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NEWS
25 May 2004
Well, thanks to a mixture of laziness, collapsing servers and all round bugger all to do, a nice if belated round up of what's going on, SW19 style
Firstly, now that the dust has settled, DA's appointment is taking shape nicely. His backroom staff is looking remarkably like the Hendon one that he just left, and while rumour and counter rumour about who he'll bring in/out will continue to abound until we actually play a game under him, it's expected that the squad will be one more akin to Ryman standards than CCL standards. As of time of writing, nobody has left yet or indeed come in.
Quite interesting that according to his OS interview, he's going to be heavily into the fitness side of things (apparently the gym at KM has had many new members since DA joined....). Last time we had a manager who came from outside and said he wanted to work on fitness, mutiny erupted. Hopefully our amateurs are more professional.
Obviously, NE's remainder is a boost, and as the parade last Sunday showed, he's still a part of things.
Speaking of the parade last Sunday, seemed quite a mixed response to it. This mainly depended on where your vantage point was. I could only make the SM4 bit, and it felt a bit anti-climatic, though I was later told that there wasn't supposed to be an SM4 bit. Which considering the blurb beforehand seemed to suggest that there was a planned event in SM4 made me all the more disappointed. OK, I know that most of our middle class liberal lot won't be seen dead in downtown Morden (we don't have Starbucks here for a start, and it's only the PC council workers who go into the Tarrio coffee shop) but again, the turnout might have been a little bit less than optimistic for the average passer by
Enough pessimism, by all accounts the Wimbledon leg was either fantastic (if you were by Centre Court) or shite (if you were by the Theatre). From the pics I've seen, a neutral looking at the crowds outside CC would have been well impressed. Enough has been written about the debacle outside WT, and it seems neither AFCW or the police are accepting responsibilty.
Organisation mishaps aside, I think the thing it has done most of all is thrust AFCW back into the awareness of your average Merton resident. It's interesting to note that talk of KM being medium term as opposed to long term has started up again : if we're being honest, you can't really redevelop KM that much, and by the time we become a Conference team I don't think an expanded-to-6k KM will be big enough. Look at it this way, we get 3k from being at level 8, with relative little exposure locally, certainly nationally. Project that upwards, and for the second time in our history, a possible ground vacation for size of crowds is on the cards.
So, am I suggesting that a return to Merton is viable? Depends. For now, we can get away with being at KM, it's reachable by bus from Wimbledon and until we start getting major sponsorship in we're not going to have too much dough to play with. But thinking long term we're going to have to start cultivating Merton again : I'm not too sure if we're really attracting that many from the local KM area, and the Merton support is there, if the pre-MK stuff we came out with is to be believed (with readjustments). Of course, logistics and finance are in our way at the moment, but it's little things like this that can get the ball rolling.
And remember, this time we're not going to need a 20k stadium
Finally, you may notice that 28th May is coming round again. There's going to be a little, ahem, meeting outside Soho Square on this very day, 12-2pm. Just a little reminder for those who have forgotten......
12 May 2004
And lo and behold, we have a new manager. One Dave Anderson, ex-Hendon guy. Not Nicky English, who has steadied the ship pretty damn well since TE's enforced departure. When I first heard the news (and I heard it well after most people had), I was a little bit stunned. After all, NE hadn't actually done much wrong. We could have slumped tremendously after TE left, but we didn't and indeed probably improved. NE's signings like SSK were pretty good, and the way he was mentioning to the press about his planned signings made me think he'd got the job
Mind you, as the Wallingford game showed, TE is still loved by most of the playing staff. Perhaps the known antagonism between TE and NE was a major factor in getting a new guy in? New broom, and all that. We shall never know.
Whether NE will stick around for the U18 level we won't know yet, he didn't exactly jump at the chance. Think he'll go meself, unless he wants to continue in his Palace youth team style role, winning the double in relatively trying circumstances can't have done his CV much harm. And I bet he'll think he can try management at another club. It does prove that football, even at this level, is a far more vicious game than many want to believe.
