Smug

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Been reading this thread and I couldn't agree more with some of the comments.

Before I start I don't normally get into the whole arse kissing thing but I will give praise where it's merited and in this case it absolutely is.

I had the pleasure of meeting smug albeit briefly in the Argyll before the play off final last season. Unfortunately I turned up quite late so most of you had already left for Wembley by that point.

Smug was still there though I recognised him from the photos he has posted on here so I introduced myself and told him how I knew who he was. I think initially he was dissapointed I wasn't a random stranger with some spare tickets for him but he quickly got over that and before I knew it he was sharing stories about his past with me and chatting as if he had known me all his life.

Aside from this in the brief time I spent with him I witnessed him hand over numerous tickets which had been turning up from all over the shop to fans who were probably like myself complete strangers until 5 minutes earlier. He was there till the last available moment ensuring if any last minute spares came up they weren't going to go to waste.

One thing I noticed about all of this was that throughout it all he stayed humble and never made any of it out as a big gesture. It was as if he was simply doing his job. He never benefitted himself from any of this other than perhaps the odd pint that may have been bought for him by a fellow fan who's day he had literally just made. No scene was made it was almost like a stockbroker passing pieces of paper amongst colleagues during a busy day in wall street.

I've also heard many stories on here of how he has helped people with ticketing issues.

Anyway I'll wrap it up now for the risk of embarrassing him. Before I said my goodbyes to him I told him I would be earlier next season when we were back for the cup final. It was a pretty much tongue in cheek comment but for a few weeks I actually thought it was possible. This is one of the reasons the Port Vale defeat hurt so much I just really wanted that weekend again.

Anyway keep up the good work Smug you truly are a diamond and a gentleman.

PS your also a cantankerous old git.

Sorry had to get something in there.
 
Been reading this thread and I couldn't agree more with some of the comments.

Before I start I don't normally get into the whole arse kissing thing but I will give praise where it's merited and in this case it absolutely is.

I had the pleasure of meeting smug albeit briefly in the Argyll before the play off final last season. Unfortunately I turned up quite late so most of you had already left for Wembley by that point.

Smug was still there though I recognised him from the photos he has posted on here so I introduced myself and told him how I knew who he was. I think initially he was dissapointed I wasn't a random stranger with some spare tickets for him but he quickly got over that and before I knew it he was sharing stories about his past with me and chatting as if he had known me all his life.

Aside from this in the brief time I spent with him I witnessed him hand over numerous tickets which had been turning up from all over the shop to fans who were probably like myself complete strangers until 5 minutes earlier. He was there till the last available moment ensuring if any last minute spares came up they weren't going to go to waste.

One thing I noticed about all of this was that throughout it all he stayed humble and never made any of it out as a big gesture. It was as if he was simply doing his job. He never benefitted himself from any of this other than perhaps the odd pint that may have been bought for him by a fellow fan who's day he had literally just made. No scene was made it was almost like a stockbroker passing pieces of paper amongst colleagues during a busy day in wall street.

I've also heard many stories on here of how he has helped people with ticketing issues.

Anyway I'll wrap it up now for the risk of embarrassing him. Before I said my goodbyes to him I told him I would be earlier next season when we were back for the cup final. It was a pretty much tongue in cheek comment but for a few weeks I actually thought it was possible. This is one of the reasons the Port Vale defeat hurt so much I just really wanted that weekend again.

Anyway keep up the good work Smug you truly are a diamond and a gentleman.

PS your also a cantankerous old git.

Sorry had to get something in there.
Really appreciate that mate, it was good to meet you and good to know how I came across in real life to someone I'd just met.

It's obvious I have to slightly exaggerate my 'persona' on here so I attract a bit of attention. I also 'boast' a little when I've arranged tickets for strangers so anyone who's a bit hesitant will know I always stand on my word and never let people down. Others know that if I say I'll take their spare ticket they can be sure I will
At the last play off final I had people fly in from Austria, Portugal, etc, simply because I'd said there'd be a ticket when they arrived ... trust is important. You're correct that I always refuse any profit but can be tempted to a pint <cheers>

As I've often said I'm, more often than not, just a useful conduit for people as I know so many exiles around the country who are in a position to take 'last minute' tickets. What will happen if the ticket office keep throwing up barriers I've no idea, I'll probably cop a lifetime ban.

So, thanks very much for your message mate, it does mean a lot.
 
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All of the decent fans on here know and appreciate what kind of bloke Smug is, and he's always been like this . . . . helping as many people as possible, often 'putting himself out' for others, as verified (as if that was necessary !) in posts above.
There'll always be one who will try to damage his reputation and/or try to cause trouble for him, purely 'cos of jealousy, I believe, but those types are best ignored 'cos Smug really is one of the very best, and we all know (even those jealous of his stature/status) that he will continue to help others as much as he can :)

Good on you, Vince, for starting this thread :emoticon-0148-yes:
 
Smug is our own version of Zorro! He looks after all fans with tickets for games when he can and they come far and wide because of his reputation. He helped me out for an extra ticket at Wembley and it was seriously appreciated as it gave me a glorious different memory to the one I would've had if it wasn't available.

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Never met Smug(Riv) but when he was a regular over the road could tell he was a decent bloke.

