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A rare foray into men's football for me yesterday, as Gosport Borough - my original team, the men's team I have the truest allegiance to - were playing their last game of the season, needing a win to be sure of staying up, away to Metropolitan Police, a ground I've always wanted to tick.
Arrived at Thames Ditton around lunch time and walked up to the Imber Court sports centre. The clubhouse was rather posh, with comfy chairs. One of the pumps advertised a beer brewed to mark the centenary of the Met Police sports club coming to Inber Court, but, alas, when I asked for a pint the barmaid said it was off. Had to settle for a Tribute. Sat back in a comfy chair watching Tottenham v West Ham and waved to the Gosport team as they arrived.
Just inside the turnstile a friendly lady sold programmes and persuaded me to buy a Golden Goal ticket. Went on to the tea bar, staffed by two more friendly ladies, for an excellent burger - and, oh joy, they did burger sauce. Over the PA before the match started, they played some banging tunes including Is She Really Going Out With Him? and Going Underground - then as the team's ran out, The Clash's I Fought The Law was played!
Most of the travelling Gosport faithful gathered behind the goal that Boro would be attacking in the second half. We gave the lads maximum encouragement with almost non-stop singing, while a couple of fans kept eyes on Twitter and relayed news to the rest of us from all five of our relegation rivals' games. Twice, once before the break and once after, Met Police cast a gloom over our terrace by taking the lead, but each time Gosport equalised soon after. By the time we made it 2-2, all our rivals were winning fairly comfortably except Basingstoke who were 2-0 down. Tension came as Basingstoke pulled a goal back, but as injury time ticked slowly by, news came that Basingstoke had lost, and a chant of 'We are staying up' spread through the Gosport support. At the final whistle, we danced around in celebration, the players came over to celebrate with and high-five us, and Borough chairman Iain McInnes came out onto the pitch to join in.
Back at the station I met two other exiled Borough fans, who lived in Haringey and followed Haringey Borough most of the time. On the train back to London they talked about Haringey's chances in the play-offs - and had some harsh words for Hashtag United who've shared Haringey's ground this season - till I had to get off at Vauxhall to take the tube back to Euston.
Long walk home from Leighton Buzzard station; at least it was daylight. Thank goodness for Summer Time. Please let Ireland choose permanent daylight saving time in 2021 so we'll do the same.
Arrived at Thames Ditton around lunch time and walked up to the Imber Court sports centre. The clubhouse was rather posh, with comfy chairs. One of the pumps advertised a beer brewed to mark the centenary of the Met Police sports club coming to Inber Court, but, alas, when I asked for a pint the barmaid said it was off. Had to settle for a Tribute. Sat back in a comfy chair watching Tottenham v West Ham and waved to the Gosport team as they arrived.
Just inside the turnstile a friendly lady sold programmes and persuaded me to buy a Golden Goal ticket. Went on to the tea bar, staffed by two more friendly ladies, for an excellent burger - and, oh joy, they did burger sauce. Over the PA before the match started, they played some banging tunes including Is She Really Going Out With Him? and Going Underground - then as the team's ran out, The Clash's I Fought The Law was played!
Most of the travelling Gosport faithful gathered behind the goal that Boro would be attacking in the second half. We gave the lads maximum encouragement with almost non-stop singing, while a couple of fans kept eyes on Twitter and relayed news to the rest of us from all five of our relegation rivals' games. Twice, once before the break and once after, Met Police cast a gloom over our terrace by taking the lead, but each time Gosport equalised soon after. By the time we made it 2-2, all our rivals were winning fairly comfortably except Basingstoke who were 2-0 down. Tension came as Basingstoke pulled a goal back, but as injury time ticked slowly by, news came that Basingstoke had lost, and a chant of 'We are staying up' spread through the Gosport support. At the final whistle, we danced around in celebration, the players came over to celebrate with and high-five us, and Borough chairman Iain McInnes came out onto the pitch to join in.
Back at the station I met two other exiled Borough fans, who lived in Haringey and followed Haringey Borough most of the time. On the train back to London they talked about Haringey's chances in the play-offs - and had some harsh words for Hashtag United who've shared Haringey's ground this season - till I had to get off at Vauxhall to take the tube back to Euston.
Long walk home from Leighton Buzzard station; at least it was daylight. Thank goodness for Summer Time. Please let Ireland choose permanent daylight saving time in 2021 so we'll do the same.
