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Well Did You Evah!
May. 26th, 2023 09:19 pmBack to my old stamping ground Milton Keynes last weekend, for the FA Women’s National League Awards Dinner. I’d been invited to last year’s do in Stockport but been unable to attend, so had optimistically messaged league chairlady Carol in February to ask if my invitation might carry over to this year. Miraculously, she’d agreed.
So I’d messaged Kayleigh to ask if she was free to meet on Saturday morning, but she was away for the weekend. Annalies was free, though, and we met in Costa for a cuppa, a cake and a catch-up chat. We compared notes about people at my old workplace, where she still is. She chided me for not letting her know about the Championship Play-Off in the afternoon, saying she’d have come to the game with me if she’d known. I hadn’t thought Nottingham Forest Women v Watford Women would be her cup of tea, but agreed to invite her along if I came to another match in MK. We walked across to the stadium, where Annalies wanted to take photos of the club-badged team buses. There, we met well-known young girls’ football campaigner Olivia Hancock and her dad. We exchanged stories about our travels. Olivia’s dad was impressed with my knowledge of the women’s game. Annalies said her goodbyes and I went to plod round the stadium to the open entrance gate.
I was in the neutral section, on a corner just across the aisle from the Watford fans. Both sets of supporters were in good voice. I was next to a couple who were season ticket holders at MK Dons’ men’s and women’s teams. They were friendly. Unfortunately a late arrival was shown to seats by us, and this man is well known in women’s football circles for trapping people into conversation and addressing them in an aggressive confrontational way. With the married couple being between me and him, I was able to escape for much of the match by sitting back, but after the match - an unremarkable game that Watford won with a goal late in the first half - he trapped me for several minutes, which seemed an eternity, until I was finally able to say “well have a great summer, all the best” and make a beeline for the exit. The Watford fans were giving their retiring legend Helen Ward a standing ovation; she having made 199 appearances for the Golden Girls, it was a great shame that their management left her an unused sub this time. They could easily have let her come on near the end to clock up her double century.
Back to the hotel. In the lift I met a familiar face - Karl the Moneyfields Women manager, with Hannah, one of the coaches. We compared notes on our journeys till I arrived at my floor. Chilled till it was time to head for the ballroom for the Awards. I met a group of women in high spirits in the lift; they turned out to be players from Stourbridge Ladies. With traces of gout still lingering, I settled for an orange juice as my complimentary drink on arrival. Went to check the seating plan. I was on a table with Karl. I made a note of where a few old friends were going to be sitting. In the foyer, the Women’s European Championship Trophy was sitting on a glass plinth. Two men in suits were guarding it, making sure no-one touched. I took a photo of it.
We went through to dinner. Karl and I said hello again. Sat with us were Hannah, another coach Wai, and player Ellie. Making up our table were four people from MK Dons Women. They were pleasant enough, though I think they were a little unsure what to make of me, just a fan among all these club officials and players. During pre-Awards drinking time I roamed around, chatting to the women’s football writer Carrie Dunn, my friend Jane from the league committee, Sadie from Selsey whom I knew from Havant days, and last but by no means least, Jo from London Seaward.
Jo was looking great in a deep red dress. She was very pleased to see me. “We miss you, you know,” she said.
I congratulated her on the club having obtained a long-term deal to play at Redbridge FC. “I’ll come up some time next season to see your new home.”
“First game?” she smiled. I didn’t commit on that, but as I walked back across the room after saying goodbye to her, it all came back. Leyton Orient Women, as they then were, giving me back my love of women’s football after the demise of my Lady Pies. My sentimental attachment to East London. Manager Dan nominating me for a Women’s Football Magazine Award for Fan of the Season. And I knew then where I’d be watching my women’s football next season.
It’s so true what they say. You don’t choose your team. Your team finds you.
The hostesses for the evening, Sky Sports’ Jess Creighton and broadcaster Anita Abayomi, introduced the ceremony with a video of highlights of the league season. The first couple of awards were presented then our starters were served. Through the evening, food courses alternated with award presentations. It was a really swish do and I felt privileged to be there. The food was first class, a ham hock and pea terrine starter, excellent chicken with herb stuffing for main, and lemon possett for dessert. Jane tipped me a whisper that she’d slipped me a couple of extra table chocolates. During an interval in proceedings, I got talking to the Halifax FC Women people and found myself promising to pay them a visit next season.
With the party winding down, I decided to give the after disco a miss - I wouldn’t be dancing on my still intermittently twinging toe joint - and went around saying my goodbyes. The Moneyfields party and the MK Dons party had clearly got on like a house on fire, Karl announcing to me that they’d arranged a friendly in MK for pre-season and urging me to come along. I felt a bit of a heel knowing I wouldn’t be around at Moneys next season, but it wasn’t the time or place to poop the party so I settled for just wishing everyone “Have a great summer”.
Sunday morning the bus to the station was sixteen minutes late and then picked up people at absolutely every stop en route. I had to sprint from the bus stop, through the station gates and down to the platform and made it onto the train just in time. And the train was absolutely jam packed and I had to stand in a crowded doorway all the way to Euston. Thankfully got over to Waterloo with over half an hour to spare and headed straight for the Bagel Factory.
Karl and the Moneyfields people have been great to me the last three months and they deserve better than to be ghosted. So this week I sent them an email thanking them for their welcome and friendship, explaining that I won’t be around next season and wishing them all the best. I got a pleasant reply saying I’d be greatly missed but sending good wishes and saying I’d be welcome back any time.