Helped him out with a Wemberley ticket for one of our appearances because I could tell he was a genuine lad and often helping others

Posted ticket to him on trust

And as I thought payment reimbursed to me straight away

Top Bloke

Would love to meet him one day

HTFL
 
Never met Smug(Riv) but when he was a regular over the road could tell he was a decent bloke.

Helped him out with a Wemberley ticket for one of our appearances because I could tell he was a genuine lad and often helping others

Posted ticket to him on trust

And as I thought payment reimbursed to me straight away

Top Bloke

Would love to meet him one day

HTFL

Hi mate, yes I remember that very well, you were very kind.

When we first communicated I didn't actually have a ticket for myself, you contacted me and offered me your own ...

... so the pressure was off and I could relax.

As time went by I was offered a ticket by a Cardiff club secretary, Tom Gurridge, who I'd met on a Sunderland weekend. I made it clear to you but, by that time, you'd already applied and said I had someone in need. That was *Dave Ashfield who's supported the Lads through the decades but had been exiled in Hong Kong, Australia, etc, but was living in Devon.

As the day approached tickets became more readily available so offers and demands multiplied to the point I was eventually putting people together and trying to get people next to each other or at least in the same blocks.

It's debatable, these days, whether or not any harm was done but two lifelong supporters had been helped.

We'd always communicated on the forums and you've never changed, always straight talking and positive even through the bad times, I don't ever remember us having a bad word together. Same here mate, I always thought our paths would cross and still believe they will.

All the best as always.

*https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/culture/books/19557888.meet-author---davey-j-ashfield/
 
Only caught a glimpse of the great man once, breathing just as heavily as me after climbing mount Wembley Stairs !
I regret not introducing myself but in my defence I was sweating profusely and breathing like a man taking his last breaths, not a good way to introduce myself.
I will have a pint one day Smug and it will be on me, the lengths you go to out of good heart and intentions is truly astounding.
 
Only caught a glimpse of the great man once, breathing just as heavily as me after climbing mount Wembley Stairs !
I regret not introducing myself but in my defence I was sweating profusely and breathing like a man taking his last breaths, not a good way to introduce myself.
I will have a pint one day Smug and it will be on me, the lengths you go to out of good heart and intentions is truly astounding.

I remember that climb after a day on the drink, I was at the very top of Wembley, back row, and met up with Steve Nattrass, from Boldon/Nottingham, who I'd travelled with for years in exile through the 90's ...

... at one point I laid down on the Wembley steps and said to people,
"Just go on without me, I'll only slow you down ... leave me a rifle and I'll hold them off!"

Well I thought it was funny and people laughed with me ...

... or possibly at me <laugh>

Definitely up for a pint mate, always like to see your name on posts.
 
Excellent thread, and a recipient well worthy of it.

Ive met Smug just the once and that was only recently, in the fans museum prior to the Fulham game, but in truth, I felt like id known him for years. He's arranged tickets for some of the games ive been to this season, but that plays just a small part in the respect and admiration i have for the bloke.

Smug has been an unbelievable support for me over the past few years, and especially over recent months. Ive had pm's off him, and he rang recently just to have a chat, and we chatted for about 45 minutes. Things like this generally go un-noticed as theyre not on the forum for everyone to see, but I cant begin to describe how much it is appreciated.

A top, genuine, honest bloke. Anyone who has any kind of bad word for him, obviously doesnt know him.

:emoticon-0150-hands
 
Excellent thread, and a recipient well worthy of it.

Ive met Smug just the once and that was only recently, in the fans museum prior to the Fulham game, but in truth, I felt like id known him for years. He's arranged tickets for some of the games ive been to this season, but that plays just a small part in the respect and admiration i have for the bloke.

Smug has been an unbelievable support for me over the past few years, and especially over recent months. Ive had pm's off him, and he rang recently just to have a chat, and we chatted for about 45 minutes. Things like this generally go un-noticed as theyre not on the forum for everyone to see, but I cant begin to describe how much it is appreciated.

A top, genuine, honest bloke. Anyone who has any kind of bad word for him, obviously doesnt know him.

:emoticon-0150-hands
I’ll echo that mate. I haven’t had a great time of it recently but Smug still drops me a message now and then to see how I am. I’m sure he has his own life to lead and his own issues to deal with yet he still finds time to check in on others. A scholar and a gentleman as my old man used to say!
 
I’ll echo that mate. I haven’t had a great time of it recently but Smug still drops me a message now and then to see how I am. I’m sure he has his own life to lead and his own issues to deal with yet he still finds time to check in on others. A scholar and a gentleman as my old man used to say!

I always try to deflect praise but I'm just here watching the football and came across this thread again.

It's true I couldn't do a lot of things without the help of others but, looking at this week's messages, I've been a busy lad.

I've been involved with Gordon Armstrong getting Faraway, Snaggey and Kirky sat together, for Spurs, in Gordon's spare seats ... that involves giving away an adult someone handed me and letting Snaggey take my SC.

Thanks to @Essayyeffcee's kindness I've sorted Dave Ashfield's son, Ben, to get his fiancée to the Forest match and sitting together.

I've been asked by @smithy in nl for some Wolves tickets and actually had my hands on three through an RTG mate, only to find the club blocked the purchase. I'm now fishing around trying to find someone with enough points to complete the purchase.

So, sod it, I'll accept the praise this time and use that feeling to keep me going 'til the end' of the season ...

... not bad going when I'm actually unable to attend matches at the moment <whistle>