![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Fisherman's Blues
Oct. 17th, 2020 07:54 pmOn October 3rd I went to see Fisher away at Beckenham Town. A fairly typical Saturday for the season so far. Arrived at Portsmouth Harbour in the morning to find my planned train was cancelled, fortunately there was a fast London train in time to get me back on schedule though it did mean sitting on the station for 45 minutes without even a bloody coffee. Found a table in the clubhouse to sit at a regulation distance from the usual Fish crew while near enough to join in pre-match chat. There was a nice green space in front of the clubhouse with a couple of beer garden style tables.
I stepped out of the clubhouse to hear the meerkats from the Compare The Market advert over the tannoy. They were followed by an advert for Kia cars. I wondered momentarily whether Beckenham Town had attracted advertising revenue from these companies, but after the adverts were followed by We Built This City I wasn't really surprised to hear it was just Magic Radio being piped over the PA. Quirks like this are what I love about this type of football.
I found a spot on a covered metal terrace alongside many of the Fisher faithful. The match passed with the usual fan chat. Initially a couple of the Millwall fans among us talked about how they'd come to the Fish for their football fix while the League aren't letting fans in, and took the mick out of a couple more of our following for being Tottenham supporters. The aroma of stale smoke, that takes me back to childhood Saturdays watching non-league Gosport, wafted across our terrace - halfway through the first half I spotted that it was Paul, one of our Spurs fans, puffing a cigar. At half time I was over the moon to find the serving hatch sold Topics, a rare treat at football grounds. Early in the second half someone treated us to the smell of a fruit-flavoured vape.
The on-pitch action? Beeeeh. Fisher dominated most of the game but weren't ruthless enough in front of goal, and Beckenham won 2-1 with a last minute penalty given for ball-to-arm. Back on the station after, the fans picked the bones of the defeat then we looked to re-grouping for the following Wednesday night at Erith.
Little did we know that, for me, there would be no Erith.
On Tuesday the 6th a news item broke that coronavirus was sweeping through London like wildfire. I'd already winced at the lack of social distancing I'd seen at some games, I'd been aware at the back of my mind that I was taking risks whenever some herbert brushed right past me on the escalator at tube stations, but that news opened my eyes to the realisation that I needed to stop my London trips. I would probably recover from the rona if I were to get it, but it's not just about me. I have elderly parents at home, and a lot of elderly residents in my workplace, so have to minimise my risk of catching the virus.
So my trips to see Fisher are at an end until the corona is beaten. I had planned to attend every game and put my travels into a book. It won't be viable for me to do that in any future season, so that project is permanently shelved. I'm gutted. For the following week or so I walked around in a black cloud, mechanically going through the motions of going to work, watching the TV shows I follow, listening to Classroom Classics. Managed to get a chat with Katherine on the phone; she recommended switching my focus to completing the other writing projects I've been working on for some time.
So for the foreseeable future, it's groundhopping, in low-risk rural areas. Today I went down to the New Forest for Lymington Town v AFC Portchester. Lunched before the match in a pub called the Thomas Tripp with a nice range of real ales. I went for a 9.5% salted caramel stout called Eschatology. A lovely drop, though the barman, while testifying it was first class, was surprised I was going for something that strong at lunchtime. Had excellent chargrilled pheasant for lunch then moseyed on to the ground. Entered the clubhouse to be told it was full and that I'd have to take a seat outside. Found an empty bench, the barmaid came out, I asked her what real ales they had - she said Whitstable Bay and Bishop's Finger. I went for the latter. A man entering he ground waved to the chap at the bench at right angles to mine and announced with glee that Rangers had won the Old Firm Derby. The guy at the bench groaned good-naturedly "He'll be unbearable". I broke it to him that I’m also a Teddy Bear. We found we had a mutual appreciation of tthe delights of FreeSports, and both said the European T10 cricket on there had helped us through lockdown.
There was a little catering van staffed by two friendly ladies dispensing cheeseburgers and pulled pork rolls. My pulled pork roll and oregano fries were excellent. I found a seat in the stand with plenty of free space round it. Lymington won an exciting game 2-0 with a Portchester player sent off for swearing at the referee. Half time was a let-down though, as I had my usual mid-match craving for chocolate and liquid refreshment, but the catering van stocked neither and, in the clubhouse, on emerging from the Gents the barman told me to find a seat outside, and with all the tables full to capacity, it was obvious I wouldn't be getting anything to drink by the end of half-time. I nabbed the barmaid as she passed and asked what chocolate they did, she said Mars bars and Kit Kats. I asked for a Mars but she returned to say there was no chocolate left. Returned to the stand in a downbeat mood, and after the game had to travel back home still parched. Meh.
