It now seems unlikely we will additional `learning’ from another Glenn Hess be top two although I’m reluctant to Championship season, I also suspect give up just yet, given the nature of Darren will continue to be found View from the 09 Dean Kiely Night this crazy league. At least the play- a little wanting in terms of tactics, Chair Ian Tinsley offs look reasonably assured. timeliness of substitutions and squad Steve Watts rotation – which means Albion going The Magic of the So, is the glass half-full or half-empty up could end in tears. 04 Cup 17 for Albion? Mark Jones I felt that against Sheffield United, I like Darren Moore but it has felt their swarming, pressing game in challenging as a supporter to fully midfield (and in fact all over the Letter from the The New Boys 10 appreciate that he’s still learning park) meant that our engine room Editors Jon Want ‘on the job’. We have fared better (Barry and Livermore) couldn’t find Glenn Hess than our relegation partners, Stoke the time and space to get us going. Baggies against the and Swansea, but the squad - on Ditto Leeds. In games like these, the 06 Scots 22 paper at least - looks to be among midfield needs more support and Douglas Gorman the very best (underperforming?) sticking to 4-3-3 is not ideal when in the Championship, although it the three in the middle struggle to A Tribute to 12 Q&A with Steve would still need major improvement get the ball to the forward three. We Darren Moore Finn if we went up. We have also (finally) need to be more flexible and be able Laurie Rampling Aidan Rose seen younger players such as Leko, to play 4-4-2 or 4-4-1-1 when the Albion & the Great Harper, Edwards, Rogers and Sam need arises. Wall of China Field in the first team. Mike Moren So half-full, half-empty – I just don’t Whilst I really want to get back in know. But no doubt the joys and the Premiership (no Friday games, tribulations of the Championship will E-mail us at: [email protected] @LondonBaggies hurrah!), I also recognise that perhaps impact us all over the next period. We always appreciate submissions, from match an extra season in this division with Let’s hope it turns out in a way that reports and photos to op-eds and think pieces. @LondonBaggies these younger players breaking benefits the Albion for the best in the through will give us a better chance longer run. The Baggie Shorts Team: West Bromwich Albion of staying in the Premiership for the longer term. It will also allow Darren to Aidan Rose Paul Probyn Supporters Club London Steve Watts Glenn Hess Anoushka Probyn Branch gain more valuable experience. If we Chairman of the London Baggies Photographs by Laurie Rampling W londonbaggies.com 03 A letter from the very close to us all----FA Cup or At this point I would like to say not? how excited and proud I am to be a London Baggie in this Ian Tinsley joins us in this issue era of success and growth. We reporting on a wonderful soiree now have really interesting and with Dean Kiely, which had us all frequent events with ex-players open-mouthed at the eloquent coming to talk to us and recount and very humorous way he witha great deal of humour and editors described his time with Albion secret revelations what it means and some insights into the other to be a Baggie. teams he played with. On the train back to London with photos and interesting We have new venues and a after the Ipswich game we heard articles about the London Baggies Personally I was really interested growing younger group (present the news of Darren Moore’s and/or the actual Baggies. in his views on ‘Arry and Jaws company naturally excluded). departure -which came as a Jordon which were frank, to put We are important supporters shock to us all. Our Q&A is with Steve Finn, who it mildly. of the JRF ( the Jason Roberts has been a loyal London Baggie Foundation) thanks to Max who Lovely man for sure, but his and for so many years that he was on Thank you to our own Laurie deserves all of our praise for his the new Luton boss’s tactics were nodding terms with King Charles Rampling for allowing us to lift generosity and work and the naive and had made us endure (that is when the monarch could his immediate heartfelt tribute ticket situation. an awful run. still nod). to Darren Moore and publish it verbatim in this issue of Baggies Additionally, hats off to our leader The embarrassing defeats to There is a report on that joyous Shorts. and Il Presidente young Steve for Sheffield United and Leeds, day at the Vile not so long ago his influence in driving us forward and that horrible performance when justice was done and a Two new witters grace this to new ambitions. at home to bottom, nearly- cracking 2-0 win was achieved. edition of Baggie Shorts. Douglas relegated, Ipswich I suppose Gorman recounts the long and There are now 140 of us London greatly contributed to that Jon Want, our statistical chequered history of Albion’s Baggies versus something like 85 decision. mastermind, gives us his take on games against opponents from a year ago!!!! our recent loans----do we have north of the border, while Mike This is an ongoing discussion so enough loan players???? Moran goes even further afield So please join in the fun by please join in and let us know with his fascinating account of tweeting or emailing your your feelings. Steve Watts, Il Presidente, weighs the Albion Foundation’s trek thoughts and feelings to us. We in with his not so secret ambition along the Great Wall of China. are YOUR fanzine. What an issue we have for you to replace Big Dave. Mark Jones London Baggies, full to the brim comes on board with a question Glenn Hess 04 05 When an Albion manager loses his Early on Saturday evening after the job, it is always a difficult time at our game with Ipswich Town, Darren football club. But when that manager Moore walked into that room for the mooro isn’t just any manager, but a club last time, shortly after being relieved legend in every sense of the word, of his coaching duties at the club then it is a very difficult time, and one following, it has to be said, a poor filled with great sadness. Especially performance against bottom of the when that man took over at the helm table Ipswich Town, and bringing to at a very dark time in our history, put an end his Hawthorns career. a smile back on the very fabric of The Hawthorns, put a smile back on It goes without saying we will all miss the faces of fans who had perhaps him greatly. I know I will, and that, forgotten to smile, and definitely put I’m sure, will go for everyone who a smile back on my face. has been touched by his enormous personality and presence. Whoever Darren Moore, aka ‘Big Dave’ as we, follows him has big shoes to fill, the fans, affectionately dubbed him, and will be working with a hugely is a larger than life individual, and an talented squad that he has moulded awesome presence in an industry that from the tried and trusted, Academy is slowly losing the charm it always youngsters and loanees, a bunch had for star struck kids, enthralled of ‘misfits’ if you like, that he was with the beautiful game. straining with every sinew to turn into a promotion winning squad. I speak with great authority, because I was one of those kids, still am At the beginning of the pre-season perhaps, and I am not ashamed to say at Barnet, Darren told me this was a so. Those kids of course progressed journey, and we were all part of that to become the fans we have today, journey. Regrettably Mooro will not who now bring their starstruck kids be there to see the journey’s end but to the Shrine, looking for role models I’m sure, knowing the great humility within the sport. There are none more of the man, he will want to wish his suited to that calling than big Mooro. successor all the very best for the rest I first met the big man when he of this campaign. walked into the club way back in 2001, brought in by Gary Megson, to Hopefully this will merely be a thanks for add stability to a creaking rearguard, learning curve for Mooro in his and of course make a difference - fledging managerial career, and he and boy what a difference he made. will be back in the ‘saddle’ at another We soon became firm friends, club very soon. The game needs men and I was always impressed with with great integrity and honesty like everything his positivity, his generosity and Darren Moore, and I’m sure you will his passion for the game; you just want to wish him well for the future.