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To London yesterday for Walthamstow's away league match at Athletic Newham.
For me it was a return to Plaistow for the first time since November 1991, back in my student days. That year two of my favourite ladies at uni lived in Plaistow, and I was a regular caller at their home for 7 happy weeks until everything went pear-shaped. My travels yesterday didn't take me anywhere near the little street where they lived then, though. I was unable to raise a glass to them for the good times, as there was no bar at the stadium and no pub for miles around.
Indeed, the Clapton CFC fans and Groundhopper Dave had warned me not to expect much at the Terrence MacMillan Stadium. The staff were friendly enough, but the sole facilities for spectators were the toilets and a little tea hut which at least had seats. In the tea hut I got chatting to Roy, originally a Southampton fan, now following Walthamstow; I told him I was a fellow Hampshirian from Gosport. Outside, with 20 minutes to kick-off, I spotted Roy in the seats and observed "No sign of the famous Rabble yet?" The Waltham Rabble are a bunch of enthusiastic Walthamstow supporters known for creating a lively atmosphere at games. He said it was a bit early for them as they normally enter the ground close to kick-off.
Some more Walthamstow fans were standing next to the small stand and I went over to chat to them. They were impressed that I travel from Gosport. We agreed that it should be a good game (Athletic, whose kit was a replica of Atletico Madrid's, down to the badge) had a reputation as a decent footballing side) and crossed fingers for three points to get the 'Stow back on track after two 0-0 draws.
The teams came out and the guys I'd been talking to, joined by several others, massed at the end of the stand near the goal Walthamstow were kicking towards, and put up a few flags on the perimeter fence. This had to be the Waltham Rabble. I went down to their end. They lived up to their reputation for having a good songbook; a couple of the chants were easy to join in, like Spandau Ballet's Gold with 'gold' change to 'Stow' and 'you want gold' changed to 'Walthamstow'. Harrison Carnegie was celebrated to the tune of The Beatles' Let It Be. The ubiquitous Sweet Caroline got a few airings! A couple of unpunished fouls on Stow striker Callum Ibe led a couple of fans to observe "The referee's a Newham fan". Jason Hallett put the ball in the goal but the linesman's flag was up. Late in the half an Athletic player threw the ball away and was sin-binned. With half-time imminent, Walthamstow were awarded a penalty but Hallett's kick was tipped round the post by the goalie.
Half time, a rush to the tea hut and the Gents, with Stow fans contemplating the prospect of a frustrating third successive goalless draw. After the break the Rabble and their flags moved to the other side of the halfway line, standing at pitchside.
About a quarter hour into the second half, Ibe was brought down outside the box yet again, the free kick was looped into the box and Jason Beck headed home at the back post. The Stow fans erupted, the team all ran over to celebrate with us, and a loud chorus of 'Jason Beck, der-der-der-da-der' followed.
An Athletic player stamped on Samir Bihmoutine; another threw a punch at Courtney Homans. Next thing about a dozen players from both sides were scuffling, until the captains and coaches intervened to break it up. Athletic's number 7 received a red card, but instead of leaving the pitch he squared up to Bihmoutine again! A team-mate restrained him and persuaded him to leave the pitch, accompanied by a chorus of 'Cheerio, cheerio' from the Rabble.
Somehow, when the people in charge of Athletic Newham decided to adopt the Atletico Madrid kit, I don't think they envisaged the team taking Atletico's infamous side of 1973-74 as their role models.
As the closing minutes, and then extended time added on, drew on, the Stow song and the player chants alternated with "We are top of the league". Very deep into injury time, an Athletic defender slipped and lost the ball and Tendi Quamina ran onto it to drill in Stow's second. More wild celebrations at pitchside and the players all ran over to us again.
The final whistle went, we applauded the players and they came over to clap us, we launched into a couple of renditions of "The Stow are going up". The team slowly headed for the tunnel and we drifted out of the ground. Another fan walked along to the bus stop with me, but he got on a different bus.
At Waterloo there was only just time for me to get a coffee before the Portsmouth train went - no time for grub - so I was Hank Marvin by the time I got back. Stopped by Joyes Chicken on the way back from the Gosport ferry. Home to relax with Peter Kay's Car Share on DVD.