On more reasoned reflection (ie after a night's sleep), it probably is the best appointment. DA's record is pretty good at Hendon, and he only left because they couldn't get promoted or something. Having Ryman experience probably swung it for the AFCW Board, there were some people wondering aloud if NE had the right experience for a higher level (complete with a retort of "Dave Bassett"). Obviously, these doubts were shared by those in charge.
Let's be under no illusions over this. This is a massive appointment. Line of logic suggests that DA is the right guy for the job. But this is a high pressure situation, without wishing to sound like my name is William and my testicles are abnormally sizeable, being AFCW manager is one of non-league's biggest jobs. At least outside the Conference.
We are no longer a small fry CCL club, if we ever were one. The AFCW board have made a business decision (for at the end of the day, that's what it is), and it has to be lived with. DA's track record is pretty impressive, I don't think we've employed somebody like that ever, at least with that level of achievement (OK, you could argue Drillo, but I will always maintain that he was let down by the most disinterested and petulant bunch of players ever to be associated with Wimbledon). We really will have to wait and see over this. Things CAN go wrong, and if it does it'll be the AFCW board's neck on the line as well as DA's. That's probably how big a decision it is.
But I do now expect a serious push for promotion next season. You don't employ somebody like DA to finish mid-table. Whether we'll do it or not is up to the football Gods, and while I will still maintain that this current squad is good enough for a top eight finish, I am fully aware that we will have to get used to some new faces by the time our first league game kicks off in August. I think it's safe to say that it's best to keep your attachment to the current squad in check, it could hurt otherwise. We seem to be entering a new era at AFCW, where sentimentality is going out quicker than games against NGU, Southall and Reading Town.
I think DA might be trying to get to the Family Fun Day at das Volkstadion on Sunday (he's in Portugal on his holidays, so at least it shows he understands the non-league scene), so if he does, it might be worth picking his brain.
We shall, as they say, see....
10 May 2004
OK, you've probably seen them now, but if you haven't, the Non League Daily website has where we're playing next season:
AFC Wimbledon (that's us, obviously), Ashford Town, Banstead Athletic, Bashley, Bromley, Burgess Hill Town, Corinthian-Casuals, Cray Wanderers (unless they can't confirm their groundshare at Bromley, in which case we'll get Fleet Town), Croydon, Croydon Athletic, Dorking, Dulwich Hamlet, Hastings United, Horsham, Leatherhead, Metropolitan Police, Molesey, Newport IOW, Sittingbourne, Tooting & Mitcham, Walton & Hersham and Whyteleafe
All subject to confirmation etc etc etc.
Initial thoughts. Firstly, how much will playing against T&M rock? I'm also looking forward big time to Met Police (or rather, the SW19 report for this one), Dulwich (because my dad once lived by Dog Kennel Hill) and Walton and Hersham (Allen Batsford, Dave Bassett, and a couple of other people). Everyone seems to want Newport IoW for August, personally I think it'll be in October. We all know how to get to Leatherhead and Whyteleafe.
On the minus side, not too sure if I fancy going to Bromley twice next season. Let's hope that Fleet get in. Hastings and Sittingbourne look like Ned Central, so you'll have to bring bars of soap to fend off the locals.
Measured thoughts. Suddenly, my enthusiasm for football has been reignited. With all due respect to the CCL, playing on grounds a step up from park pitches really started getting depressing after a while. Which I suspect might have been reflected in the tone of some of my reports. Don't think anyone noticed though. Make no mistake, this will be a more difficult league, we may even - shock, horror, gasp - lose a game or two. On past form, I suspect half our fanbase will commit suicide if we lose our first game.
I doubt if we'll see many ground switches this year, Croydon FC play at Croydon Arena, which I hope isn't anything like Feltham Arena. It even has a tram stop with the subtly titled "Arena". And it's in SE25 as well. That said, something tells me at least one game will be switched to somewhere like Selhurst. Come on, it has to happen one day...
