TalkingBull - Issue 131 - Magazine - Page 47
(for me) stroll through some
of the streets near the
ground; even if I thought I
could get away with going
into a pub and buying a beer,
I didn't have the money.
We were then led around the
pitch (I guess to avoid some of
those grumpy locals who may
have been waiting outside to
congratulate us on our win ….. Or
something!) and as we trooped in
front of the main stand the
adrenalin rush really kicked in as
everyone belted out our songs,
hopefully giving our victorious
players in their changing room a
further lift.
In 1980 Roots Hall was a
fairly large ground and I took
my place behind one goal on
an expansive patch of open
terrace. By my next visit
around 10 years later that
terrace had been greatly
reduced with flats (or
similar) built where much of
it had been.
Despite my youthful naivety,
I had no illusions on our
chances of victory, but we
started fairly brightly,
created some chances and
remarkably took the lead not
long before half time; Garry Jones
finishing off a nice, flowing move.
GARRY JONES
A buoyant coach danced around to
the Sports Report theme (at least I
assume we did, it’s a general
memory from away travel from
when football matches finished at
4.40 not 4.55) as the long journey
home started. I do recall stopping
at a chippy in Hillingdon and
getting excited when our team
coach trundled past; our players
looked as excited as me.
I don’t remember when we got back to
The second half wasn’t so comfortable in more Leominster, it must have been 11ish I guess,
but I do recall getting an earful when I got
than one sense. On the pitch, we got battered
but somehow managed to cling on to our lead. home, there hadn’t been much communication
Southend were attacking the open terrace and beforehand about exactly where I was going
as the game progressed said terrace seemed to and how long a day it would be, no mobiles in
those days of course.
be more and more populated by home
supporters, many of whom didn’t look like the A long, long day but that adrenalin high made
sort to warmly shake you by the hand and
it more than worthwhile. Replication of quite
praise the surprising pluckiness of your team. such a high probably hasn’t happened too
At the final whistle there was general mayhem, often, promotions at Leicester and Brentford,
perhaps the Vase at Salisbury and dozens of
wild celebrations from our players and small
not quite so high highs if that makes sense.
band of supporters, and some classic 10 to 2
posturing from angry locals, fortunately mainly Aging and experience perhaps make you face
victory and defeat with more equanimity but
limited to just that, though I recall a few of
that game was definitely the one
ours jumping over the wall
onto the pitch, not necessarily that got me properly hooked.
to celebrate but to escape the
wrath of some more angry
locals.
As a footnote we drew Enfield
away in the next round, if
Southend was a huge high then
Enfield was the polar opposite
but that’s for another day
perhaps.
Once the immediate post
match mayhem had calmed
down a bit, we had to wait for
the home fans to clear.
By Nigel Preece
TALKINGBULL—ISSUE 128—ONLINE