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eiffel_71Two evening visits to Portchester this week. Tuesday the men met Havant & Waterlooville again, this time in the Russell Cotes Cup. Lewis was AWOL - presumably pressure of work - but Matt, Dan, Justin, Craig and Barry were all there so I joined them on the Curva for the first half and behind the goal for the second. Havant got a penalty on the quarter hour and added a second on half time. Marley Ridge turned a cross in beautifully to give us hope but Havant buried us with a late third. The lads behind the goal weren’t too bothered, they were saying the league is the priority; as we’re still in four competitions, Matt said doing a Quintuple would have been greedy.
I was back last night for the Ladies, who were also playing their Havant & Waterlooville counterparts, in the Portsmouth Women’s Cup. Arrived at the clubhouse to see Trevor, the former Havant secretary. “Still taking an interest?” I asked. He said he was more interested in us. He explained that his time at Havant had run its course, with there being new people there now, and he was joining Portchester Ladies as an adviser. Trevor asked how I’d ended up following Portchester, so I explained that after I moved back to the area in 2020, Michele had got in touch and asked me to sponsor her.
A little while later, the Niven sisters appeared in the clubhouse. I motioned Michele over to Trevor and said “This is the lady who brought me here four and a half years ago”. They already knew each other so fell to chatting, and Michele told him this would be her last season. Trev seemed surprised, so Michele said “I am 47.” Trev replied “You don’t look it.” Smoothie.
I met Sara, my favourite first team player, out injured for the rest of the season, behind the goal, got a catch up chat with her and wished her all the best for her operation. I sat in the main stand for the beginning of the game, but it soon became apparent I was outnumbered by Havant people. I felt conspicuous being the only person in the stand cheering Mia Adaway’s opening goal. It wasn’t long before Portchester made it two from a goalmouth scramble. I didn’t spot who got the crucial touch, so walked round to the far side where the Portchester reserve squad were gathered by the dugout. As I was heading round there, Portchester added a third. People were congratulating Eilidh, so I assumed she had scored. When I reached the reserves, they said Brooke had scored the second and the third was an own goal, from a cross by Eilidh.
I stood with Stacy and Cally for the rest of the game. They talked a bit about their own last two games and their upcoming match this Sunday. With nobody using the pitch in the stadium this Sunday, Cally was hoping they’d get to play on it, rather than the outside pitch where Ladies’ reserve games are usually played. She didn’t see why they shouldn’t play on the main pitch. I mused “Maybe it’s the cost of opening the ground”. Stacy reckoned “They’d make that up on bar takings”. Sadly, in my experience the reserves just don’t get enough people there to make that the case. “Pothole heaven,” Cally called the outside pitch.
Havant pulled one back, then Charlotte made it 4-1. That was how it ended.
It was confirmed this afternoon that Sunday’s game’s on the outside pitch.
My right middle toes pain has been back for over a week. A week of Naproxen failed to shift it, so presumably not gout. Thank goodness Natasha had a cancellation slot at the end of this month.
I was back last night for the Ladies, who were also playing their Havant & Waterlooville counterparts, in the Portsmouth Women’s Cup. Arrived at the clubhouse to see Trevor, the former Havant secretary. “Still taking an interest?” I asked. He said he was more interested in us. He explained that his time at Havant had run its course, with there being new people there now, and he was joining Portchester Ladies as an adviser. Trevor asked how I’d ended up following Portchester, so I explained that after I moved back to the area in 2020, Michele had got in touch and asked me to sponsor her.
A little while later, the Niven sisters appeared in the clubhouse. I motioned Michele over to Trevor and said “This is the lady who brought me here four and a half years ago”. They already knew each other so fell to chatting, and Michele told him this would be her last season. Trev seemed surprised, so Michele said “I am 47.” Trev replied “You don’t look it.” Smoothie.
I met Sara, my favourite first team player, out injured for the rest of the season, behind the goal, got a catch up chat with her and wished her all the best for her operation. I sat in the main stand for the beginning of the game, but it soon became apparent I was outnumbered by Havant people. I felt conspicuous being the only person in the stand cheering Mia Adaway’s opening goal. It wasn’t long before Portchester made it two from a goalmouth scramble. I didn’t spot who got the crucial touch, so walked round to the far side where the Portchester reserve squad were gathered by the dugout. As I was heading round there, Portchester added a third. People were congratulating Eilidh, so I assumed she had scored. When I reached the reserves, they said Brooke had scored the second and the third was an own goal, from a cross by Eilidh.
I stood with Stacy and Cally for the rest of the game. They talked a bit about their own last two games and their upcoming match this Sunday. With nobody using the pitch in the stadium this Sunday, Cally was hoping they’d get to play on it, rather than the outside pitch where Ladies’ reserve games are usually played. She didn’t see why they shouldn’t play on the main pitch. I mused “Maybe it’s the cost of opening the ground”. Stacy reckoned “They’d make that up on bar takings”. Sadly, in my experience the reserves just don’t get enough people there to make that the case. “Pothole heaven,” Cally called the outside pitch.
Havant pulled one back, then Charlotte made it 4-1. That was how it ended.
It was confirmed this afternoon that Sunday’s game’s on the outside pitch.
My right middle toes pain has been back for over a week. A week of Naproxen failed to shift it, so presumably not gout. Thank goodness Natasha had a cancellation slot at the end of this month.