Other thoughts. One of the first things I do for a fixture list is to look for certain dates - first game, last game, Boxing Day and my birthday. We are bound to have T&M on Boxing Day, and I bet my birthday will see us play Newport. Though I'll be away for that :) We should have more Saturday games at KM next season, and by the time the fixtures will come out - lateish June, apparently - we'll know by then. It's nice to be in something resembling a proper league anyway.
There's probably many more thoughts I have which typicially I'll remember when I upload this. So one final thought : we will finish top eight. We won't get promoted, our fitness, dodgy defence and naievity will put paid to us, certainly for the first part of the season. Of course, if we settle down quickly, who knows.....
8 May 2004
Strange, innit? I sit here, having digested AFCW 1 AFCW 2 and I feel a bit, well, weird. It's now going to be two months until the next game, which means 8 weeks of not mingling with any of the SW19 readership (I could try and be sociable I suppose and actually make the effort to meet people). And yet, I don't feel so much sadness but relief. Relief that we have secured our place in history. Relief that the players won't have to bust a gut now for a few Saturdays (and the occasional midweeker). Relief that we're no longer on the bottom rung of English football. And, most telling of all, relief that we can now sit down in the summer, watch Euro 2004, and not worry about share issues, or fighting against relocation, or stuff like that.
Basically, we can now worry about things that normal football fans can worry about. How will we fare next season? Who's going to be our new manager? What players will he bring in? What pre-season friendlies have been arranged? And, if you're a fan of a non league team, what division will we be put in next season?
This season has been the most rewarding and at the same time the most energy sapping one going. To win a double in your second season of existance, remaining unbeaten in the league and still looking like we could go a couple of steps further forward is something. And that's why I'm really looking forward to next season (bet it's a pile of shite now), for this team CAN go the extra mile.
I have to admit
that the excitement of possibly playing the likes of T&M, Fisher
and Bumley Bromley will surpass this season, winning trophies
notwithstanding. This will be more of a challenge, certainly more
our level, and we've got the confidence now that I think we didn't
have a year ago. For years, the big occasions always made us choke,
and now I know we can get through them.
Also, on a personal level, I really realise the power of sport. Some people might get that, and understand why I said that. Most of you probably won't. I'll leave it at that. I think I'm going to take up golf in the summer, according to a couple of people who saw me in action in Cleethorpes once I think I might do OK....
As for the game? Actually, I wasn't really paying attention to it. All I know is that I missed the first goal of ours. Wallies struck a seriously good free kick which made it 1-1. The game was basically a load of nothing, until everyone's favourite Hun Ginge made it 2-1 for us, with what looked like a ever-so-slightly-massive deflection.
The best bit was of course at the end, all the celebrations, laps of honour, trophy waving bit. But the most poignant moment came when all the players saw TE and made a beeline for him. Loads of hand shaking, couple of tears shed, and your humble/esteemed editor was right in the middle of it. Coincidentally, it appears that TE won't be coming back to AFCW ever again - on speaking to somebody, the quote was "the door is closed". Real shame, but considering all circumstances, it's probably for the best all round. At least he was there....
So, for the last time this season.....
Plus points: Beating Wallingford. Away. I don't need to add anything else. Except for Keith Ward getting a nice send-off. He deserves it after his distinguished 20 year career, despite most of us not knowing what he did for the first 18 years of them.
Minus points: Look, other people were complaining about our defence as well. So it's not just me. With luck, next season I can give this bit over to crappy ref decisions and shite weather.
The referee's a.....: From all accounts, he was a little bit shit. In fact, he was accused of trying to give the game to the Wallies.
Them: Considering it was their home game, they were very quiet. One of their programme sellers pounced on me and explained that the game at Hithercroft could have been off due to the weather recently. BTW, wasn't it rubbing it in just a tad when they got their RUNNERS UP medals on the pitch? What with the singing of "AFC Wimbledon" and "We'll never play you again" coming from the West Bank as well. All we needed was a rendition over the PA of the Laughing Policeman....
