Usually once or twice a season my friend Del and I exchange trips to see our respective teams play. This season I was to be entertained with the Good Friday match at Aldershot.
It's rare my appearances at a Port Vale match have the same good luck as Del's reciprocal visits to Craven Cottage. However it has to be said my visits are, with one exception usually, to Port Vale's away matches. I expect, given their chronic away form, the outcomes would not be too dissimilar were we to try a Fulham away match.
However, on this occasion I was treated to an all too rare Port Vale victory. Louis Dodds was the hero of the day scoring both goals in the two - one victory. The Aldershot consolation came from a deflection late in the game. At least with Port Vale having the run of play it silenced the incessant beating of drums coming from the away fans stand. Its was enough to make you want to beat your head against a wall.
Being used to visiting a Premier League ground does spoil you in that many of the teams from the lower divisions can barely survive financially. This often shows in some of the grounds I have visited which are part way through renovations they've not been able to afford completion of. Aldershots ground being no exception to that with only having about two and a half usable stands.
(c Rotton Yarns)
(c Rotton yarns)
(c Rotton Yarnns)
The trip down to Aldershot on the train was quite interesting, just running into Kings Cross we saw the first of three foxes we were to see on the trip. It was the second leg of the journey from Waterloo to Aldershot via Woking that was the most interesting. Due to Bank Holiday engineering works, the train had to take on convoluted route via local branch lines for much of the way. This entailed it travelling so slowly that butterflies were easily identifiable as the fluttered along the track side vegetation in the warm spring sun. We managed to see a few orange tips and brimstones, along with another couple of foxes on the trip.
The long publicised arrival of my birthday celebrations came with the realisation of a potential spanner in the works. Crucial to my timings was good transport connections, however the Victoria line was closed for the weekend to carry-out engineering works. This was not what I wanted to hear.
For those not familiar with the underground system, the quickest tried and tested route is take the District Line from Putney Bridge to Victoria changing there, onto the Victoria Line in order to reach Kings Cross. Euston, today's destination, is the stop before. Sometimes you need to change at Earls Court en-route.
To circumvent the dilemma would require staying on the District Line to Embankment and the getting the Northern Line to Euston. This has far more stops, thus adding time to the journey.
Setting off in mid-morning I headed into town with another friend and called into the Chancery Pub in Lillie Road, Fulham for our lunch. Always a good place to go for a pre-match pint and some basic in-expensive pub grub, all the better that on match days you get 25% off a meal with your match tickets - not bad as most of the food is less than a tenner in the first place. However, Plaice is not on the menu and the hiring policy is not as it used to be :o).
Leaving there we headed for the game and settled in our seats ready for the match. It looked like I was going to be in for a real birthday treat two minutes into the game. That man Clint, with what must have been his first touch of the ball gave us the lead, closely followed eleven minutes later with a second from Damien Duff. What a start to the day.
Unfortunately, my elation was short lived as the team then took on the role Muppet impressionists, reverting to an afternoon of sloppy play, particularly in midfield.
Granted we hit the bar and post a couple of times, but throughout the eighty minutes of the game I saw it was excruciatingly painful to watch and deservedly, Norwich did pull one goal back after 77 minutes.
As my colleague pointed out, if you took away the two goals and woodwork incidents in a series of highlights from the game, you'd have wondered why Norwich didn't score more.
With the transport spanner to worry about and a team playing like Muppets, I decided I daren't risk leaving any later than with ten minutes of play left. It took 50 minutes to reach Euston which gave me plenty of time to catch my breath and train. I'm sure if I'd left it until the end of the game I would have been cutting it more than fine. So OK I cheated a bit in my attempt to do the dash, but surely Joe was going to put on a better show for me than Fulham - I hoped so.
The train made good time to Birmingham New Street, arriving on time at 19:30, just when Joe was due to come on. Unlike some bands I've gone to see, who tend to come on stage anything up to 30 minutes after they're due, that's not the case with Joe. I think 15 minutes might be his maximum and he's very professional. I quickly found a taxi which took me the five minutes to the NIA gig venue. Then dashing into the arena, to find my two friends who'd arrived earlier, I saw Joe up there halfway through the first number of his set, ironically called 'Slow Train'. The video below was recorded by someone on the night.
What a gig, he was on for two hours plus a half hour encore set. He also had a guest up on stage in the rotund shape of Bernie Marsden former guitarist of Whitesnake. They duetted on tow numbers: Further-on Up The Road and Blues Deluxe. The video below of them playing Blues Deluxe, was recorded the day before at Bournemouth International Centre and features someone called Rus Scagell along with Bernie.
He also played the title track, Driving Toward the Daylight, from his forthcoming album, as video'd on the night.
What an awesome gig and great way to celebrate my birthday. It was good fun to achieve the little challenge I had set myself. Great company all day with friends at the football and gig.