Home for Strictly Come Dancing. C'mon Caroline!
I stepped out of the clubhouse to hear the meerkats from the Compare The Market advert over the tannoy. They were followed by an advert for Kia cars. I wondered momentarily whether Beckenham Town had attracted advertising revenue from these companies, but after the adverts were followed by We Built This City I wasn't really surprised to hear it was just Magic Radio being piped over the PA. Quirks like this are what I love about this type of football.
I found a spot on a covered metal terrace alongside many of the Fisher faithful. The match passed with the usual fan chat. Initially a couple of the Millwall fans among us talked about how they'd come to the Fish for their football fix while the League aren't letting fans in, and took the mick out of a couple more of our following for being Tottenham supporters. The aroma of stale smoke, that takes me back to childhood Saturdays watching non-league Gosport, wafted across our terrace - halfway through the first half I spotted that it was Paul, one of our Spurs fans, puffing a cigar. At half time I was over the moon to find the serving hatch sold Topics, a rare treat at football grounds. Early in the second half someone treated us to the smell of a fruit-flavoured vape.
The on-pitch action? Beeeeh. Fisher dominated most of the game but weren't ruthless enough in front of goal, and Beckenham won 2-1 with a last minute penalty given for ball-to-arm. Back on the station after, the fans picked the bones of the defeat then we looked to re-grouping for the following Wednesday night at Erith.
Little did we know that, for me, there would be no Erith.
On Tuesday the 6th a news item broke that coronavirus was sweeping through London like wildfire. I'd already winced at the lack of social distancing I'd seen at some games, I'd been aware at the back of my mind that I was taking risks whenever some herbert brushed right past me on the escalator at tube stations, but that news opened my eyes to the realisation that I needed to stop my London trips. I would probably recover from the rona if I were to get it, but it's not just about me. I have elderly parents at home, and a lot of elderly residents in my workplace, so have to minimise my risk of catching the virus.
So my trips to see Fisher are at an end until the corona is beaten. I had planned to attend every game and put my travels into a book. It won't be viable for me to do that in any future season, so that project is permanently shelved. I'm gutted. For the following week or so I walked around in a black cloud, mechanically going through the motions of going to work, watching the TV shows I follow, listening to Classroom Classics. Managed to get a chat with Katherine on the phone; she recommended switching my focus to completing the other writing projects I've been working on for some time.
So for the foreseeable future, it's groundhopping, in low-risk rural areas. Today I went down to the New Forest for Lymington Town v AFC Portchester. Lunched before the match in a pub called the Thomas Tripp with a nice range of real ales. I went for a 9.5% salted caramel stout called Eschatology. A lovely drop, though the barman, while testifying it was first class, was surprised I was going for something that strong at lunchtime. Had excellent chargrilled pheasant for lunch then moseyed on to the ground. Entered the clubhouse to be told it was full and that I'd have to take a seat outside. Found an empty bench, the barmaid came out, I asked her what real ales they had - she said Whitstable Bay and Bishop's Finger. I went for the latter. A man entering he ground waved to the chap at the bench at right angles to mine and announced with glee that Rangers had won the Old Firm Derby. The guy at the bench groaned good-naturedly "He'll be unbearable". I broke it to him that I’m also a Teddy Bear. We found we had a mutual appreciation of tthe delights of FreeSports, and both said the European T10 cricket on there had helped us through lockdown.
There was a little catering van staffed by two friendly ladies dispensing cheeseburgers and pulled pork rolls. My pulled pork roll and oregano fries were excellent. I found a seat in the stand with plenty of free space round it. Lymington won an exciting game 2-0 with a Portchester player sent off for swearing at the referee. Half time was a let-down though, as I had my usual mid-match craving for chocolate and liquid refreshment, but the catering van stocked neither and, in the clubhouse, on emerging from the Gents the barman told me to find a seat outside, and with all the tables full to capacity, it was obvious I wouldn't be getting anything to drink by the end of half-time. I nabbed the barmaid as she passed and asked what chocolate they did, she said Mars bars and Kit Kats. I asked for a Mars but she returned to say there was no chocolate left. Returned to the stand in a downbeat mood, and after the game had to travel back home still parched. Meh.
Home for Strictly Come Dancing. C'mon Caroline!
