On the Road - 2008/09

Shaftesbury - FA Cup

Well, here we go again. Another season and another lot of drivvelling from yours truely.
As it was a cup game and over 170 miles, a coach was hired so that we could take a few supporters to the match. A prompt start from the ground at 8.00am was the order of the day, and to everyones surprise, we set of on time. As newly elected vice-chairman of the football club, I had to step into the shoes of chaiman, Steve Kimberley, who was tied up with business. A few players were on the coach from the off, and with pick-ups at Truro and Indian Queens, we were running ahead of schedule by the time that we got to Exeter Services to meet manager, Andy Bowker accompanied by his young son.
Well, most of the supporteres were having a light snack, as it was only 10.30 in the morning, but I must of had a premonition because I tucked into a rather hearty Buger King Angus meal. A good decision as the next real food I would get was kindly supplied by the home team's committee. In order to arrive in good time, the driver of the coach had told us that a 45 minute break was all that we could take and so off we set again.
All was going well, until we hit the single lane bits of the A30/303. This was rather annoying, as up until then it looked as though we would make Shaftesbury before 12.30pm. The situation was not helped by the "old Twit" in his red Nissan Micra who could not drive any faster than 30mph. Well, when things start going wrong, they have a habit of getting worse and to cap it all, the driver of the coach astonished us all by pulling into a lay-by and informing us that he had to stop for a 15 minute break before he could drive any further as his tachograph had been flashing for a few minutes warning him that he needed a break. And we were only 3 miles from the ground!!!
Well, eventually we got there and were greeted by members of the committee. Smashing people, all of them. In previous years, I would have made my excuses and disappeared wtih the lads to the nearest pub for a hearty meal and a few pints, but my premonition was correct and I had to "hold the fort" in our chairmans absence. Still, it goes with the job, I guess.
As Town had travelled with a shortage of players, club Secretary, Mike Williams, was named as substitute goal-keeper and his warm-up consisted of trying, not always sucessfully, in stopping Bowker junior from scoring.
The game was very good with "Town" making nearly all the running, and without wanting to sound biased, we could have had four or five goals. The sucker punch was conceeding an equaliser with almost the last kick of the game. Not to worry, at least we didn't lose.After match the hospitality was first class, I have to say, being fed and watered courtesy of the home officials.
The journey home was punctuated by rather a copious quantity of toilet stops and a certain Mr. Wayne Pascoe nodding off and being oblivious to all that was going on. Roll on the replay!