For me it was a return to Plaistow for the first time since November 1991, back in my student days. That year two of my favourite ladies at uni lived in Plaistow, and I was a regular caller at their home for 7 happy weeks until everything went pear-shaped. My travels yesterday didn't take me anywhere near the little street where they lived then, though. I was unable to raise a glass to them for the good times, as there was no bar at the stadium and no pub for miles around.
Indeed, the Clapton CFC fans and Groundhopper Dave had warned me not to expect much at the Terrence MacMillan Stadium. The staff were friendly enough, but the sole facilities for spectators were the toilets and a little tea hut which at least had seats. In the tea hut I got chatting to Roy, originally a Southampton fan, now following Walthamstow; I told him I was a fellow Hampshirian from Gosport. Outside, with 20 minutes to kick-off, I spotted Roy in the seats and observed "No sign of the famous Rabble yet?" The Waltham Rabble are a bunch of enthusiastic Walthamstow supporters known for creating a lively atmosphere at games. He said it was a bit early for them as they normally enter the ground close to kick-off.
Some more Walthamstow fans were standing next to the small stand and I went over to chat to them. They were impressed that I travel from Gosport. We agreed that it should be a good game (Athletic, whose kit was a replica of Atletico Madrid's, down to the badge) had a reputation as a decent footballing side) and crossed fingers for three points to get the 'Stow back on track after two 0-0 draws.
The teams came out and the guys I'd been talking to, joined by several others, massed at the end of the stand near the goal Walthamstow were kicking towards, and put up a few flags on the perimeter fence. This had to be the Waltham Rabble. I went down to their end. They lived up to their reputation for having a good songbook; a couple of the chants were easy to join in, like Spandau Ballet's Gold with 'gold' change to 'Stow' and 'you want gold' changed to 'Walthamstow'. Harrison Carnegie was celebrated to the tune of The Beatles' Let It Be. The ubiquitous Sweet Caroline got a few airings! A couple of unpunished fouls on Stow striker Callum Ibe led a couple of fans to observe "The referee's a Newham fan". Jason Hallett put the ball in the goal but the linesman's flag was up. Late in the half an Athletic player threw the ball away and was sin-binned. With half-time imminent, Walthamstow were awarded a penalty but Hallett's kick was tipped round the post by the goalie.
Half time, a rush to the tea hut and the Gents, with Stow fans contemplating the prospect of a frustrating third successive goalless draw. After the break the Rabble and their flags moved to the other side of the halfway line, standing at pitchside.
About a quarter hour into the second half, Ibe was brought down outside the box yet again, the free kick was looped into the box and Jason Beck headed home at the back post. The Stow fans erupted, the team all ran over to celebrate with us, and a loud chorus of 'Jason Beck, der-der-der-da-der' followed.
An Athletic player stamped on Samir Bihmoutine; another threw a punch at Courtney Homans. Next thing about a dozen players from both sides were scuffling, until the captains and coaches intervened to break it up. Athletic's number 7 received a red card, but instead of leaving the pitch he squared up to Bihmoutine again! A team-mate restrained him and persuaded him to leave the pitch, accompanied by a chorus of 'Cheerio, cheerio' from the Rabble.
Somehow, when the people in charge of Athletic Newham decided to adopt the Atletico Madrid kit, I don't think they envisaged the team taking Atletico's infamous side of 1973-74 as their role models.
As the closing minutes, and then extended time added on, drew on, the Stow song and the player chants alternated with "We are top of the league". Very deep into injury time, an Athletic defender slipped and lost the ball and Tendi Quamina ran onto it to drill in Stow's second. More wild celebrations at pitchside and the players all ran over to us again.
The final whistle went, we applauded the players and they came over to clap us, we launched into a couple of renditions of "The Stow are going up". The team slowly headed for the tunnel and we drifted out of the ground. Another fan walked along to the bus stop with me, but he got on a different bus.
At Waterloo there was only just time for me to get a coffee before the Portsmouth train went - no time for grub - so I was Hank Marvin by the time I got back. Stopped by Joyes Chicken on the way back from the Gosport ferry. Home to relax with Peter Kay's Car Share on DVD.