Great driving by Charlie to get us back from the gig and the night was still to finish with a slight annoying twist. Having dropped Ruth home in MK we then headed back to the motorway, deeming the alternative routes we passed to not be as fast as our chosen option. The only drawback with our plan was, unbeknown to us, our exit junction was closed and we had to go on a 20 mile detour to get home via the next junction.
While being off-line, I seem to have accumulated a fair amount of blog material to catch up with. Following my trip to Regents Park, London on the 9th February, I was soon back again on the 11th to watch Fulham entertain their visitors from the Potteries, none other than Stoke City.
Although a glorious day of sunshine it was extremely cold, but unlike my previous trip to the Cottage there was plenty to cheer about and keep warm in what was probably the teams best performance I'd seen all year.
Good to be back in the Hammersmith End as the lads warm up before the match (c Rotton Yarns)
It took just 16 minutes for the Whites to take a well deserved lead through a début goal from their new Russian signing Pavel Pogrebnyak. Twelve minutes later, the score doubled when 'that man Dempsey' rattled a shot against the bar which rebounded into the net off the Stoke goalkeeper Thomas Sorenson to qualify it as an own goal.
The Stoke boot boys were clearly rattled by the two goal scorers and responded in a way only they know how with a stream of cynical tackles on the two. This led to a couple of bookings in quick succession for fouls on Dempsey, while after 15 minutes into the second half, Pogrebnyak had to eventually leave the field carrying the injury he sustained in the first half from a wicked tackle.
Fulhams' second half performance did begin to wane and they allowed Stoke back into the game after a corner from which Ryan Shawcross’ flicked header at the near post over Mark Schwarzer and into the back of the net. There was a couple of close moments when Dempsey might have done better and put the ball away, but for the quick reactions of Sorenson to deny him. In the first, he broke through the off-side trap only to have Sorneson read the situation to run out and smother the ball. In the second effort, which was literally the last kick of the game in injury time, Dempsey rounded the goalkeeper but the angle had been made acute enough to see the ball clip the foot of the post.
All in all a good performance by the team and the day finished off nicely with my football travelling friends and a nice Indian meal at the Naweb Lounge in St Neots.
Saturday saw an early start for a trip to the London Natural History Museum.
The London Natural History Museum (c Rotton Yarns)
Two exhibitions to be viewed - the Scott Exhibition and Wildlife Photographer of the Year and both well worth anyone seeing. The Scott Exhibition is an amazing in depth look beyond that of the ill fated and failed attempt of five men to reach the South Pole, thwarted by the Norwegian Polar explorer Roald Amundsen. The expedition was also responsible for gathering a vast amount of valuable scientific data from detailed meteorological and geological surveys, to the collecting and recording of rocks, and all forms of wildlife. The expedition had set itself many objectives and in doing so was probably the reason why the men failed to reach the Pole before Amundsen who had but the one goal in mind. The exhibition tells the story through the diaries and photographs, along with an array of artifacts from the expedition, illustrating the harsh conditions endured by the team over the three years and just what a forbidding place the Antarctic is.
The Wildlife Photographer exhibition was a complete contrast to the earlier Scott exhibition. An endless array of simply stunning photos some more so than others, I think it would be hard to pick an outright favorite there were so many I liked and for all different reasons. I think all you can do to appreciate the diversity of it all is to click on the link above and look at the pictures for yourself.
Between exhibitions we feasted on a wonderful selection of tapas from a nearby restaurant called Casa Brindisa in Exhibition Road. Apparently, of equal interest is the Lebanese restaurant next door, called Le Comptoir.
We also got to make fleeting visits around some of the other galleries at the museum and take time out for a coffee in one of the cafe there. In the mammal section we familiarised ourselves with what a grizzly should look like as we seem to have made a habit of not seeing them in America last year and have now set ourselves up for yet another dip in Romania later this year.
I think someone has eaten his porridge (c Rotton Yarns)
We also seemed to frequently find ourselves in the main entrance lobby of the museum where people seem to have been hanging around for a long time.
Dreadful bus service in these parts (c Rotton Yarns)
The geology gallery was also visited which again was very interesting in its use of media to demonstrate how the earth functions beneath our feet.
Entrance to the geology galleries (c Rotton Yarns)
I suspect by now you're probably wondering what relevance this has to the blog title. Well I would have thought as readers you'll be getting used to waiting for me to build up to it. And here it is!
As we left the museum to head home before any pending snow was able to disrupt our flaky transport network, I decided to check to see how dear old Fulham were getting on or not away to Manchester City. Encouraged by recent almost correct predictions as to the level of their defeats, I had anticipated a 6-0 drumming by the Manchester club. They were off to a good start, being 1-0 down to a penalty given away by the normally very effective Chris Baird. They went 2-0 down later on to an own goal, scored by Chris Baird. Fortunately, he does not seem to have anything to do with the third and final goal, but did get booked by the end of the match - hence the title of the blog. I was quite miffed at the result as I had grossly overestimated the final score.
