Well, end of yet another season
of disappointment. Here I am sat in the shade provided by a rather large umbrella in sunny
Corfu contemplating the Clarets’ recent escape from the darkest depths of Endsleigh
3. Corfu? Not quite Heagin’s normal sphere of operations, but this is the period
between the end and start of the Claret season. Particularly important as a period to earn
Brownie Points from She Who Must Be Obeyed (occasionally). Sun and sand for spouse and son
= zillion points.
I am still in a substantial debit points situation
after addition of the zillion, following the Bradford away calamity. Forgot to mention the
trip to herself until 5.00 am on the morning of the game, when I asked for a lift to
Guildford station. Monster error, that one.
Anyway, back to the footy. Managed to smuggle the
season’s programmes into the suitcase, and was surprised how few there were. I
usually manage around 25 games a season depending on cup results, mainly away games, but
this year, sixteen! The lowest number since the darkest days of the 80s. Aside from the
usual excuses of family / business, why was this? Loss of the car didn’t help,
particularly for midweek games. Thank you for that, P.C. Plod! Nor did missing the train
for the last game jamboree at the Turf. This does not, however, explain all, and I give
you the following thoughts (after only three beers) to agree or disagree with as
appropriate:
(a) Disappointment at relegation. Frankly, I enjoyed
the ‘big games’ of the First Division. Molineux against Millmoor, Baseball
Ground against Bootham Crescent? A sad case of a taste of the big time gone sour.
(b) Underachievement. I quite genuinely believe that
the team was good enough to stay in the First Division, and most certainly should not have
struggled in the second.
(c) Lack of effort. Far too many performances I saw
this season lacked effort, amongst other things, which for professionals in any walk of
life is something I have no time for.
(d) The running of the club. When will the Board get
their act together, particularly in relation to their cavalier treatment of the most loyal
supporters in the country?
Basically, I didn’t enjoy much of what I saw in
1995/96, beer apart of course, but here is my diary of the season.
The season began with Rotherham at home, which
if Goater had been even remotely on form in front of goal could have been a disaster.
Should not have been surprised given early season form. Anyway, three points in the bag.
Onward and westward to Bath, the home of jolly pirates Bristol
Rovers, on a Tuesday night. Splendid afternoon spent in the city, spoilt by arriving
late yet again at this miserable ground, a poor game and defeat by a single long range
speculative effort. Deserved nowt, got nowt.
Need to visit the in-laws in Hexham once a year, which
strangely enough coincided with the Carlisle game this year. Middlesborough the
previous year: unbelievable coincidence! Lost again to the quasi-Scotties, although if
Noggo had buried an easy chance in the first half, things could have been different.
Manufactured some business trip to coincide with the York
game to see a draw. Poor second half performance and York team, but a cracking headed goal
from young Cooke.
More ‘business’, this time Leicester
to see the home side win in the League Cup without getting out of first gear. Given the
previous season’s performances against Liverpool, this was particularly
disappointing. Harper / Heath dynamic midfield!
Bournemouth awayday in the sunshine. Two good
goals, three points. Isn’t life wonderful?
After initial loss of points myself, Clarets make up
for this with a solid performance and a deserved point against the upwardly mobile Bradford.
Followed on the Tuesday (October 31st) by the best performance of the season at Peterborough,
watched through a startling variety of Halloween masks. Was Firmo actually wearing a mask?
Shrewsbury. Once again, excellent trip, spoilt
by a dismal performance. Beginning to get worried now, 3-0 to that pile of rubbish.
Brentford. Cannot believe we lost this game.
Could the unthinkable happen?
London Clarets sponsored game day at home to York.
Enjoyed the whole weekend enormously. Draw 3-3, after good comeback, but could easily have
lost (with Middlemass at the helm). Nogan gets whole series of man of the match awards, as
arguably the best of the bunch. Randall doesn’t score, thank goodness.
Fine day’s drinking follows in the ale mecca of Bristol,
including the theft of three points from City (in Heath’s debut as head deckchair
monitor). Nogan ensures lace is still in the ball before firing home for the winner.
I will not waste time on the visits to Oxford, Wycombe,
or Brighton, except to say that we got as many points from these games as we
deserved. The goals have completely dried up.
Final game of the season, although not deliberately so,
was a solid performance at Swindon. Pity we hadn’t played with this amount of
effort all season. Convinced we will stop up.
So, there it is from Hego’s view: played sixteen,
won four, drew four, lost eight. Maybe it was my fault again?
