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Wednesday saw my first stay at the Walthamstow Travelodge, for London Seaward's Combined Counties League Women's Cup semi-final with Ashford Town Middx Ladies. I had to press an intercom to be let in through the hotel's glass front sliding double doors, as these are operated by keycard as reception is one floor up. Arriving there, a cheerful lady told me she'd given me a room on the quiet side of the hotel, "away from noisy people like us".
Next door was a kebab house called Doner Zone, so I checked them out and went for an Iskender kebab and Halloumi fries, both excellent. Adam was on turnstile duty at the ground; he also had come up from Portsmouth that day but had had a bit of a head start, having been able to set off in the morning. He said he'd be travelling back there after the game, on the 23.00 train from Waterloo. I hadn't known the trains ran that late; rather him than me.
George and Sandra were at pitchside and I talked to them for a while, thanking them for coming. I made sure I said hello to every staff member and player I was able to see as they shuttled between pitch and tunnel. With kick-off drawing near I went to sit near Groundhopper Dave in the stand. Meeting an Ashford fan standing at the front, I congratulated him on his team's promotion and said "Welcome to the FA Women's National League family." He went on to spend much of the evening complaining about the bar being shut.
An exciting first half remained deadlocked, with several super saves from Jamie-Lee, until a few minutes before half time when an Ashford defender headed home from a corner. Early in the second half Kate Bradley played a sweet through ball to Katherine Long who lobbed the keeper from thirty yards. From then on in it was real end to end stuff with both keepers playing blinders but there was no further score and so we had to settle it on penalties.
The players missed their penalties with considerable aplomb (Jamie-Lee made a couple of miracle saves). After four kicks each the score was 1-1. Ashford's fifth kick was scored; Kate fired hers wide. We were out.
I hung around to talk to some of the players; I urged Jo and Rea to focus on pissing on Billericay's party in our last game of the season next Sunday. Jo sounded well up for it, so hopefully we're in for a cracker. Then Dave followed me out to the bus stop, where we were stopped by a beggar who insisted on telling a very long story to us. It was a relief when the bus came.
Thursday morning at Waterloo I got a message on Facebook messenger from Bev to say the job at my old workplace has gone live for applications. I just replied 'Thanks x' hoping I'd get away with that, but she messaged back to ask whether I'd be going for it. It broke my heart to have to reply that I wouldn't. Travelled home laden with sorrows. I sat at my desk under a cloud all day Friday.
Yesterday there was bound to be a party atmosphere at Walthamstow's last game of the season at home to Stanway Rovers. Called at the bar for a Kopparberg, where a group of Stow fans were toasting the championship and a couple of Clapton Community fans said congratulations. One of the CCFC guys said he as going to miss playing on the Wadham Lodge complex but he was glad they'd got the use of the Spotted Dog ground.
In the ground a lady was selling Championship souvenir T-shirts with the names of all the season's squad, plus the coaches and physios, on the back, with the club badge and 'Champions' on the front. I bought one and put it straight on over my polo shirt. I was plum tuckered so went to sit in the stand, but heard plenty of the Rabble in full voice behind the goal. Walthamstow got a penalty which no-one seemed to know what was for, but never mind, Scully put us in front. Early in the second half Stanway equalised. A guy sitting near me observed "Not one cheer. Have they brought any fans?" Later Sweet Callum Ibe rounded the goalie to roll home and end Stow's magnificent season with a win.
With minutes to go I left the stand and walked round to behind the goal where the Rabble were, to see the trophy presentation at close quarters. The players disappeared down the tunnel when the final whistle went, to allow officials to get the Champions banners and the table full of tankards plus the trophy onto the pitch. After what seemed an endless wait, local MP and fan Stella Creasy and the players, in their special Champions training tops, appeared. Adalberto was presented with the league trophy, a couple of confetti cannons were fired, players sprayed bubbly everywhere, each player collected his tankard then joined the throng of team-mates dancing in front of the Rabble. Players waved the trophy about as the fans sang 'Stow' (Gold) and 'We've conquered all of Essex'. John Mackie urged fans to come up to the bar for a drink. Players and staff milled around the perimeter of the pitch talking to fans for a while.