That was a tricky hurdle to clear but now it’s done. In the end, I have to follow my heart. Anchors Away!
So I’d messaged Kayleigh to ask if she was free to meet on Saturday morning, but she was away for the weekend. Annalies was free, though, and we met in Costa for a cuppa, a cake and a catch-up chat. We compared notes about people at my old workplace, where she still is. She chided me for not letting her know about the Championship Play-Off in the afternoon, saying she’d have come to the game with me if she’d known. I hadn’t thought Nottingham Forest Women v Watford Women would be her cup of tea, but agreed to invite her along if I came to another match in MK. We walked across to the stadium, where Annalies wanted to take photos of the club-badged team buses. There, we met well-known young girls’ football campaigner Olivia Hancock and her dad. We exchanged stories about our travels. Olivia’s dad was impressed with my knowledge of the women’s game. Annalies said her goodbyes and I went to plod round the stadium to the open entrance gate.
I was in the neutral section, on a corner just across the aisle from the Watford fans. Both sets of supporters were in good voice. I was next to a couple who were season ticket holders at MK Dons’ men’s and women’s teams. They were friendly. Unfortunately a late arrival was shown to seats by us, and this man is well known in women’s football circles for trapping people into conversation and addressing them in an aggressive confrontational way. With the married couple being between me and him, I was able to escape for much of the match by sitting back, but after the match - an unremarkable game that Watford won with a goal late in the first half - he trapped me for several minutes, which seemed an eternity, until I was finally able to say “well have a great summer, all the best” and make a beeline for the exit. The Watford fans were giving their retiring legend Helen Ward a standing ovation; she having made 199 appearances for the Golden Girls, it was a great shame that their management left her an unused sub this time. They could easily have let her come on near the end to clock up her double century.
Back to the hotel. In the lift I met a familiar face - Karl the Moneyfields Women manager, with Hannah, one of the coaches. We compared notes on our journeys till I arrived at my floor. Chilled till it was time to head for the ballroom for the Awards. I met a group of women in high spirits in the lift; they turned out to be players from Stourbridge Ladies. With traces of gout still lingering, I settled for an orange juice as my complimentary drink on arrival. Went to check the seating plan. I was on a table with Karl. I made a note of where a few old friends were going to be sitting. In the foyer, the Women’s European Championship Trophy was sitting on a glass plinth. Two men in suits were guarding it, making sure no-one touched. I took a photo of it.
We went through to dinner. Karl and I said hello again. Sat with us were Hannah, another coach Wai, and player Ellie. Making up our table were four people from MK Dons Women. They were pleasant enough, though I think they were a little unsure what to make of me, just a fan among all these club officials and players. During pre-Awards drinking time I roamed around, chatting to the women’s football writer Carrie Dunn, my friend Jane from the league committee, Sadie from Selsey whom I knew from Havant days, and last but by no means least, Jo from London Seaward.
Jo was looking great in a deep red dress. She was very pleased to see me. “We miss you, you know,” she said.
I congratulated her on the club having obtained a long-term deal to play at Redbridge FC. “I’ll come up some time next season to see your new home.”
“First game?” she smiled. I didn’t commit on that, but as I walked back across the room after saying goodbye to her, it all came back. Leyton Orient Women, as they then were, giving me back my love of women’s football after the demise of my Lady Pies. My sentimental attachment to East London. Manager Dan nominating me for a Women’s Football Magazine Award for Fan of the Season. And I knew then where I’d be watching my women’s football next season.
It’s so true what they say. You don’t choose your team. Your team finds you.
The hostesses for the evening, Sky Sports’ Jess Creighton and broadcaster Anita Abayomi, introduced the ceremony with a video of highlights of the league season. The first couple of awards were presented then our starters were served. Through the evening, food courses alternated with award presentations. It was a really swish do and I felt privileged to be there. The food was first class, a ham hock and pea terrine starter, excellent chicken with herb stuffing for main, and lemon possett for dessert. Jane tipped me a whisper that she’d slipped me a couple of extra table chocolates. During an interval in proceedings, I got talking to the Halifax FC Women people and found myself promising to pay them a visit next season.
With the party winding down, I decided to give the after disco a miss - I wouldn’t be dancing on my still intermittently twinging toe joint - and went around saying my goodbyes. The Moneyfields party and the MK Dons party had clearly got on like a house on fire, Karl announcing to me that they’d arranged a friendly in MK for pre-season and urging me to come along. I felt a bit of a heel knowing I wouldn’t be around at Moneys next season, but it wasn’t the time or place to poop the party so I settled for just wishing everyone “Have a great summer”.
Sunday morning the bus to the station was sixteen minutes late and then picked up people at absolutely every stop en route. I had to sprint from the bus stop, through the station gates and down to the platform and made it onto the train just in time. And the train was absolutely jam packed and I had to stand in a crowded doorway all the way to Euston. Thankfully got over to Waterloo with over half an hour to spare and headed straight for the Bagel Factory.
Karl and the Moneyfields people have been great to me the last three months and they deserve better than to be ghosted. So this week I sent them an email thanking them for their welcome and friendship, explaining that I won’t be around next season and wishing them all the best. I got a pleasant reply saying I’d be greatly missed but sending good wishes and saying I’d be welcome back any time.
That was a tricky hurdle to clear but now it’s done. In the end, I have to follow my heart. Anchors Away!