Spotted: Anyone see the British National Party leafleting outside KM today? Were they actively targeting us or was it just a general sweep of the area, and we happened to be there? As far as I know, Wimbledon has never been a "political" type of club, and while like every other club we have an element who could be BNP material, such canvassing at our games is few and far between (did the NF try at Plough Lane in the 1970s?). Not too sure if they got very far...
All heroes in Yellow and Blue: All hail Syd Neal. And Stewart Evans. And Roger Joseph. And Gary Elkins. And Lurch. And any other player who turned up.
Point to ponder: Was it only me who wasn't that surprised at it only being 3785? I say "only" but when the talk was of 4k+ it could have been considered a little disappointing. To be honest, the weather sucked (it didn't half get cold), there was really nothing to play for and it was an away game. And we all know what happens at away games, don't we?
Truth is stranger than fiction: (1) KC proposing to his bird on the centre circle. Despite cries of "Don't do it" by plenty of the male members of our support - the females kept quiet for some reason - she said yes. I presume we're invited to the wedding. (2) Quite a few Chelski shirts about. Obviously wanted to see the team that plays in SW London who can win trophies. (3) Phillo's suit really looked iffy on him. He looked like a 50 year old civil servant.
Hello Mum:
So, which male Womble came dressed in womens clothing that made
him look like a cheap hooker? At least if he needed money for the
cab fare home, he could sell his arse for 50p. And the St Pauli contingent
came over again. Shame I missed them, I could have bored excited
them with my knowledge of the legendary Lokomotiv Leipzig.
Anything else? Yeah, didn't the CCL bloke sound chuffed? Got a nice round of applause....
So, was it worth it? I'm not answering that.
In a nutshell: So, who are we playing next week? Oh....
And finally: OK, it may be the end of the season, but SW19 isn't closing down totally for the summer. The polls will still be running (no EOSP this year though), there's still plenty of Franchise bashing to be done. There is at least one article in the pipeline, and when I have significantly regained my sense of humour again I will try and do more funny articles. Just like the olden days. I will try and sort the bloody archive out once and for all (nobody wants to do it for me do they?). There is the small matter of what division we'll be playing in. So whatever you do, keep checking here regularly. You might miss something. And anyway, this summer sees the 5th birthday of SW19's ARMY.......
7 May 2004
It
comes to something when I'm looking forward to the meeting on the
9th May than Writing 3 Reading 3. OK, this meeting will (maybe)
tell us who awaits us next year, though it does seem typical at this
level that nobody quite knows what they're doing. To be so in the
dark even two games before the season's end makes everyone look like
a bunch of amateurs. We'll end up in the Highland League anyway knowing
us. I know that next season should arouse my interest a bit more,
this season was typical of the game yesterday.
And as for the game? I feel less inclined to write it than normal, but I've taken loads of Berocca, so here goes. The first half was, well, dire. In fact, the only bit I remember of it was when their player called "Shane" was being called upon to pass the ball very loudly. So loudly in fact that it awoke everyone from their slumber, causing much joy in yelling "Shane" at him in mock harassment. Told you it was a dull game. So dull in fact that I went to the bar some minutes before half time, and stayed in there to miss the first Reading Town goal. Oops. I eventually came out to watch their second go in, causing much muttering about "unbeaten records".
Suddenly, we got into gear - sort of. A free kick on the edge of the area for us, with KC lining up to take it. "He'll miss this" I decreed. KC scored, and "Hallelujah" came on the PA system. Suppose it beats "We are the Champions". It was quite obvious from then on that we weren't going to lose, and when we got another free kick in the same area, with KC yet again lining one up, and your humble and esteemed editor this time declaring "He'll score this", it was 2-2. At least I don't have to describe the goal again. The excitement was uncontainable (probably), especially as the pressure told off. A - whatever it was - came in, the ball came off the bar, and there was KC to net in from 3 inches out. I would say there was a mass orgy, but it felt more like a discussion over a nice cup of tea.
