DOGS DINNER UNITED

Printed in the FA Trophy 2nd Round V Dartford Tuesday 15th December 2020  After a 2-2 draw, we lost on penalties.

This dogs dinner of a season was perfectly summed up by Slough pulling Dartford out of the hat, this time for the FA Trophy. If you count our play off defeat, the team sitting top of the National League South have been our opponents for 4 of the 14 competitive games we have played since September.

Not that any of us have been on the terraces to see a ball kicked. Still, searching for silver linings, when we are ever allowed back in, there’s a wealth of songs to be had; about Slough being part of the elite, that Boris Haystack loves Slough and for miles and miles we were the only place to have the honour of being in Tier 3. No fans, No future as the Sex Pistols would have sung if they were football fans.

With a poor run of results our joint managers took to the radio to remind us what decent blokes they are. There was a distinct lack of this decency from Havant and Waterlooville who became only the second club in six and half years to refuse to let Ade broadcast Rebels Radio to the Slough Town massive.

I know clubs are struggling financially but so are supporters and their plan to make us pay for the stream spectacularly back-fired with Rebels refusing to cough up and watch ball. I get fans like to stay loyal but any Rebel questioning this behaviour was quickly accused by Waterloogedville fans of flooding their pitch for that abandoned game last season; like that fifty quid Deano slipped the ref at half time really made a difference to his decision to call it off when we were 2-0 down. You’ve got fans, we weren’t allowed any, Dan Roberts couldn’t travel cos of a negative covid test and we had to ask a former player who hasn’t kicked a ball for months and a lad from Binfield to sit on the bench . At least give us Ade to cheer up another groundhog evening. Ironically, me and many other Rebels would have bought the streaming service if they had allowed our radio but instead decided to go without as a sign of solidarity.

Premier League fans did the same, for once flexing their muscles earlier in the season. Already forking out for season tickets, Sky, BT, Amazon and Poundshop TV, the powers that be decided to ask them to pay £15 on top of all that to watch their team. That was the straw that broke the camels back and Instead people donated to their local food banks, raising thousands while the broadcasters eventually backed down.

Still, at least this new tier system is keeping us on our toes. My understanding, is that you are only allowed to drink in a pub if you have a scotch egg stuck up your bum, hop on two legs and sing the hokey-cokey backwards.

Going for a beer now requires the expense of a substantial meal whether you want one or not. So far I’ve had to fork out £15 for an inedible burger and £3 for some chicken wings despite being vegetarian for the past 40 years. Many pubs haven’t bothered opening their doors, and just like football clubs, you’ve got to fear for their future with another 2,500 calling last orders for good this year.

With Hampton the latest Slough fixture to fall foul of covid, will the season really end and what if we get a wet winter which has been known in Britain.

So I’m back to snatching games when I can. Freezing on the Saltdean terraces, who are now top of their league thanks to an eye-watering wage bill. This was the FA Vase second round and they eventually lost to Deal Town on penalties. Deal being in Kent weren’t allowed to bring any fans because they are Tier 3 while Saltdean could sell takeaway coffee but not takeaway beer. Someones got a good chance of winning the Vase just by not conceding to covid.

Still, there’s finally light at the end of the tunnel. Isn’t it amazing what can be achieved, when the best brains get together and work to find a solution to a crisis. Just imagine if we did that to make sure everyone had clean water or the trains run on time. Mind you, covid is just a peep show of what we’ve all got lined up unless we do something about climate change.

But as our managers pointed out, its about getting through this season, and making sure there’s a Slough Town to support when this covid fog eventually lifts.

Happy Christmas and see you all next year – hopefully.