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Apr. 13th, 2008 08:01 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
eiffel_71
Up early to be at Westleigh Park for 9.15, to catch a lift with Michelle to the girls' game at Newport Pagnell. Wandered around saying hello to people for a few minutes, then Michelle opened her car door and invited me to get in and sit there while they gathered round for a team talk. She handed me a programme to read.
As the passenger seat had been lying forward, I'd hopped in the back seat without thinking. When my two fellow passengers turned out to be Jenna D and Laura, who are partners, I felt awkward at having split them up, but nothing was said - they don't know that I know that they are partners. Before we drove off, Rob and Trevor came over and asked if I wouldn't prefer to travel with them - "with the men" - but I smiled and replied "No, I'm fine."
"I bet you are," Rob laughed. "Don't give away any secrets." Michelle dubbed me "Hugh Hefner" and we hit the road.
It was a good drive up. Rain lashed down for most of the way, Jenna wondered if her family, who were coming to watch, would get soaked but I was able to assure her we were playing in a proper non-league ground with a covered stand today. Early in the trip the girls picked the bones of Thursday night's defeat a little, then with that out of their systems we settled down to a convivial chat, until for the last leg of the journey Jenna and I both fell asleep.
We arrived at the ground at about 11.20. Trevor and Dick got out of their car, came over to ours and suggested we drive into Newport Pagnell town, since the clubhouse bar wasn't yet open. We arrived in the town centre only to find that, of course, being a Sunday before noon all the pubs were shut. We eventually found a welcoming hotel where we ordered coffee and tea.
We headed back to the ground for 12.30 and met up with the other girls. Their clubhouse was packed with Sunday league players, but Rita, Becky, Rosie and I managed to bag a table right under the Sky TV screen. There was no Magners on offer so it was Beck's for me today.
The match was not a classic. Poor Newport Pagnell, the whipping girls of the division, had only ten players to begin with, and two of them went off injured during the game. The Hawk girls barely got out of first gear for much of the match but did enough to score nine goals without reply. As our hope was to beef up the goal difference in case promotion or the Championship goes to the wire, it was mission accomplished.
One of the Newport Pagnell officials talked to me and Rosie in the club bar after, asking about our journey - he rightly said "That's one hell of a drive" and I confirmed that they are our furthest-away opposition. He wished us a safe journey back and I wished them all the best for the future.
The girls came back from the changing room and tucked into the cheese rolls, bags of crisps and Kit Kats laid on for them by the generous home club. With no relegation this year I hope Newport Pagnell can find some new players and bounce back stronger next season. Becky pointed to a couple of men carrying bottles of Magners and said "They've got Magners now," but I never mix if I can help it, so stuck with Beck's. We watched the start of Man Utd v Arsenal, then at about 4.15 Michelle announced she was ready to go.
As we walked to her car Laura asked me "Would you be more comfortable sitting in the front?"
"Sure," I smiled. "Sorry for splitting you up, I just hopped in the back without thinking."
"That's all right, don't worry about it." Hopefully they now know I know, and we can all be comfortable.
The trip back was quieter - Jenna and Laura slept through much of it - though Michelle listened avidly to the second half of Man U v Arsenal on Radio 5. I asked whether she cared about the outcome, and she said yes, she was an Arsenal fan. That surprised me as the only team I've ever heard her be mentioned as a supporter of is Rangers. She explained that she supports the Gunners because her best friend is the Arsenal Ladies and Scotland striker Julie Fleeting! Respect due. I asked her whether she'd be tapping Miss Fleeting for complimentaries to the FA Women's Cup Final but she didn't say.
As soon as the game ended, Arsenal having lost 2-1, Michelle switched to the Top 40 on Radio 1.
As the passenger seat had been lying forward, I'd hopped in the back seat without thinking. When my two fellow passengers turned out to be Jenna D and Laura, who are partners, I felt awkward at having split them up, but nothing was said - they don't know that I know that they are partners. Before we drove off, Rob and Trevor came over and asked if I wouldn't prefer to travel with them - "with the men" - but I smiled and replied "No, I'm fine."
"I bet you are," Rob laughed. "Don't give away any secrets." Michelle dubbed me "Hugh Hefner" and we hit the road.
It was a good drive up. Rain lashed down for most of the way, Jenna wondered if her family, who were coming to watch, would get soaked but I was able to assure her we were playing in a proper non-league ground with a covered stand today. Early in the trip the girls picked the bones of Thursday night's defeat a little, then with that out of their systems we settled down to a convivial chat, until for the last leg of the journey Jenna and I both fell asleep.
We arrived at the ground at about 11.20. Trevor and Dick got out of their car, came over to ours and suggested we drive into Newport Pagnell town, since the clubhouse bar wasn't yet open. We arrived in the town centre only to find that, of course, being a Sunday before noon all the pubs were shut. We eventually found a welcoming hotel where we ordered coffee and tea.
We headed back to the ground for 12.30 and met up with the other girls. Their clubhouse was packed with Sunday league players, but Rita, Becky, Rosie and I managed to bag a table right under the Sky TV screen. There was no Magners on offer so it was Beck's for me today.
The match was not a classic. Poor Newport Pagnell, the whipping girls of the division, had only ten players to begin with, and two of them went off injured during the game. The Hawk girls barely got out of first gear for much of the match but did enough to score nine goals without reply. As our hope was to beef up the goal difference in case promotion or the Championship goes to the wire, it was mission accomplished.
One of the Newport Pagnell officials talked to me and Rosie in the club bar after, asking about our journey - he rightly said "That's one hell of a drive" and I confirmed that they are our furthest-away opposition. He wished us a safe journey back and I wished them all the best for the future.
The girls came back from the changing room and tucked into the cheese rolls, bags of crisps and Kit Kats laid on for them by the generous home club. With no relegation this year I hope Newport Pagnell can find some new players and bounce back stronger next season. Becky pointed to a couple of men carrying bottles of Magners and said "They've got Magners now," but I never mix if I can help it, so stuck with Beck's. We watched the start of Man Utd v Arsenal, then at about 4.15 Michelle announced she was ready to go.
As we walked to her car Laura asked me "Would you be more comfortable sitting in the front?"
"Sure," I smiled. "Sorry for splitting you up, I just hopped in the back without thinking."
"That's all right, don't worry about it." Hopefully they now know I know, and we can all be comfortable.
The trip back was quieter - Jenna and Laura slept through much of it - though Michelle listened avidly to the second half of Man U v Arsenal on Radio 5. I asked whether she cared about the outcome, and she said yes, she was an Arsenal fan. That surprised me as the only team I've ever heard her be mentioned as a supporter of is Rangers. She explained that she supports the Gunners because her best friend is the Arsenal Ladies and Scotland striker Julie Fleeting! Respect due. I asked her whether she'd be tapping Miss Fleeting for complimentaries to the FA Women's Cup Final but she didn't say.
As soon as the game ended, Arsenal having lost 2-1, Michelle switched to the Top 40 on Radio 1.
