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Island Girl
Mar. 21st, 2025 10:25 pmSaw Showaddywaddy at Fareham Live on Saturday night. Sadly poor Jade was too ill to come. Clad in brightly coloured long suits, they put on a great show, playing all their hit singles, and called for a special round of applause for Romeo Challenger, the one original member still in the group. Of course everyone was up and bopping to Under The Moon Of Love!
Sunday over to the Isle of Wight to see the Portchester Ladies Reserves at Shanklin in the Hampshire Women’s Intermediate Cup quarterfinal. Called at a very nice little cafe called Blueberry’s for lunch then wandered on to the ground.
As they came off from their pre-match warm-up, Kalli, Stacy and Michele said they’d messaged me on the ferry, thinking I was on the same car ferry as them. Checking my Facebook I noticed they had indeed commented that they were on Deck 4. I explained that I’d taken the FastCat. Stacy said they’d all be going on to a pub called The Sloop, “near the car ferry”, and urged me to join them - though she apologetically said they had no car space. I guessed, though, that even taking the bus I’d have time at least for a drink with them, and couldn’t resist a ferry trip back with the girls so went on the Wightlink website and booked a foot passenger ticket.
Shanklin took the lead midway through the first half. Millie in goal, and Lisa and Stacy in defence, kept them at bay the rest of the time, but the Shanklin defence soaked up all Portchester’s counter-attacks. It seemed the girls were heading for their first defeat of the season until, in the last minute of the game, Portchester were awarded a free kick just outside the area. Stacy took it and unleashed a banana-kick that curled behind the keeper and into the net. Cue wild celebrations from me and the substitutes.
And so it was penalties. Liz, Lynsey and Stacy all scored; so did Shanklin’s first three kickers. Michele scored. Shanklin’s fourth taker skied it over the bar. Bella stepped up and struck home sweet and low to win the match. I hung around to clap the girls off the pitch and congratulate them then power-walked to the bus stop in Lamorbey Road.
I had to take one bus to a stop on the outskirts of Newport, then cross the road and get one to Wootton Bridge. The Sloop was close by. The girls, of course, were either well into their meals or already finished, but they were made up to see me. They’d saved me a seat at the end of the table, opposite Stacy and Michele. Stacy bought me a Rekorderlig then I headed straight for the carvery. I requested a four meat medley from the friendly black chef, who, seeing my team hat, asked if I was the coach.
“I’m just a supporter. The older lady with the long blonde hair is the coach.”
The chef declared himself a supporter of our team, and said he was going to ask for a photo with us. As I was back at the table tucking into the excellent food, he did come over to us, and the daughter of one of the players took a pic of him with us all.
Charley and Lisa said they had room in their minibus and offered me a lift to Gosport. We drove along to the car ferry and parked in the waiting lane as directed by the ferry steward. I hopped out to go and check in as a foot passenger. After finding no staff in the terminal building, where most of the girls were drinking tea and coffee, I walked all the way up to the front entrance booth, where the man told me to go down the path on the right-hand side. I followed the path right down to a metal gate by the place where the ferry was due to dock.
The boat arrived, I boarded with the handful of other foot passengers, then climbed the several flights of metal stairs to Deck 4, figuring that was likely to be the girls’ hangout again. Sure enough Paula soon found me, followed closely by the others. We spent the journey back discussing upcoming matches, the girls’ lives with their partners and their jobs, and, after my mentioning that I’ve given up chocolate for Lent, everyone’s favourite chocolate - Kalli asked Lynsey whether she’d be getting an Easter egg from her.
The call came and we made our way down to the minibus. As we sat waiting to be let off, the girls went on talking about all sorts. Never a dull moment with these lasses. I observed that I wished I’d been with them from the start of the season and written a fly-on-the-wall memoir. Charley reckoned it would have been a best seller.
Charley and Lisa dropped off the Fareham based girls then headed on into Gosport, dropping each of the Gosport based girls and then me.
Wednesday I travelled up to see the Portchester Ladies Reserves at Windsor & Eton in the Combined Counties League Women’s Trophy. Walking from Windsor & Eton Riverside station round to the bus stop, the castle towers over the road.
Stayed at a B&B where a very nice lady called Caroline showed me around. Unpacked then chilled in front of the telly until it was time to stroll over to the ground.
Stag Meadow has changed a bit since my previous visit in 2006. The terraces behind the goal that I stood on then are gone; the areas behind the goals are fenced off, presumably earmarked for future development. After a chat with assistant manager Kev (Charley couldn’t make this one) and saying hello to the girls as they warmed up on a patch of grass at the back, I headed for the bar and met Trevor. Catch-up chat with him over a pint.
Stacy and Michele were absent because of childcare commitments, Paula and Kat were also missing, and a couple of third team players had been drafted in to make up the numbers. Windsor opened the scoring after a few minutes, Kalli equalised almost straight away, moments later Windsor got a second. I remarked to the two third team girls’ mothers behind me “It’s going to end up something like 5-5.” In the end Portchester were 3-2 up at half time, then stepped up a gear after the break and ran out 6-3 winners.
As the players came off Kalli, Lynsey and Sophie B thanked me for coming. Kev asked if I wanted a lift home and I explained that I was staying over. He said he lived in Gosport, and always to ask him if I wanted a lift to a midweek away match, and we exchanged phone numbers.
