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London Clarets
who are they then?

I moved down to London in the summer of 1997 with work, but still determined to follow the Clarets as much as I could, much to the disbelief of my friends who joked with me "now you can follow a good premiership team." I first met up with the London Clarets at an away game at Luton in November 1997. We met at the Bricklayers Arms, where I was introduced to John Pepper the travel secretary and Jo Pilkington the membership secretary. During the last two and a half years I have travelled with the gang on numerous home and away trips and thought I’d tell you about some of the characters I’ve got to know, with pen pictures similar to what you would read in your match day programme.

Woody
Who recently celebrated his own personal millennium, is the organisation behind our pre-match entertainment. The meticulous preparation he puts into his maps, routes and choice of pubs makes for an enjoyable day and one I always look forward to.

Firmo
Is the man behind the magazine and website, who puts in many hours of work to make both top quality. He claims I am the most unreasonable football supporter around and enjoys standing next to me to hear what I’ll shout next!

Smiffy
A cockney from Norf London who supports Spurs! Who comes along to watch quality football and drink the average beer, or is it the other way around? Is a fan of the fall, but not the band!

Cozzo
Is our leader! The current Chairman of the London Clarets. Who’s he, you might say? Well it's not Arsene Wenger on a scouting trip, it's Cozzo! Recently came a cropper with an uncanny piece of footwork at Oxford.

John Pepper
Is our travel secretary, not an enviable job but he seems to manage with ease! John seems to be the silent type, but what was the chat up line that worked on Jo?

Jo Pilkington
Is our membership secretary and probably the first person you’ll speak to before you join and definitely the best looking of the London Clarets that I know, Jo how about free membership next season? Please!

Barry Heagin
Answers to Ego, Henry the Eighth or anyone want a free pint. He prides himself on his well-researched match reports or that’s what he said to me as he entered the "Flying Handbag" at a recent trip to Blackpool.

Paul Burrows
The man who will find you a ticket! Must have more connections than the London Underground. How does he get all the tickets? That’s for him to know and you to appreciate, it’s a BECKS in a straight glass if you were wondering.

Lee Firmin
Yes there are two of them. He may be well read and articulate (who's this then!) but hang on to your hats when he is around - he may steal it and deposit it in a passing cement mixer. Lee travels from Liverpool to meet us at away games but still attends a high proportion of games.

Mike E Benyon
A well respected and liked member of the London clarets and is always welcomed by a chorus of boos when ever he enters the room! Michael does the books and keeps a close eye his expenditure (tight person!).

Simon Jackson
Better known by us all as 'Rick Wakeman' due to his uncanny resemblance to the 60’s pop star. Simon travels all the way from Salisbury but miss very few games and is claret through and through.

Bob Blow
The OAP football supporter (sorry Bob) who can even get his 6ft tall son into a game for half price, so ask him nicely and he’ll see what he can do. Bob is one of nicest blokes you’ll meet, especially if you buy him a pint!

The Twins (Barbara and Joan)
Two very knowledgeable football ladies, who like to go off and do their own thing. Not the drinkers that some members might be, but some people not need drink to enjoy the game!

Fell Walking Pete
Yes that really is his name, or it is now. The London Clarets' answer to mastermind with a very high IQ. Pete walks almost as quickly as Woody between pubs, but comes a close second. Lots of his spare time is spent training for those sprints between the pubs!

By Julian Booth ("photographs people's insides for a living, has terrible taste in music, always gets lost")
May 2000