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Back to the Smoke at last on Sunday, for London Seaward’s pre-season friendly at Barking.
East London, but l saw little of *my* East London, since the Jubilee Line took me straight from Waterloo to West Ham, and from there out to Upney the only old familiar sight was going through Plaistow station - bringing of course a pang of nostalgia for those 7 happy weeks at Uni hanging out with two legendary ladies before it went pear-shaped.
It was before noon when I arrived at Upney tube and there were no open eateries in the vicinity. Following the signs I walked around until I found the local leisure centre. There was a turnstile there where you had to show a QR code to gain entry, but after the lady on the front desk asked “Can I help you?” and I explained that I was just hoping to use the loo and visit the café. There was no substantial food on so I settled for a bag of crisps and a Diet Coke from the friendly ladies on duty.
Happily, the leisure centre was virtually next door to the football ground. Walking past the athletics track in between, I noticed a banner there saying ‘Euro Dagenham FC’. A new football club for the region? Best of luck to them.
Arriving in the ground, the first people I met were Jo and some of the other players. Jo introduced me to the others, saying “he’s our biggest fan, he travels from…where do you live?”
“Gosport.”
One or two of the others were visibly impressed. Jo went on “We’ve signed some new players, hope you’re happy with them”. She let me know where the friendlies for the next two weeks would be.
Groundhopper Dave was in the bar and we had a catch-up chat. We got talking to a father and daughter from Barking (her sister was one of the home players). I noticed a banner on the wall of the bar celebrating West Ham winning the Europa Conference League. “Wherever you go in East London, you can’t escape the Hammers,” I observed.
“Unfortunately,” added Dave, a Leyton Orient fan.
The Barking father said how West Ham were celebrating a tinpot trophy. I asked who he supported.
“Dare I say it? Tottenham.”
I assured him I harboured no ill will towards the Lilywhites. To his asking us the same, I indicated Dave and said “He’s Orient. I’m mostly into women’s football and non-league. If I have a League team at all it’s Daggers.” (Seems that when I visit East London I slide automatically into East London mode.)
“Oh no, that’s almost as bad as West Ham.”
Dave reminisced about the FA Cup tie in November 1992, in Dagenham & Redbridge’s first season, when they’d hosted Leyton Orient, the O’s winning 5-4.
Manager Dan was absent. Outside, I met coaches James and Gavin, in charge for the day, who gave me warm handshakes. The match was good end-to-end stuff, Barking took the lead late in the first half and Katherine Long struck home a beautiful equaliser on the hour. That was how it ended. Seaward recovered well after going behind and had much the better of the game in the second half, so that’s encouraging.
At the end of the game it started to rain, and by the time I was standing by the tunnel saying my goodbyes to the girls on my way out the rain intensified. Thankfully Dave had tipped me off that there was a bus stop at the top of the road with buses to Barking tube.
East London, but l saw little of *my* East London, since the Jubilee Line took me straight from Waterloo to West Ham, and from there out to Upney the only old familiar sight was going through Plaistow station - bringing of course a pang of nostalgia for those 7 happy weeks at Uni hanging out with two legendary ladies before it went pear-shaped.
It was before noon when I arrived at Upney tube and there were no open eateries in the vicinity. Following the signs I walked around until I found the local leisure centre. There was a turnstile there where you had to show a QR code to gain entry, but after the lady on the front desk asked “Can I help you?” and I explained that I was just hoping to use the loo and visit the café. There was no substantial food on so I settled for a bag of crisps and a Diet Coke from the friendly ladies on duty.
Happily, the leisure centre was virtually next door to the football ground. Walking past the athletics track in between, I noticed a banner there saying ‘Euro Dagenham FC’. A new football club for the region? Best of luck to them.
Arriving in the ground, the first people I met were Jo and some of the other players. Jo introduced me to the others, saying “he’s our biggest fan, he travels from…where do you live?”
“Gosport.”
One or two of the others were visibly impressed. Jo went on “We’ve signed some new players, hope you’re happy with them”. She let me know where the friendlies for the next two weeks would be.
Groundhopper Dave was in the bar and we had a catch-up chat. We got talking to a father and daughter from Barking (her sister was one of the home players). I noticed a banner on the wall of the bar celebrating West Ham winning the Europa Conference League. “Wherever you go in East London, you can’t escape the Hammers,” I observed.
“Unfortunately,” added Dave, a Leyton Orient fan.
The Barking father said how West Ham were celebrating a tinpot trophy. I asked who he supported.
“Dare I say it? Tottenham.”
I assured him I harboured no ill will towards the Lilywhites. To his asking us the same, I indicated Dave and said “He’s Orient. I’m mostly into women’s football and non-league. If I have a League team at all it’s Daggers.” (Seems that when I visit East London I slide automatically into East London mode.)
“Oh no, that’s almost as bad as West Ham.”
Dave reminisced about the FA Cup tie in November 1992, in Dagenham & Redbridge’s first season, when they’d hosted Leyton Orient, the O’s winning 5-4.
Manager Dan was absent. Outside, I met coaches James and Gavin, in charge for the day, who gave me warm handshakes. The match was good end-to-end stuff, Barking took the lead late in the first half and Katherine Long struck home a beautiful equaliser on the hour. That was how it ended. Seaward recovered well after going behind and had much the better of the game in the second half, so that’s encouraging.
At the end of the game it started to rain, and by the time I was standing by the tunnel saying my goodbyes to the girls on my way out the rain intensified. Thankfully Dave had tipped me off that there was a bus stop at the top of the road with buses to Barking tube.