Of course, they went up the other end and scored, but then that was obvious.
Anyway....
Plus points: Well, we came back I suppose. And yes, I know we did well considering we're all bloody shagged out.
Minus points: Rearrange the following words to make a well know phrase or sentence. Defence. Our. Shit. Is.
The referee's a......: Didn't the lino look like Terry Eames?
Them: Actually quite good, certainly had more attempts on goal than our lot in the first half. All things being equal, they didn't really deserve to lose. Looked like Wallingford or Man Shitty in the 1980s.
Crowd control: Officially about 2200 there last night, but I did overhear one of AFCW's moneymen asking "record low crowd?". Personally, I prefer these slightly lower crowds to the likely 4k+ that the Wallies game tomorrow will get on just sheer comfort factor.
Point to ponder: Is it me or do we really look like we want the season to end? If we could forfeit the Wallies game as a 0-0, I think we'd be a lot closer to taking that option than people want to believe. The very fact that we somehow keep motivated despite winning the double is testament to a lot of things, not least the unbeaten record. Never mind, only some crappy bunch of yokels to beat tomorrow, then we can sit down and watch Euro 2004.
Truth
is stranger than fiction: (1) Anyone notice the new AFCW sign
on top of the main stand? All we need now is a scoreboard to stop
me asking what the score is every 2 minutes. (2) You may have noticed
some new looking gates around (pictured to your right). This is to
make KM Ryman standard, because it makes the ground fully enclosed
that way. (3) And did I really see bins around? And not the
sort where you put your aluminium cans/used toners/anything else remotely
recyclable? Perhaps they might even put an ATM in next. Or even tea/coffee
facilities without having to enter the ground...
Franchise watch: And something that could keep this site going in the summer. Basically, the lovely Inland Revenue, when they're not fucking up my registration details, are currently embroiled in legal battles with the MK Doomed. I can't quite figure out the ins and outs of it, but the bottom line is this : according to Wankelmann, if Franchise are still in admin by the end of July, that's it. Bye bye.
Now, obviously we're all rooting for the IR to win, and even an appeal will/should take Franchise's admin beyond this July. We should hear next week what will go on, from what I can gather the judge is going through the evidence more and more. What's different this time is that the IR are a government organisation (I think) and when their representative says "If this .... is allowed to proceed, where will it end?", it's not a bunch of dewey eyed romantics called football supporters kicking up a fuss because they can't be arsed to travel 70 miles, it's the main tax body of the UK. And which is why I'm just a little bit more hopeful than normal that Franchise get justice. What makes me think they won't?
Anything else? Yeah, strange that it was the last evening game of the season, and the last "proper" home game as well.
So, was it worth it? Urm......
In a nutshell: Come on Wallies, give it your worst shot.
3 May 2004
Having
just about dried out thanks to the now ludicrously sunny SM4 climate,
I think I feel dutybound to report on SW20 2 SW19 3, at that
favoured haunt of AFCW, namely Gander Green Lane. If ever a game had
no right to be played, it was this one. Walking in with rain that
looked like it would get heavier - and did - and with a pitch that
not only resembled the Somme but was capable of producing WW1 style
injuries as well, anywhere else would have seen a postponement. But
this is the CCL, and this was the traditional bank holiday Merton
slugfest. The show, as they say, had to go on.
Which was a shame as it was an instantly forgettable game. Your humble/esteemed editor managed to miss two of our goals, first goal apparently by Matt E, second one one of the bestest anywhere OGs of all time ever. Apparently. And where was I? Rocking the tea bar, twice. Oh yeah, I saw both of Vile's goals (their second goal was pretty good), and quite simply had we lost, it would have been fucking poxy. Especially to that scummy lot. I saw the third goal by SSK though, an absolute screamer into the top right corner. Or was it top left? Never mind, he seems to be able to do that in crappy games.
I'm sure the picture speaks for itself. Meanwhile.....