Thursday Caroline was an A1 hostess again serving breakfast. Train back. Home in time for Crown Court.
Sunday over to the Isle of Wight to see the Portchester Ladies Reserves at Shanklin in the Hampshire Women’s Intermediate Cup quarterfinal. Called at a very nice little cafe called Blueberry’s for lunch then wandered on to the ground.
As they came off from their pre-match warm-up, Kalli, Stacy and Michele said they’d messaged me on the ferry, thinking I was on the same car ferry as them. Checking my Facebook I noticed they had indeed commented that they were on Deck 4. I explained that I’d taken the FastCat. Stacy said they’d all be going on to a pub called The Sloop, “near the car ferry”, and urged me to join them - though she apologetically said they had no car space. I guessed, though, that even taking the bus I’d have time at least for a drink with them, and couldn’t resist a ferry trip back with the girls so went on the Wightlink website and booked a foot passenger ticket.
Shanklin took the lead midway through the first half. Millie in goal, and Lisa and Stacy in defence, kept them at bay the rest of the time, but the Shanklin defence soaked up all Portchester’s counter-attacks. It seemed the girls were heading for their first defeat of the season until, in the last minute of the game, Portchester were awarded a free kick just outside the area. Stacy took it and unleashed a banana-kick that curled behind the keeper and into the net. Cue wild celebrations from me and the substitutes.
And so it was penalties. Liz, Lynsey and Stacy all scored; so did Shanklin’s first three kickers. Michele scored. Shanklin’s fourth taker skied it over the bar. Bella stepped up and struck home sweet and low to win the match. I hung around to clap the girls off the pitch and congratulate them then power-walked to the bus stop in Lamorbey Road.
I had to take one bus to a stop on the outskirts of Newport, then cross the road and get one to Wootton Bridge. The Sloop was close by. The girls, of course, were either well into their meals or already finished, but they were made up to see me. They’d saved me a seat at the end of the table, opposite Stacy and Michele. Stacy bought me a Rekorderlig then I headed straight for the carvery. I requested a four meat medley from the friendly black chef, who, seeing my team hat, asked if I was the coach.
“I’m just a supporter. The older lady with the long blonde hair is the coach.”
The chef declared himself a supporter of our team, and said he was going to ask for a photo with us. As I was back at the table tucking into the excellent food, he did come over to us, and the daughter of one of the players took a pic of him with us all.
Charley and Lisa said they had room in their minibus and offered me a lift to Gosport. We drove along to the car ferry and parked in the waiting lane as directed by the ferry steward. I hopped out to go and check in as a foot passenger. After finding no staff in the terminal building, where most of the girls were drinking tea and coffee, I walked all the way up to the front entrance booth, where the man told me to go down the path on the right-hand side. I followed the path right down to a metal gate by the place where the ferry was due to dock.
The boat arrived, I boarded with the handful of other foot passengers, then climbed the several flights of metal stairs to Deck 4, figuring that was likely to be the girls’ hangout again. Sure enough Paula soon found me, followed closely by the others. We spent the journey back discussing upcoming matches, the girls’ lives with their partners and their jobs, and, after my mentioning that I’ve given up chocolate for Lent, everyone’s favourite chocolate - Kalli asked Lynsey whether she’d be getting an Easter egg from her.
The call came and we made our way down to the minibus. As we sat waiting to be let off, the girls went on talking about all sorts. Never a dull moment with these lasses. I observed that I wished I’d been with them from the start of the season and written a fly-on-the-wall memoir. Charley reckoned it would have been a best seller.
Charley and Lisa dropped off the Fareham based girls then headed on into Gosport, dropping each of the Gosport based girls and then me.
Wednesday I travelled up to see the Portchester Ladies Reserves at Windsor & Eton in the Combined Counties League Women’s Trophy. Walking from Windsor & Eton Riverside station round to the bus stop, the castle towers over the road.
Stayed at a B&B where a very nice lady called Caroline showed me around. Unpacked then chilled in front of the telly until it was time to stroll over to the ground.
Stag Meadow has changed a bit since my previous visit in 2006. The terraces behind the goal that I stood on then are gone; the areas behind the goals are fenced off, presumably earmarked for future development. After a chat with assistant manager Kev (Charley couldn’t make this one) and saying hello to the girls as they warmed up on a patch of grass at the back, I headed for the bar and met Trevor. Catch-up chat with him over a pint.
Stacy and Michele were absent because of childcare commitments, Paula and Kat were also missing, and a couple of third team players had been drafted in to make up the numbers. Windsor opened the scoring after a few minutes, Kalli equalised almost straight away, moments later Windsor got a second. I remarked to the two third team girls’ mothers behind me “It’s going to end up something like 5-5.” In the end Portchester were 3-2 up at half time, then stepped up a gear after the break and ran out 6-3 winners.
As the players came off Kalli, Lynsey and Sophie B thanked me for coming. Kev asked if I wanted a lift home and I explained that I was staying over. He said he lived in Gosport, and always to ask him if I wanted a lift to a midweek away match, and we exchanged phone numbers.
Thursday Caroline was an A1 hostess again serving breakfast. Train back. Home in time for Crown Court.
