Baggie Shorts WEST BROMWICH ALBION LONDON SUPPORTERS CLUB ISSUE 17 contents 03 16 View from the Q&A with Julia Chair 08 Howard Steve Watts Fulham Match Aidan Rose Report 04 Andy Jones 18 A letter from the The Black Eagle, editors 10 Hockley Glenn Hess Reinforcements Jackie Mason 06 Jon Want 21 The joys of being a Heroes from the new London Baggie 14 Hawthorns Alex Horton An evening with Bradley and Gorman Graham Roberts 07 Ian Tinsley 22 Oh Jimmy Jimmy Away Grounds Morrison! Survey Dave Wiltshire Aidan Rose Email us at: BaggieShorts@b�nternet.com @LondonBaggies We always appreciate submissions, from match West Bromwich Albion reports and photos to op-eds and think pieces. Supporters Club London Branch Cover image based on a photo by Laurie @LondonBaggies Rampling taken at the Luton match in August. W londonbaggies.com View from the Chair Welcome everyone to a new season and was the best thing in the world – despite to the first edi�on of 2019-20 season for just pu�ng in massive effort during the Baggie Shorts. A lot has happened in game. His posi�ve and enthusias�c recent months and behind the scenes at response is perhaps even more the Hawthorns there seem to be many no�ceable given the recent press reports changes – par�cularly to the academy on Slaven’s need to “have words” with set up and it remains to be seen what Rekeem Harper. this delivers in the longer term. It is pleasing to me that we have appointed At �mes when he has played, from my an experienced manager in Slaven who posi�on in the stands, Rekeem seems a is popular with the supporters at present li�le uninterested and demo�vated and and who seems to be giving our younger it appears as though he doesn’t want to squad players a chance to impress. be out there in the blue and white stripes. Hopefully this is just my This emphasis on giving Ferguson, misinterpreta�on of his body language Edwards, O’Shea, etc. a chance to be in but let’s hope that Slaven has given him and around the first team has caused me the sufficient “reminder” of what is to reflect on how these individuals have required to be a top player and to seized the opportunity and seem to be enhance his career and not waste it now playing with smiles on their faces, happy that he has a new contract. He is only to be playing for the Albion. We have young but we also had a 19-year-old also seen the return of Romaine Sawyers back in the late 70s who went on to be a whomanyofushadhighhopesforwhen genuine Albion legend. Perhaps he was first at the club. Romaine could take Rekeem under his wing and remind him of the benefits of What is no�ceable about Romaine is being a footballer and how even modest that he seems fabulously happy to be players will be forever lauded by the fans back with us – even though I don’t think if they think they have at least put in the we’ve seen the best of him yet and we effort, shown the desire and respected probably won’t do so un�l everyone - the local community and fanbase. such as Hegazi and Barry - are fit. TLIMS – The Lord is My Shepherd! I purposely watched Romaine a�er our last home game. He was the last Albion Steve Wa�s, Chair, London Baggies player off the pitch, walking around the front of the Halfords Lane posing for pictures and signing autographs as if it 02 a letter from the editors What a nice posi�on we are in. talented designer). I’m sure you We have equalled the club record will all join with us in wishing her unbeaten start to the season, every success as she con�nues to playing some lovely football in grow her own design business. ever growing patches and lying only two points behind the Jon Want has stepped into the leaders a�er ten games. The breach. He brings his enormous appointment of Slaven which skills and Albion knowledge to happened just as we went to the inner team. We are also press for the last Baggie Shorts welcoming Hitesh Patel to our has really worked. This is the first new squad to improve our visual �me in an age that I can doff my offer. flat cap off to our directors for In this ac�on packed issue you building from the top with a such will find something for every a recognised interna�onal Albion taste including regulars manager in charge. I don’t know such as the View from the Chair - if he hates the Villa but he does always an interes�ng read and love the Baggies and we love him. thank you to Il Presidente; our It’s been a big �me for your best ever answered quiz (we got magazine too. Anoushka Probyn, well over 66 responses) so thank one of the founding editorial you to every London Baggie who team, has le� us. We will took part. We have a report on definitely miss her both from a what it is like to be a new recruit personal view (she was a joy to - thank you, Alex. Jon Want gives work with) and from a us a really good introduc�on to professional view (she is a really the new faces, and we have a 03 wonderful tribute to our own very popular Q&A features Julia Jimmy Jimmy from our very own Howard who flies in to give us a Brexit Brexit Dave; a piece on very interes�ng read. And we have war�me heroes from the the new Adam’s quiz for your Hawthorns and a report by Ian delecta�on. By the way Dawson Tinsley on the very funny evening moved to Wa�ord in the summer with Graham Roberts. We and a�er the recent 8-0 remember the Black Eagle at hammering by City I was asked if Benson Road, plus plenty of we sold them Les Dawson! photos; and our own journo Andy Jones chipped in with a report on Upwards and onwards and our visit to our favourite ground gree�ng to all of you riding on the the iconic Craven Co�age. Aidan’s Baggie winner. Adrian Chiles knows where to read the best Baggies features! 04 the joys of being a new London Baggie By Alex Horton The 2018-19 season will certainly go down These evenings were fantas�c events, in history as a rather even�ul one for the being of interest not only to Albion fans but Albion faithful – first �me back in the also to football fans in general. Hearing Championship for nearly ten years with Batson’s tales of growing up, to Kiely’s some exci�ng games along the way, a rela�onship with certain people in the managerial sacking at a seemingly strange game was a fascina�ng insight and these �me and a season defining penalty former player events are something I shootout against those who will not be cannot recommend highly enough to named. However, for myself, it will also be anyone who is able to a�end. With remembered as my first season being a proceeds from these events going to member of the ‘London Baggies’. excellent charitable causes, they are a great way to meet fellow-minded Baggies and Moving from Bristol to London (yes, it’s a have a great insight to our club, covering weird story – I am an Albion fan who has very different genera�ons. A�er the events never lived in the Midlands, thanks Dad), finish, I would o�en ring my Dad up and one of the first things I decided to do was relay the tales, much to his entertainment start planning the season and looking in and interest! glee at all the available train op�ons to home and away games up and down the The Supporters’ Club also held regular pool country. games and various meet-ups, but unfortunately a thing called work would I had always been aware of the London some�mes get in the way, meaning I wasn’t Baggies’ existence through an informa�ve able to make all events sadly. However, the and very ac�ve social media presence. hiring of pubs and meets-ups before games Added to this, I had always been aware they was another highlight – very much looking were one of the most ac�ve supporters forward to Millwall away again and the clubs within the Albion but upon signing up Bermondsey Brewery, enroutetoBoltonathome,Ihadnoideaof the events that would come up or the So, a�er another move, I now find myself ensuing loss that day to a team ul�mately located in south London and ready for des�ned for relega�on. another season following the Albion from the capital. Already, a minibus has been Throughout the season, we were lucky arranged for Derby away, and I’m sure more enough to have evenings with former former players will be in a�endance over players such as Mickey Lewis, Brendan the course of the year. Batson, Dean Kiely and Graham Roberts. 05 Oh, Jimmy, Jimmy! Jimmy, Jimmy, Jimmy Morrison! Our cub reporter, No Deal Dave, pays tribute to one of the finest of his generation That song I, for one, will sadly miss. celebra�ng back at Dave’s Albion pub.