TIDY TRIP TO BARRY ISLAND

Printed in the friendly v Arsenal youngsters Friday 29^th July 2022

1-0 to the Rebels in front of 1,248

I’m really not bothered about friendlies, but I’m not gonna lie, it was hard to resist an international friendly away weekend in Wales.

Still, if truth be told, it all got a bit confusing as we ended staying in Barry Island while the game got played at an athletics stadium miles down the road.

And I had to leave at half time.

And forgot to buy Welsh Cakes.

And the best place we found to drink on the island was my pub nemesis - Wetherspoons.

Football is weird; you spend so much of your free time with people for months, then they are dropped like some whirlwind romance. Then all of sudden the Rebel WhatsApp groups and social media starting pinging to life as we started to plan how to get back together in the Land of our Fathers. Well my Welsh granny actually, who came to Slough after falling pregnant to a black American serviceman. Not the done thing in the Valleys in the 1940’s. Infact one of my first memories is the smell off Welsh cakes cooked by said Welsh grandma on the Wexham estate, along with cracking my head open when I fell off a wheelbarrow. Which is no doubt the reason why I became a gardener rather than a Welsh cake.

Wanting to crack our heads open could describe Fridays Barry Island pub crawl as the Slough Town Are Massive started to descend from all corners of the globe. Well Brighton, Britwell, Burnham, Southampton, Essex and Alicante. Yes Deans cousin Jake diverted his holiday flight early to land in Cardiff and soak up the well lush atmosphere.

There was only one bar on the seafront while in town one served a pint so rank even we couldn’t stomach it. The trendy place across from our hotel, had decided that its best if we let them do the work and order from an app rather than that old fashioned come to the bar trick. Covid has changed many things, but online service from your table is not one I like very much. We could see the bar, the beer slowly being poured, but it was 20 minutes before it touched our parched lips.

Barry Island used to be a Butlins camp but now its got a tired looking fairground, a few tacky kiss-me-quick shops, and more chip shops than bars. While Slough got The Office treatment, Barry Island got Gavin and Stacey. We didn’t want to see what’s occurin and so dodged Nessa’s Slots and instead watched the seagulls dive-bombing anyone on the beach trying to eat. What it has got tho is some pun-tastic play on words. Who fancies going to Barrybados or seeing Bob Marley at Glaston-Barry? It was just a crying shame that Gordon Bennetts nightclub was closed.

Somewhere in amongst all this was a football match and Barry Town supporters couldn’t have been more accommodating.

The friendly came about because Macron make Barry's top as well as Sloughs. Macron is based in Cardiff and one of their directors part of their supporters run board. Like Slough, their ground is council owned, which comes with its limitations – like ripping up and replacing their artificial pitch late meaning our friendly was moved to Cardiff. We still met at their Jenner Park ground, where they laid out the red dragon carpet – well a smart minibus rather than Dave’s coaches. Our route took us to an out of town shopping carbuncle that every city seems lumbered with. But it was a groundhoppers dream. Cardiff City's ground opposite the Welsh Athletics International Sports Stadium with our final destination the Leckwith Stadium, which is part of the international sports campus.

The Cymru Premier has in recent years been dominated by a local computer company Total Network Solutions that is based in England. Cardiff, Swansea, Wrexham, Merthyr, Newport and a few others ply their trade in the English pyramid – which weakens the league somewhat. But as Barrry fans pointed out, playing in the Welsh League means you get the chance to play in Europe, and if that happens you are quids in.

To say Barry have had a football roller-coaster history is understating it. From European cup games against Porto to last season being relegated to the Cymru South. Winning the Welsh League numerous times to going into administration and now being supporters run. Even with last seasons relegation they managed to average around 500.

Maybe Slough can claim that our Welsh heritage means we get a shot at a season in the Welsh League and Europe. Mind you, knowing our luck we will get drawn against TNS.

Oh and if your interested in such things, the game ended 2-2 and the players came over at the end to shake our hands. Which I missed, cos I had to get home. Still I got to bang a Welsh bin and give a rendition of ‘Biggest Trading Estate in Europe, Your Never Sing That.’

All in all, if truth be told a tidy trip.

THERE'S ONLY ONE SEAN FRASER

Printed in his testimonial game programme Sunday 10th July 2022

He’s helped us win two promotions, two trips to the FA Cup 2nd round, won managers young player of the season and the Kevin McGoldrick Award. He’s been part of the team that bought the Rebels back home and holding our own in the National League South. With ten seasons under his belt he is in the top 10 player appearances in our history.

So for the final time in a Slough shirt, we give you Sean Fraser.

Born in Ascot, 31 year old Sean is a plumber married with two boys aged 2 and 5 months. His Former clubs are Coventry City U18s/23s, Banbury and Slough Town who he joined in August 2012.

Why did you stay at Slough so long?

‘I’ve stayed at Slough for a number of reasons. During my time the club was always looking to get promoted or be in the play offs each season. It always felt like a big club in the league when I first joined, so to be a part of a team that should be winning games was exciting.

‘Location. I have moved in the last couple of years but I could get to training in under 10 minutes when we moved to Arbour Park so that was a big bonus! Also a well run club with a good group of players each season, made going into training and playing games enjoyable.’

Your 3 favourite Slough games and why

‘The 1st round FA Cup match at Gainsborough, the build up and match itself everything just fell into place. To be able to score and set up a goal in such a big performance by the whole team, with the celebrations during and after the game I will always remember.

'Kettering play off final win. To come back the way we did in the second half, as at one point I thought it wasn’t going to be possible, away from home was a great moment in a Slough shirt. That was a really good group of players and people that felt more like mates at times going out each game. The celebrations after weren’t bad either!

'Kings Lynn play off final win. To get promoted for the second time at the club through the play offs, after missing out the season before was a big achievement. Going behind again in such a big game isn’t ideal but with the players we had and the form of the team I just felt we were going to get it done. Then Manny gets the ball in the box… and the rest is history!’

Your best season

‘I can’t remember all of them to be honest but the first season we moved into Arbour Park and I was captain that season made it one to remember for me personally. I managed to stay fit and play in every game and we reached the play offs, it just wasn’t to be that year.’

Any dirt on our managers! Or how come they get so much loyalty and players want to come back and play for them?

‘The managers are great people firstly, very honest and you know where you stand with them so it makes playing for them and the club a good place to play your football. You hear of some managers and clubs dealing with players a certain way and I always thought I’m glad I’m at Slough!

Back when I first joined there would have been some stories on nights out as there seemed to be one every week but it’s a lot more professional these days!’

What are you going to do with your Saturdays now?

‘My Saturdays so far have been spent with my family; holidays, days out, swimming lessons with my eldest & a little bit of golf. I’ve had a bit of interest over the summer break from other clubs which is great so I may not be hanging the boots up just yet!’

And Finally

‘Can I just say thanks to everyone that has made this day possible. All the volunteers, the players/managers, those who have helped with the raffle prizes. Also to everyone that has come out to support me today, I feel very lucky to have been a part of this club for 10 years and wish it all the success in the future! Up the Rebels!

Thanks, Sean Fraser.’

I’m sure I can speak for every Slough supporter and say thank you Sean for your loyalty and your part in making the past ten years so memorable. 

Once a Rebel, Always a Rebel.