Yesterday evening I met up with Nines, CORKeR and Ciarrai Abu in the Coningham Arms before the match. (Iâm penning this little tale more for their benefit than anyone elseâs.) After a quick catchup I slipped into the conversation that SB.73 had foolishly told me his seat numbers at the beginning of the season and I had bought the seat next to him for this match but not told him. I cast around for views on how and when I should introduce myself to him. Nines regaled us with an amusing story about when went to a mateâs stag do and pretended to be a âdrongoâ who wanted to be a fireman before revealing himself by knowing technical information that only someone on the job could possible know. We agreed that that was the way to go, but not to overplay it and left for the stadium. After bumping into Hoops Eternal and one of his sons outside of the stadium, who would have been down the pub with us but for his woeful sense of direction, I made my way up to my seat only to see that disappointingly SBâs seat was empty. A few minutes later a couple of men came and sat next to me. The fella was younger than I expected but as the players were now emerging onto the pitch I thought Iâd better just go for the straight introduction. I tapped him on the shoulder and said âHello Stan, Iâm Rollerâ We shook hands and I carried on talking. He was looking very blank. As I drew breath he asked âDo I know you?â I explained who I was. He looked blank. I explained who he was. He still looked blank. I gave up, at least I had a good view of the pitch! After a few more minutes a young lad clambered across the row, stopped just passed me and ejected these imposters and was then quickly joined by his dad. This fella seemed more like the right age! When the ball went dead I tried again to introduce myself and this time got a beaming smile and a warm handshake. Stan was exactly as any of us would expect, intelligent, knowledgeable and passionate with a good sense of humour. Simply great company. Even better than that, I can pass of his views as my own in my matchday journal and for once give the appearance that I actually understand the game! And what a match that was. Great defiance, great atmosphere and a great result.
OK, I don't mind everyone knowing that I started walking towards Chiswick instead of Hammersmith when we left our hotel! Agree with Roller, great game and the atmosphere was the best I've experienced in many a year. Came out of the ground feeling really positive. I have to mention the send off given to Ryan Nelsen, really made me proud to be a hoop, brilliant!
Roller? Roller! Oh well, he's left us with a story and gone again! Great catch up with our Stan the man. At least we know he's more than a figment... ! As for you lot being in the Conningham, we (me, 'er and 'im!) were in there too for a short while, probably about an hour or more before ko.
The Monty Python Tobacconist's sketch came to mind - which one is it? [video=youtube;Nhy8Gup67r8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nhy8Gup67r8g&feature=youtu.be&a[/video]
And it was a real pleasure and privilege to meet Roller too, although I am slightly disappointed that I look my age.... Only error I made was lamenting our lack of bodies in the box, midfielders who ghost in....of course I hit 70s default mode and could only name Francis filling this role in our past, whilst Roller pondered the merits of half a dozen others since then......at least helped to prompt a return to the board for a top, top poster, however brief. Don't leave it so long next time mate. Keep on meaning to get to the pub before games, but operating on 'just in time' (or usually a bit late) principles hampers this. Last night, thanks to the A40 and an urgent need for chips, didn't even see the start of the game. It'll happen one day, there will be more witnesses to my existence! Not for the early kick off on Saturday though.......
Please let me know when you're over mate. Nice tale Roller. I had an odd experience last night too. I was just tucking into my pie (had to leave without time to eat) and this strange bloke tapped me on the shoulder and asked if he could have some of my pie! My face must have been a picture as I completely failed to recognise Brixton whom I'd met at the Irish meet up previously. My lad put me straight as he recognised him straight away!
Very nice to have a Roller post again. Good tale mate, the first one you tried to get in contact with must have been wondering what was going on Please don't be a stranger around these parts. Hope to see you again if I get over again sooner rather than later.
Great story Roller. I also met CORKeR briefly thanks to Nines introducing us. Good to meet people from here, so hopefully we will do another big meet up sometime later this season?
Funny thing noticing you about to tuck into that pie Col. Firstly, that I'd only just had one meself - and the other, us discussing your missus' shepherd's pie a while back. If you remember, your mention of it set me off then too. But me replying by inviting myself over next time she made one, left you with the terrifying prospect of having to play host to an internet stranger. Your polite rebuff tickled us silly!
Good stories chaps. I was in the lower school end yesterday and remember that roller mentioned he'd sit there quite often. I was very close to standing up at a quiet moment and shouting "Roller, are you here". Probably best I didn't all in all, the yanks might have thought it was a chant.
