... but here's some. Over the last year I've lost friends who've been part of my life forever, it just keeps getting harder. Tom Lynn, Keith Laing, Pete Little, Alan Crago (Mr RAWhite.) etc. After the Villa match I was at the funeral of Pete Little, ex-Seaham, who I'd known in Mansfield since 1972. Pete was one of the hundreds of children, like me, who arrived in the East Midlands when they started closing the Durham coalfields. We all gradually found each other, hitched/bussed to games then afforded cars or hired furniture vans, minibuses and eventually coaches. We thought those days would last forever but eventually lads moved away, had families, stopped going/started going again, etc. Some of us keep in touch, some have passed and some just vanished but, at Pete's funeral, loads I'd have trusted my life with appeared and it was like yesterday again. It was all very emotional and, sadly, I missed the wake because I had to go straight to Newark for my train back to Edinburgh and work today, but I was thinking on the train, and thought it was ridiculous that we've allowed all that friendship, all those adventures and memories to go unremarked year after year. So we've all decided to have a reunion on the day of Pete's funeral when we can have a meal/drink/reminisce, bring old programmes, photos, newspaper cuttings, etc, tell the stories we've all heard a hundred times, laugh at how daft we were and how we supported the Lads from Southend to Carlisle and Cardiff to Hull. For anyone who's seen the Green Mile you'll know, at the end, Tom Hanks is the old man who can never die. He's doomed to live alone because everyone he loved has passed and his only friend is Mr Jingles, the scruffy little mouse that escaped being stamped on and avoiding the electric chair ... ... well, sorry to say but that's you. One day you'll be the last man standing and wondering where your mates have all gone. So my advice is to find the time, in whatever way, to meet up with 'Rudy' ... ... it's easier not to bother but John Prine might convince you otherwise, I hope so.
Lovely post mate, poignant. Do us blokes value our friendships as we should? A couple of weeks ago I found out, in passing, an old friend had passed away a couple of months earlier. I am awful at keeping in touch and only I was to blame for not knowing. But it affected me. We shared some good times. It had made me reflect a bit, on how I should make more time, for the old times. I find it hard to do that, but your post makes me realise the importance. I would echo your sentiments and encourage younger posters to not assume past pals will always be there.
If our friends aren't important enough to find time for, what are they ... ... it's easier to just think they'll always be there, but all of a sudden they're gone for good.
Smug that is a lovely post. We should all make the effort. Life is so short and time waits for no one. Ive lost a few mates recently and it is not easy. Cherish the times and make the memories. I think a lot on here are in our twighlight years
Life is far too short. I have been getting increasingly wound up in nonsense with work, my lads application for secondary school etc so **** it. I’ve been putting off catchups with mates for too long…. I should know better as a lot of my closest mates have passed away. so thanks for the inspiration Smug.
We're planning a meet up for Fulham mate, with or without tickets ... ... be great to see you and Sid there.
Nice words mate. Life is strange isn’t it. We meet people along the way who become life long friends but we then all go on to lead different lives and although the friendships remain, “life gets in the way” is a line that often gets said. It takes something like the loss of a dear friend to make you realise that life is short and precious. Hope you’re doing ok mate
I am aiming to go, and with my mate Matt. Same - with or without tickets. If drinking it might not be a day for junior . See you then if not before
Great post mate. Like many on here have lost to many mates lately. You do just think they will.always be there but sadly as we know all to well that's not the case. Take care might see you at forest if you're there.
Cheers Whitty, yes I'm driving down for that and will definitely see you there. I'm meeting the Notts lads here if you're around https://www.nottscountyfc.co.uk/the-nest If not let me know where you are, been a while since the Argyll.
Been a while since I posted on here. Many, many, years in fact. But you're right, Smug, we forget sometimes just what we have in comradeship through supporting the lads. I'm always reminded of it when I go to a game and we score. The celebrations with fans who I don't know are great, but those with fans I do know are really special. A meet-up at Fulham would be great...