Wednesday evenings post work trip to Craven Cottage for an evenings exciting entertainment delivered little on both counts - in fact contrary to the title of this blog it was more like game off! I will move onto the real reason of the title later, but first I might as well get the match summary out of the way.
On one of the coldest evenings this winter I took the train into town and managed to make the ground some 30 minutes prior to kick off. I was somewhat disappointed at having to settle for a seat in the Putney End, alongside the visiting crowd, but the game was a sell out and I could not get tickets for the Hammersmith End.
I'm never one to feel the cold, but even the 'heat island' effect of being in town didn't seem to make any noticeable difference. The wind blew straight in through the side of the stand and circulated around and under the plastic seats causing a cold bum all evening! There was little to cheer and applaud about either to help keep one warm and take ones mind off the cold.
Neither was it helped psychologically by the abundance of female fashion slaves around town. A nice pair of legs may be a pleasing sight to a bloke, but honestly! - I could feel the cold through my jeans. All those lovely legs on display must have been frozen to the bone - it certainly made me feel cold.
You would not think it a sell out from the picture below, taken soon after finding my cold seat.
view from the Putney End (c Rotton Yarns)
Once the game got underway, there was an early goal from that man Dempsey, but it was very clearly offside and disallowed. The game then descended into one of those mediocre battles between two mid-table teams. Neither seemed to be able to focus on maintaining a steady pattern of play - rather like my blurred image of the match in progress.
Game off (c Rotton Yarns)
Eventually in the second half, that man Dempsey done it again and scored from one of the evenings better moves. Later and not surprisingly West Brom managed to score a cracking goal to equalise and that's where the result stood - yet another disappointing Fulham performance.
For my colleague Del and me, the highlight came after the match when we tried to beat our record of getting from the ground back to Kings Cross to catch the 23:00 fast train home. The record is to reach Kings Cross at 22:48. Last night, after the final whistle which must easily have been at 21:55 we got to Kings Cross at 22:45, shaving three minutes off our previous best time! This was despite having to change at Earls Court and then being stuck for almost 8 minutes just outside the station at Kings Cross!
First leg - our route from the ground to Putney Bridge Station (c Bing Maps)
Second leg - Putney Bridge to Kings Cross via District and Victoria Lines - stations underlined in red (c London Transport)
We had more than enough time to grab a coffee before sauntering to our waiting train which got us to our destination by 23:35. After the short drive home I was in bed by 23:55 - two hours after the final whistle! Damn good going if I say so myself.
Game on
This was a very successful training run for my proposed grand birthday trip where I will be attempting to get from Craven Cottage to the National Exhibition Arena in Birmingham in 2.5 hours (see 'Birthday Plans afoot').
I will be hoping to fit in another couple of training runs between now and the end of March, as potentially I can go to watch Fulham play, Stoke, Wolves and Swansea between now and then. In last nights practise, the tube got to Euston (the stop before Kings Cross) by 22:35. This bodes well for the real event as on the day, that would give me a good 25 minutes to make the train which when I last looked at timetables leaves Euston for Birmingham just after 18:00. The match will finish at about 16:55.
I have a growing theory that as you get older your ability to do stupid things increase. Often they are unintentional and sometimes intentional. On this occasion it falls into the latter category.
Recently, there have been some thoughts passing through my mind (with the size of mine, it tends not to take long), regarding two interesting events on the same day as my birthday.
Captain logic says, it is only sensible to do one or the other depending I guess on where your allegiances lay. However, there is also the issue that as a male, we are notorious for being incapable at making a decision.
Now what do I do when one event happens to be in London during the afternoon and the other Birmingham in the evening and there's about 2 hours travel time between the two venues. The answers obvious because there's an element of fun and the 'cock-up' factor is VERY high, I will go to both. I do love to challenge my abilities.
Part one of my plan is already in place as my tickets have arrived for the Joe Bonamassa gig at the Birmingham National Indoor Arena. Doors open at 18:30 and the gig starts at 19:30. I know now that I'm not going to make it by the start! Joe Bonamassa is currently one of the worlds leading blues and rock guitarists and a very professional musician who now does not need to have a warm up support band.
For those of you who don't know of him and there are some, here he is, courtesy of YouTube, playing live, one of my favourites, a combination of the instrumental 'India' (featured on his 'Slow Gin' album) which segues into 'Mountain Time' featured on his 'So its like that' album. The live version of the tunes also appear on his double album 'Live from nowhere in particular'
All that is required for part two of my day of stupidity is for the Fulham versus Norwich fixture to remain set and not be moved to another date. I will need to get tickets still for that, just as soon as they go on general sale to the public.
