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Here Comes The Rain Again
Jan. 5th, 2025 08:59 pmBiblical rain overnight washed out AFC Portchester Ladies’ scheduled League Cup tie with Wimborne Town Women today.
Learned of the postponement while watching The Big Job on Talking Pictures TV. A lesser fan would have settled for a day indoors with feet up in front of the telly partaking of leftover Christmas nibbles. But after the warm welcome from Stacy, Michele and the rest of the Portchester Ladies reserves at their game before Christmas, the news that their game at Winchester City Flyers Reserves was on was my cue to head there.
My train from Fareham to Eastleigh was delayed, missing the connection direct to Winchester; I had to take one changing at Southampton Airport Parkway. By the time I arrived at Winchester station rain was pelting down so I headed straight for the front taxi at the rank rather than the 25 minute walk to the ground.
The Portchester players were over by the far perimeter fence. Kevin, the assistant coach, said hello and shook my hand. Stacy, Michele and Lynsey all came over to say hi; Michele asked how my train journey had been and asked Kat if they could give me a lift after the game. Kat agreed.
There were a couple of dozen other spectators, most naturally supporting the home side, but I think the couple sat just along from me were either favouring Portchester or neutral as they were unfamiliar with the Winchester team. Also near me was Hayley, an old friend from Portsmouth Women who’s now Winchester City Flyers’ media lady.
Winchester opened the scoring about halfway through the first half, but almost immediately Stacy equalised with a beautiful volley from outside the box. At one point Michele was right by the perimeter fence in front of the stand when the ball went out of play. I yelled “Go on Miche” and got a smile and a wave.
Early in the second half Portchester got a penalty. Alas, Stacy shot it high and wide. Later Elena Butcher scored a brace to give Portchy the win.
Sam, a first team squadder and my sponsee, turned out for the reserves today. As the players came off the pitch she stopped to clutch hands with me and asked if I’d be watching the firsts next week. She said the state of the Portchester pitch this morning, they might have had a decent game of water polo but not football.
Michele and Kat came back out of the changing room before long and motioned me to follow them. Sophie, another of the team, travelled with us. On the drive the three girls picked the bones of the game. I mentioned that I thought Michele, Stacy and Kat all played well and that it was three points well earned. We dropped Sophie on her estate in Bursledon then we said our goodbyes to Kat at her house, also in Bursledon, where Michele’s car was parked. She and I compared Christmases, New Years and personal lives on the way to Fareham, where she dropped me, and I moseyed on to Rancho’s Steakhouse.
Learned of the postponement while watching The Big Job on Talking Pictures TV. A lesser fan would have settled for a day indoors with feet up in front of the telly partaking of leftover Christmas nibbles. But after the warm welcome from Stacy, Michele and the rest of the Portchester Ladies reserves at their game before Christmas, the news that their game at Winchester City Flyers Reserves was on was my cue to head there.
My train from Fareham to Eastleigh was delayed, missing the connection direct to Winchester; I had to take one changing at Southampton Airport Parkway. By the time I arrived at Winchester station rain was pelting down so I headed straight for the front taxi at the rank rather than the 25 minute walk to the ground.
The Portchester players were over by the far perimeter fence. Kevin, the assistant coach, said hello and shook my hand. Stacy, Michele and Lynsey all came over to say hi; Michele asked how my train journey had been and asked Kat if they could give me a lift after the game. Kat agreed.
There were a couple of dozen other spectators, most naturally supporting the home side, but I think the couple sat just along from me were either favouring Portchester or neutral as they were unfamiliar with the Winchester team. Also near me was Hayley, an old friend from Portsmouth Women who’s now Winchester City Flyers’ media lady.
Winchester opened the scoring about halfway through the first half, but almost immediately Stacy equalised with a beautiful volley from outside the box. At one point Michele was right by the perimeter fence in front of the stand when the ball went out of play. I yelled “Go on Miche” and got a smile and a wave.
Early in the second half Portchester got a penalty. Alas, Stacy shot it high and wide. Later Elena Butcher scored a brace to give Portchy the win.
Sam, a first team squadder and my sponsee, turned out for the reserves today. As the players came off the pitch she stopped to clutch hands with me and asked if I’d be watching the firsts next week. She said the state of the Portchester pitch this morning, they might have had a decent game of water polo but not football.
Michele and Kat came back out of the changing room before long and motioned me to follow them. Sophie, another of the team, travelled with us. On the drive the three girls picked the bones of the game. I mentioned that I thought Michele, Stacy and Kat all played well and that it was three points well earned. We dropped Sophie on her estate in Bursledon then we said our goodbyes to Kat at her house, also in Bursledon, where Michele’s car was parked. She and I compared Christmases, New Years and personal lives on the way to Fareham, where she dropped me, and I moseyed on to Rancho’s Steakhouse.
