LONG THROWS AND SOUR GRAPES

 

Printed in the National League South game v Hampton & Richmond Borough Tuesday 28^th December 2011  We won 4-1 in front of 813 

I’ve got a book about non league dugouts and bought a calendar about non league tea bars but social media has given us even more niche subjects. Non League dogs, bins and chips anyone? So I was pleasantly surprised to come across Sports Babylon that highlights national league managers losing it after games – or very occasionally singing the oppositions praises.

It certainty felt a lot like Christmas as we knocked Eastbourne out of the Trophy. The wheels on the bin fell off, my xylophone fell apart but we banged and partied our way into the next round. But someone had obviously soured the trifle for the Eastbourne manager who after the match moaned about our game plan and how it’s not the way he would like to play. That Eastbourne played the best football and Guy Hollis long throw was somehow anti football. ‘It’s what they do’ apparently. Which begs the question; if you know what we do, why don’t you come up with tactics to stop what we do happening?

Maybe its hard straight after a game to have clear thoughts, but come on take a deep breath and don’t be a plonker. You just lost 3-1 mate. We aren’t a big money club so we have to be inventive and our some of the players that have stepped up from the Under 23 squad have been a revelation.

Yes Michael Edegbe, our under 23 keeper was man of the match and pulled off some cracking saves. But tell me if I’m wrong but aren’t keepers there to try and save the ball or is not letting the opposition players walk the ball into the net anti-football as well?

We are very lucky we have such well considered managers who’ve learnt the trade of reigning it in. And we’ve been blessed with players like Warren Harris who has decided to retire because of injury. He joined the Rebels from Godalming and played 301 times with 62 goals over 8 and half years playing a massive part in helping us go from a step 4 club to an established step 2 club. It’s no surprise that he won every end of season award you could and if you wanted to make a Bakes and Unders player Warren Harris would have all the ingredients.

The only thing that could sour the day was being told that it being an FA Trophy match there would be no alcohol on sale for nearly two hours. Surely the FA can once again see the covid storm clouds coming over the horizon, and relax the rules for games with low crowds to help cubs make as much money as possible while they can. I also hope the National League have a covid plan in place after last seasons mess.

Contrast the fun I had at Eastbourne with the dullness the previous Wednesday at a premier league match. How to say this without my eldest hearing. Its so boring watching Brighton. Even harder because I have no emotional attachment to the club. That’s not to say they don’t play nice football, its just like watching a game of chess. They can’t score goals and like the majority of the premier league sides are treading water up against financial giants. But I also know football has helped my eldest grow up, mixing with different people and different ages….and getting that away day bug that puts a spring in your step on a Saturday morning or whatever time the TV companies decide to move your game too.

Obviously people are nervous about attending big sporting events but since the club clamped down on not just being to able to hand your season ticket to someone but charging you for the right to do so, there’s been thousands of empty seats. This creates an even poorer atmosphere which will come to a head on Boxing Day which TV companies have moved to an 8pm kick off. Only problems is 90% of people arrive by public transport and there isn’t buses or trains on that evening. 

Wolves support for a Wednesday night was impressive, but we seem to be at the stage where all supporters sing the same songs like some boring pub covers band. Nothing original or witty just the same old recycled classics. Saying that, it can make the hairs on the back of your neck stand to attention when you hear thousands singing Sussex by the Sea, but I always mutter under my breath Slough-by-the-Canal.

Who knows what’s in store but whatever happens you can be sure of managers blaming everyone after a defeat and the fact that anti football Slough will continue to put one over teams with our under hand, over hand tactics of scoring more goals than the opposition. And one thing you can bet your bottom dollar on, is that we will come up with some long throw songs the next time we play Eastbourne by the sea. Because, well it’s what we do.