I think my transport conundrum has been sorted by the fact I have two friends signed up for the gig who can get me home. My plan is to catch a train from home to the match, then get a train from Euston to Birmingam. There's a fast train at 18:00 which gets me there just after 19:00. The land speed record from Craven Cottage to Kings Cross (one stop after Euston) is 48 minutes and the match finishes at 16:45.
Now some people might be wishing I had. However, after a lovely morning participating in some practical conservation work, I'd got home and proceeded to get a few chores done prior to an evening out to see the Packhorse Players of Sutton's interpretation of Robinson Crusoe. Having seen it the night before I did wonder a little if I would enjoy the performance a second time round. Fears were unfounded - it was indeed a much better performance than Friday. 'Oh, yes it was'
As you may have read from my Blogarohia post, I have been without Internet all week save for occasional access through my mobile to that well know network Facebook. It was via that very network, I suddenly realised it was half time and my team not surprisingly were losing at home to the Mags (Newcastle) 0-1.
It was just after that, the combination of a long busy week, late night and long morning must have caught up with me and I fell asleep for a while. Waking some half hour or so later, I checked the score and was confused to read: Fulham 3-1 Newcastle. Thinking there was still something wrong with the Internet connection on my phone and still not fully awake from my snooze, I checked again and refreshed the screen. This time it read 4-1!! By now I was definately confused so I tried to refresh it again and this time it read 4-2!
I scrolled to and fro through the minute by minute match summary, and it was beggining to dawn on me that I'm either dreaming or that in heaven, Fulham win all their matches! No wait a minute, yes I can see penalty - Danny Muphy levels the score, Clint Dempsey makes it 2-1 and again 3-1. Then Bobby Zamora with another penalty and then they pull a goal back. Then, it refreshes on me and its that man Dempsey again - scores with his left, scores with his right and makes Drogba look shite! Its now 5-2. Or is it?.........................
Demsey celebrates (c from FFC website)
I start having an FB conversation with Mitch Laddie a brilliant blues guitarist from Newcastle who was posting about the poor performance of his team. Asking if he's playing any gigs to promote his new 'Burning Bridges' album he told me to check his website (well he could have told me to do something else in veiw of the football).
I let him know I would, once I get Internet access back. I decide a little while later to give it a go regardless. It was then I discovered I had Internet once again on my phone at least and those nerds at Beatie were giving misinformation again.
The new album cover as advertised on Mitch's website
I decided at the last minute on Friday evening to book a ticket for today's cup game at home to Charlton Athletic. I've not been to the Cottage since the opening game of the season against Aston Villa back in early August, so thought it was about time I went and lined the terraces and players pockets. Did they earn it? Given it was a cheap cup game ticket, then maybe only just in the end.
This morning was a bit of a slow casual start and I decided to leave later and travel to the game. This meant forgoing lunch at the Chancery in Lillie Lane, where you can get a nice pint, 25% off meals with match day tickets and appreciate the hiring policy ;o)
I made it to my seat with about ten minutes to spare before kick off. After an early goal from Clint Dempsey("he scores with his left, he scores with his right, that boy Clint Dempsey makes Drogba look shite"), the lads decided to go into their regular sleep mode. Even a few close shaves were not enough to wake them up.
When they did have the ball they were either too casual and or went into a state of 'oh we have the ball and what do we do now'! I think the Flying Scotsman on quarter speed would have been more effective. Bobby Zamora didn't look like his heart was in it at times. He certainly wasn't getting much service to galvanise him beyond a stroll.
By half time I'd rather have been watching paint dry!
Another lull in action. Note the sea of red in the Putney End (c Rotton Yarns)
All came good in the second half when Damien Duff replaced Kerim Frei after 57 minutes. He showed them what to do - run hard at the opposition both on and off the ball. Creating neat one two's with Bobby and the others around him. The interaction with Bobby was great - it certainly woke him up and got him moving! That said they still didn't seem to get beyond half speed at times, but it was enough.
Damien had only been on 2 minutes and nearly scored and it was a minute later when that boy Dempsey done it again! 2-0 hurrah! Ten minutes later, Bryan Ruiz gets the ball and is brought down by the keeper. Up steps that man Clint to take the penalty, making it 3-0 and claiming his hat trick. Six minutes later it was all over bar the shouting for Charlton when Damien Duff grabbed a deserved goal to make it 4-0.
All in all following an hours worth of agonising faff and general duff playing, I suppose it wasn't a bad game for half an hour . The Charlton supporters were amazing - they filled the entire Putney End and made a hell of a din.
At times I thought I was sitting in a library up at the Hammersmith End.
Its a shame they didn't do better - the score line does not reflect how well they played and but for David Stockdale came close on occasions. They should feel very proud.
