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Whistling In The Dark
Nov. 8th, 2024 09:42 pmWent down to Privett Park for Gosport Borough v AFC Totton. Before the game the HMS Sultan Volunteer Band were in the stand playing a selection of war time tunes. In the clubhouse, at the Supporters’ Club table a chap asked if he knew me from Twitter. I gave my username, he confirmed that he did and introduced himself as Rich.
A quarter of an hour before kick-off about a dozen veterans, flag bearers from the Army, Navy and Air Force, and the Rose and Thistle Pipe Band came out onto the pitch, the band playing Scotland The Brave. When everyone was in line the two teams came out and lined up behind the flag bearers. Our local MP read the Ode of Remembrance, we observed a minute’s silence, the band played the Last Post and the MP recited “When you go home, tell them of us and say, for your tomorrow we gave our today”. The veterans and flag bearers were led off to hospitality, while the band withdrew to outside the perimeter fence to allow the players to get ready - but they played on right up to kick-off.
As expected, there was a bumper crowd this evening, with the stand mostly heaving - the only empty spaces were ones with diabolical views - and people standing three deep around the perimeter all round the half of the pitch nearest the clubhouse and entrances. There were clearly some Pompey fans who’d come over for an extra fix among us, since every so often someone shouted “Scummer!” at a Totton player, coach or fan (Totton being near Southampton). A Totton player going down in need of medical treatment was treated to chants of “Nee-nah, nee-nah” like an ambulance siren.
On the pitch Totton dominated, scoring two early goals while Gosport never found a way past the visitors’ defence. During first half injury time the floodlights went out. So did all the lights in the ground - the stand and clubhouse were plunged into darkness. The only light anywhere came from a visiting burger van with its own generator. I had to visit the Gents - and joined a group of guys peeing in the dark.
Everyone stood around waiting for the power to come back on, or for news of any kind. Much needed humour came from the Boro ultras on the hardstanding in front of the clubhouse, singing “We’ll play in the dark, we’re Gosport Borough, we’ll play in the dark” and, directed at the Totton fans, “You’ve got six fingers, we’ve only got five”.
The plan had been for the Rose & Thistle band to return to the pitch at half time. Before long, despite the darkness the band did appear on the pitch. As they started up, one wag shouted “Like the band played as the Titanic went down”. The band played a few airs, then during one tune two blasts of the referee’s whistle were heard. Match abandoned.
I thanked a lady from the Rose & Thistle as they went past, then set off on the weary walk home. Going down the road I passed through a group of younger fans still drinking their pints in plastic glasses; they made way for me happily enough.
The great shame is all the extra people who probably attended Boro for the first time this evening; after this abandonment many of them are sadly unlikely to return. Back over to us diehards to keep the flag flying.
A quarter of an hour before kick-off about a dozen veterans, flag bearers from the Army, Navy and Air Force, and the Rose and Thistle Pipe Band came out onto the pitch, the band playing Scotland The Brave. When everyone was in line the two teams came out and lined up behind the flag bearers. Our local MP read the Ode of Remembrance, we observed a minute’s silence, the band played the Last Post and the MP recited “When you go home, tell them of us and say, for your tomorrow we gave our today”. The veterans and flag bearers were led off to hospitality, while the band withdrew to outside the perimeter fence to allow the players to get ready - but they played on right up to kick-off.
As expected, there was a bumper crowd this evening, with the stand mostly heaving - the only empty spaces were ones with diabolical views - and people standing three deep around the perimeter all round the half of the pitch nearest the clubhouse and entrances. There were clearly some Pompey fans who’d come over for an extra fix among us, since every so often someone shouted “Scummer!” at a Totton player, coach or fan (Totton being near Southampton). A Totton player going down in need of medical treatment was treated to chants of “Nee-nah, nee-nah” like an ambulance siren.
On the pitch Totton dominated, scoring two early goals while Gosport never found a way past the visitors’ defence. During first half injury time the floodlights went out. So did all the lights in the ground - the stand and clubhouse were plunged into darkness. The only light anywhere came from a visiting burger van with its own generator. I had to visit the Gents - and joined a group of guys peeing in the dark.
Everyone stood around waiting for the power to come back on, or for news of any kind. Much needed humour came from the Boro ultras on the hardstanding in front of the clubhouse, singing “We’ll play in the dark, we’re Gosport Borough, we’ll play in the dark” and, directed at the Totton fans, “You’ve got six fingers, we’ve only got five”.
The plan had been for the Rose & Thistle band to return to the pitch at half time. Before long, despite the darkness the band did appear on the pitch. As they started up, one wag shouted “Like the band played as the Titanic went down”. The band played a few airs, then during one tune two blasts of the referee’s whistle were heard. Match abandoned.
I thanked a lady from the Rose & Thistle as they went past, then set off on the weary walk home. Going down the road I passed through a group of younger fans still drinking their pints in plastic glasses; they made way for me happily enough.
The great shame is all the extra people who probably attended Boro for the first time this evening; after this abandonment many of them are sadly unlikely to return. Back over to us diehards to keep the flag flying.