Plus points: Won. Kept going in inhumane conditions. Good to see Jones Bamfo starting. Somehow motivated enough despite being league/cup double winners. Attempting to play some resemblance of a passing game.
Minus points: Failing in attempt to play some resemblance of a passing game. And yes, our defence is shit. Not just me saying it either.
The referee's a.....: Apart from chickening out and letting the game go ahead, he handled the pressure cooker situation of a Merton derby quite well. Can't remember him doing much wrong TBH, though I was more interested in keeping some resemblance of being dry.
Them: They all turned up in their hordes from Grand Dive, all ten of them. Who actually made quite a racket when they scored. Come to think of it, so did their goalie after both Vile goals. Mind you, he was a bit dumb larging it to us behind him, getting a dismissive verse of "Champione" and "Enjoy it while it lasts". Nice little write up in the programme though, wishing us well. I suppose they want an invite to a future "Teams Of Merton" tournament, featuring us, them, T&M and Colliers Wood....
Weather with you: Rained not only cats and dogs, but with a few rabbits, stoats and caribou thrown in for good measure. Christ, that wetness really sucked. In fact, it sucked more than Jenna Jameson did in Oral Fixations. Left you just as wet and unable to get your trousers off as well.
Slutton: OK, I do like GGL but next time we go there, perhaps Rose of "Rose's Tea Bar" fame (or whatever her establishment is called) could get her pinnyed up arse in gear and serve people quick enough so they DON'T have to spend 30 minutes in the queue.
Crowded House: Yet another "there were more than that in there" game, 1400 do you? Good turnout anyway, despite the match having as much relevance as the Socialist Alliance*
* - I was going to say as relevant as the Lib Dems but all the Lib Dems I know are more than capable of doing untold damage to me
Point to ponder: Why the fuck was it an 11.30am kickoff? OK, I know that AFCW vs Vile games are clearly on a par with Cardiff vs Millwall, but even they don't have to contend with extra early starts. Plenty of shagged out people, and it clearly wasn't anything to do with Friday night either
Truth is stranger than fiction: (1) Having the floodlights on at 11am for a game really does push it somewhat. (2) Wasn't the sight of our player - KC I think - being dragged through the mud at the end funny? (3) Was there really a sign for "Plough Lane Coachworks" on the advertising hoardings? (4) Your humble and esteemed editor greeting an offside decision with an "Oh Fuck Off" very loudly. Nothing untowards, except the two coppers who walked right behind me at the time looking, well, bemused......
Anything else? Yeah, was it me or did this game seriously drag on today? Even flying to the Far East feels quicker.
So, was it worth it? Not really.
In a nutshell: We'll meet again, don't know where, don't know when. But I'll know we'll meet again on a day that isn't chucking it down.....
1 May 2004
Perhaps just as momentous as 10 ex-Commie countries joining the EU gravy train, winning your first double in two years of existance is a pretty impressive feat. I always wondered what it was like when teams like Liverpool in 1986 won doubles, I seem to remember my old man reminiscing about Arsenil's title/cup win in 1971 (I still have the Evening Substandard of that very achievement), and now I do. And it hasn't really sunk in yet. Perhaps it never will, the shock of something positive happening might kill me.
I said yesterday that if we lost it wouldn't have ruined our season. By that line of logic, winning last night shouldn't have made that much difference either. But it did, if anything it's become the icing on the cake of a season that promised so much and for once delivered as much (going unbeaten will be the cherry on top). The reaction afterwards, especially in the car park, said it all. I don't think there's been as much joy in a parking area since the last time Stan Collymore took the dog for a walk.
So anyway. Doubles 4 Singles 1. Can I say that I thought it wasn't the best game this season? Oh please? Fair enough. It looked like nerves got hold of us for a long time, and when they went ahead (which I think everyone seemed to miss, including our defence by all accounts) I rolled my eyes and started composing a report that wouldn't have looked out of place at a funeral. Finally, we got going a little bit, and when Bolger netted two minutes later, it seemed to settle us just a little. No question about it, we had to work hard, and it really did seem like extra time was coming for a while.