I said my goodbyes to Sandra, George, Adam and others, then after a last look at the people still on the pitch, drifted out to head for the station.
Next door was a kebab house called Doner Zone, so I checked them out and went for an Iskender kebab and Halloumi fries, both excellent. Adam was on turnstile duty at the ground; he also had come up from Portsmouth that day but had had a bit of a head start, having been able to set off in the morning. He said he'd be travelling back there after the game, on the 23.00 train from Waterloo. I hadn't known the trains ran that late; rather him than me.
George and Sandra were at pitchside and I talked to them for a while, thanking them for coming. I made sure I said hello to every staff member and player I was able to see as they shuttled between pitch and tunnel. With kick-off drawing near I went to sit near Groundhopper Dave in the stand. Meeting an Ashford fan standing at the front, I congratulated him on his team's promotion and said "Welcome to the FA Women's National League family." He went on to spend much of the evening complaining about the bar being shut.
An exciting first half remained deadlocked, with several super saves from Jamie-Lee, until a few minutes before half time when an Ashford defender headed home from a corner. Early in the second half Kate Bradley played a sweet through ball to Katherine Long who lobbed the keeper from thirty yards. From then on in it was real end to end stuff with both keepers playing blinders but there was no further score and so we had to settle it on penalties.
The players missed their penalties with considerable aplomb (Jamie-Lee made a couple of miracle saves). After four kicks each the score was 1-1. Ashford's fifth kick was scored; Kate fired hers wide. We were out.
I hung around to talk to some of the players; I urged Jo and Rea to focus on pissing on Billericay's party in our last game of the season next Sunday. Jo sounded well up for it, so hopefully we're in for a cracker. Then Dave followed me out to the bus stop, where we were stopped by a beggar who insisted on telling a very long story to us. It was a relief when the bus came.
Thursday morning at Waterloo I got a message on Facebook messenger from Bev to say the job at my old workplace has gone live for applications. I just replied 'Thanks x' hoping I'd get away with that, but she messaged back to ask whether I'd be going for it. It broke my heart to have to reply that I wouldn't. Travelled home laden with sorrows. I sat at my desk under a cloud all day Friday.
Yesterday there was bound to be a party atmosphere at Walthamstow's last game of the season at home to Stanway Rovers. Called at the bar for a Kopparberg, where a group of Stow fans were toasting the championship and a couple of Clapton Community fans said congratulations. One of the CCFC guys said he as going to miss playing on the Wadham Lodge complex but he was glad they'd got the use of the Spotted Dog ground.
In the ground a lady was selling Championship souvenir T-shirts with the names of all the season's squad, plus the coaches and physios, on the back, with the club badge and 'Champions' on the front. I bought one and put it straight on over my polo shirt. I was plum tuckered so went to sit in the stand, but heard plenty of the Rabble in full voice behind the goal. Walthamstow got a penalty which no-one seemed to know what was for, but never mind, Scully put us in front. Early in the second half Stanway equalised. A guy sitting near me observed "Not one cheer. Have they brought any fans?" Later Sweet Callum Ibe rounded the goalie to roll home and end Stow's magnificent season with a win.
With minutes to go I left the stand and walked round to behind the goal where the Rabble were, to see the trophy presentation at close quarters. The players disappeared down the tunnel when the final whistle went, to allow officials to get the Champions banners and the table full of tankards plus the trophy onto the pitch. After what seemed an endless wait, local MP and fan Stella Creasy and the players, in their special Champions training tops, appeared. Adalberto was presented with the league trophy, a couple of confetti cannons were fired, players sprayed bubbly everywhere, each player collected his tankard then joined the throng of team-mates dancing in front of the Rabble. Players waved the trophy about as the fans sang 'Stow' (Gold) and 'We've conquered all of Essex'. John Mackie urged fans to come up to the bar for a drink. Players and staff milled around the perimeter of the pitch talking to fans for a while.
I said my goodbyes to Sandra, George, Adam and others, then after a last look at the people still on the pitch, drifted out to head for the station.
