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Just A City
Sep. 8th, 2023 09:50 pmTo the Smoke yesterday for London Seaward v QPR Women. Stayed at a Travelodge with a friendly lady called Jayne on the reception desk. Nice enough place, with a Harvester next door - called in for an excellent half rotisserie chicken with Bourbon sauce and sage and onion fries. Then the Tube to the ground.
Said hello to Sadrita and Tracey on the gate. James was going into the clubhouse, spotted me arriving and gave me a wave. Went down to pitchside where the girls were warming up. Met Dan by the dugout and got to say hello to Gavin and the girls as they came over to the wing to do sprints. Also at pitchside I met Ash, a fervent QPR Women fan who told me about his groundhopping travels so far this season and said he’d be attending all six of the Lionesses’ Nations League matches this autumn.
Joined Dave and Gary in the stand. Gary pointed out a mistake in the programme - I was listed as Jo’s sponsor instead of him. Early in the first half Dave joked that I ought to pay Gary the £200. Dave updated us on some of his groundhopping stats.
Kick-off was twenty minutes late, we never found out why. Seaward looked good until just before the break when QPR scored from a close range shot. Ten minutes into the second half the QPR centre forward went clean through on our keeper and rounded her to double their lead.
Seaward had their fair share of possession but our shots all went off target, except one that did go in the net but was given offside. On 70 minutes a QPR player struck an admittedly magnificent volley into the top corner. 3-0 and from there there was no way back.
With the late start and a lot of stoppage time having been played, I said my goodbyes to the lads, gave Dan a quick wave as I passed along pitchside and headed straight for the tube. Got a can of strawberry Mirinda from the Chinese takeaway across the road from the hotel. Jayne was sat outside the front door enjoying a ciggy break.
Back in the room, caught the second half of Celebs Go Dating, then The Comic Strip’s The Strike on That’s TV. Jennifer Saunders’ Meryl Streep always a delight. The final scene with Paul’s typewriter breaking after he heaves it across a field still haunting.
On the tube to Victoria this morning to catch the train home, kept my eyes open for any little remaining parts of ‘my’ East London. I spotted one of the old big roundel signs still on Leyton station. Had to change at Mile End station, replete with memories ; the signage is all new but at least the off white and light green decor is still the same. The big roundels and ‘Way Out’ signs on the platform at Aldgate East might be the sixties-made ones I knew and loved in my student days; or they might be replicas of recent vintage. If the latter, I’m glad they’ve at least kept the appearance.
Home to catch up with my recorded episodes of Crown Court and Rumpole of the Bailey.
First of tonight’s Top of the Pops double bill was from 1984, with Auntie Janice and Uncle John in fine form. Then came 1978. I didn’t remember Hylda Baker and Arthur Mullard doing TOTP! Dressed as John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John too! Oh what fun we used to have.
Said hello to Sadrita and Tracey on the gate. James was going into the clubhouse, spotted me arriving and gave me a wave. Went down to pitchside where the girls were warming up. Met Dan by the dugout and got to say hello to Gavin and the girls as they came over to the wing to do sprints. Also at pitchside I met Ash, a fervent QPR Women fan who told me about his groundhopping travels so far this season and said he’d be attending all six of the Lionesses’ Nations League matches this autumn.
Joined Dave and Gary in the stand. Gary pointed out a mistake in the programme - I was listed as Jo’s sponsor instead of him. Early in the first half Dave joked that I ought to pay Gary the £200. Dave updated us on some of his groundhopping stats.
Kick-off was twenty minutes late, we never found out why. Seaward looked good until just before the break when QPR scored from a close range shot. Ten minutes into the second half the QPR centre forward went clean through on our keeper and rounded her to double their lead.
Seaward had their fair share of possession but our shots all went off target, except one that did go in the net but was given offside. On 70 minutes a QPR player struck an admittedly magnificent volley into the top corner. 3-0 and from there there was no way back.
With the late start and a lot of stoppage time having been played, I said my goodbyes to the lads, gave Dan a quick wave as I passed along pitchside and headed straight for the tube. Got a can of strawberry Mirinda from the Chinese takeaway across the road from the hotel. Jayne was sat outside the front door enjoying a ciggy break.
Back in the room, caught the second half of Celebs Go Dating, then The Comic Strip’s The Strike on That’s TV. Jennifer Saunders’ Meryl Streep always a delight. The final scene with Paul’s typewriter breaking after he heaves it across a field still haunting.
On the tube to Victoria this morning to catch the train home, kept my eyes open for any little remaining parts of ‘my’ East London. I spotted one of the old big roundel signs still on Leyton station. Had to change at Mile End station, replete with memories ; the signage is all new but at least the off white and light green decor is still the same. The big roundels and ‘Way Out’ signs on the platform at Aldgate East might be the sixties-made ones I knew and loved in my student days; or they might be replicas of recent vintage. If the latter, I’m glad they’ve at least kept the appearance.
Home to catch up with my recorded episodes of Crown Court and Rumpole of the Bailey.
First of tonight’s Top of the Pops double bill was from 1984, with Auntie Janice and Uncle John in fine form. Then came 1978. I didn’t remember Hylda Baker and Arthur Mullard doing TOTP! Dressed as John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John too! Oh what fun we used to have.