I think our fitness started to show, and in the second half we looked far more with it. It was a bit touch and go, but when a decent cross (for once) was whipped in and up popped Matt Everard with a trademark, there was only one winner. KC netting twice just finished it off, though the NGU player missing from one yard out at 3-1, complete with a sympathetic "one yard and you fucked it up" Go-West tune was pretty funny.
After piling on the pitch, the level of joy not only from the crowd but the players was immense. Even Lawrie Sanchez seemed to be pleased. You don't get this in Milton Keynes.
So....
Plus points: Well, does winning the cup count? Came back well. Kept going. Good goals by KC etc etc.
Minus points: Defence STILL shit. Far too many open spaces/NGU shots for my liking.
The referee's a......: Didn't he look like Jones B's dad?
Them: Probably the best team we've played this season, they played as if it was a, er, cup final. Think this could be more de rigeur next season. Really only lost because they tired out towards the end if the truth was known. If they could play like that every week next season, they'll finish above Wallingford (which will give the yokels something else to complain about), assuming the Hithercroft side actually finish second and are successful in their promotion application. Bet they end up in our division. NGU did a lap of honour at the end and were thoroughly applauded back.
Woking: No, not the Womble who got pissed on vodka at Gillingham (hello sir) but the place. If there was 3700 there I'm a Rangers fan. I overheard a steward at 7.30pm say that there was over 3000 in the ground, and it sure as hell was more than 700 coming in after that. They handled it well, even if their stewards are narky little jobsworths. Better than Bromley, though I think even the US army in Fallujah could handle it better than Bromley. Oh, and their stand is evil.
Spotted: One Terry Eames, along with Anne Eames. Glad to see that things have healed sufficiently for him to at least come back, I didn't like the whole episode one bit, and lest we forget it was mostly his team that won last night. Though at least things have panned out that he hasn't become the Bill Shankly to NE's Bob Paisley.
Point to ponder: Again, as mentioned yesterday, I wonder if winning such a high pressure game is going to finally lay the ghosts of failures past? For a long while yesterday, I really did think we'd lose it, but maybe the reversal is going to happen? Christ, we've suffered enough within the past 10 years, and this goes towards it. Also, is it me or was the presence of one Lawrie Sanchez highly symbolic?
Truth is stranger than fiction: (1) That open top bus. Shame it didn't rain :) (2) Why was there an EU flag on the TV gantry? At least I now have a good reason why I asked if the turnstile took Euros (one other person will get that). (3) In true cup final tradition, there was an AFCW rattle which actually worked. Amazingly, it was allowed into the ground... (4) The flags everywhere made it look like a GAA game. Some of the play in the first half was akin to hurling.
Franchise watch: Oh come on, their failure makes our success even more sweeter. Playing today at Cardiff, where there's some sort of deal for the away fan. Something like if he can prove he lives in MK or South London, he can get in for nothing. Or reduced rate.
Rather more symbolic, especially considering our success, Cardiff appear to be in trouble financially. Close to avoiding administration, problems with funding a new stadium, saving on player wages Peter Hawkins style. Now, I wonder how the hell that could happen..........................?
Hello mum: The following Wombles deserve a mention: firstly, a member of the Norwegian branch who claimed that his new AFCW tattoo was so appreciated by his wife that "I've never had so much good sex in my life". Quite. The Womble who plunged head first into Westfield bar duties all too readily. The git who said that my chin looked like Michael Schumacher's (and having been told once that my eyebrow line looks like Roy Keane I wonder what famous sporting star I'll be likened to next. Red Rum?). And finally, for every Womble who got drunk/threw up/had sex with themselves, or somebody else, or a bollard - at least I haven't woken up with a sore head this morning :)
Anything else? Not really. Pitch invasion was kewl though.
So, was it worth it? On reflection, I think it may well have been.
In a nutshell: Mine's a double
