The Diary

21 November 2003: A Right Royal Lurk In The Murk?

It?s Friday, and I?m back in the old routine once more ? quite an effort after what amounts to almost a fortnight?s lull, but looking forward to some serious Baggie watching after that awfully long break. Mind you, having just returned from my usual visit to my stepmother, the way the fog?s swirling around outside, I do wonder whether we?ll see anything at all at The Shrine tomorrow. Certainly, about thirty or so years ago, I would have mentally put tomorrow?s tryst with Steve Coppell?s lot in serious doubt; around that time, once the fog started to descend, it stayed, and stayed, and stayed?.

Those of you who grew up around the time the anti-pollution laws really began to bite don?t know the half of it. Mind you, about ten years ago, younger Albion-watchers were treated to a flavour of those times when we played Chester in a Second Division game at the Hawthorns. At two in the afternoon, Halfords Lane was bathed in brilliant sunshine; by a quarter past, it was difficult to see as far as the next lamppost, never mind the opposite end of the pitch ? but, incredibly, the game wasn?t called off! We went on to win 2-0 (and, to be fair, the fog did lift somewhat by the middle of the second half), but when we took the lead in the first, us lot in the Halfords were somewhat bemused by the loud roar from the Brummie indicating we?d broken the deadlock, but not being able to see what the hell was going on, we didn?t know the identity of the scorer! Frustrating, to say the least, but the problem was quickly solved. How? Simple ? those in the front rows asked the players as they trotted back to the centre circle, and their question was answered by Raves (I think!) beating his chest, shouting ?ME! ME!? and gesticulating like a hyperactive gorilla overdosed on amphetamines!

Our other port of call tonight was to Steve The Miser?s gaff, mainly to drop off some Dicks for his faithful army of sellers, and while we were there I took the opportunity of asking our tame statistical guru about the recent claims from Albion statistician Tony Matthews about his recent statement that we?d actually beaten someone 4-3 after having been 3-0 down before, the year being 1893, and the opponents being Nottingham Forest, at their place. The reason I wanted verification was because when I rang Steve immediately after the final whistle the other Saturday, he then double-checked with Colin Mackenzie, yet another keen Baggies ?statto? before telling me the feat had never been done before. Having since checked again, Steve now tells me he now thinks Tony is right, but that still doesn?t diminish the enormity of what our lads achieved on the day; whichever way you look at it, it?s the first time it?s been repeated in living memory, so if you were there, you can still count yourselves lucky to have witnessed it!

Tomorrow, of course, sees us pitted against Reading, and their new gaffer, Steve Coppell, who replaced Alan Pardew after his departure for West Ham. After Pardew left, they had a bad run of results, after which I then had them slotted to go rapidly backwards, but they?ve been on something of a winning streak of late, and have quietly crept back into top six contention once more. A lot will depend upon how much those recent Euro 2004 play-off games have taken out of both Jason Koumas and AJ; true, AJ didn?t last the full course on Wednesday, so he may well be fresher than his fellow countryman, but it?s still quite a worry, as he reportedly has a slight calf injury. Apparently, Reading have quite a few definitely out, and some sweating on fitness, so they might not be able to put out a full-strength side themselves. Said she. Hopefully. With both fingers crossed.

Our other worry concerns who goes up front. With Deech freshly back from his little spell of Ram-raiding, it does give us an additional option, but I understand there is a big question mark surrounding the fitness of our former roofer. The word on the streets is he hasn?t trained all week because of injury. If he doesn?t make it to the starting line up, then I presume Deech will have to fill the gap, although we could go for a combo of Hulse and Dobes, and leave Deech on the bench. If we do go down the Dichio route, it?s a sobering thought that one of their defenders, Ingmarisson, has been having something of a purple patch recently, so perhaps ?lumping it? might not be the best option tomorrow evening. Obviously, tactics will be tailored to whoever gets the final nod, so things could get rather interesting once the ball leaves the centre-circle.

And finally?. One. Sorry I neglected to mention it in Wednesday?s offering, but it?s now my (belated) pleasure and privilege to announce that once more, I?m a great auntie! Unfortunately, visiting mother and daughter isn?t exactly a practicable proposition right now, as young Dawn Garbett (that?s my sister Josie?s daughter), plus new arrival Rhianna, currently reside in Tenerife! My sister was out there to be in on the happy event, though ? and to thoroughly wet the baby?s head with San Miguel beer, in quantity! ? and according to her, both mother and baby (seven pounds) are doing absolutely magnificently. They are due to visit Blighty around February, though, so as Dawn used to visit the Hawthorns quite regularly when in this country, it won?t surprise me at all if she asks me to get her tickets for games around that time.

Two?. Apparently, I?m not the only one digging into the contents of ancient second hand books. The other day, I had a mail from Steve Sant, who recently bought a whole job lot of the things from Dudley library, one of which was an autobiography of one Alex James, a1930's star with Preston, Arsenal and Scotland. Steve tells me that the book, printed in 1948, shortly after Alex packed in playing altogether is hard going at times, but there are some interesting points to note, he tells me, and this is one.

At 18, Alex signed for a Glasgow League side called Ashfield, who paid their players in meat. Yes, you read that right ? MEAT! Apparently, the usual ?signing-on terms? were ?sausages for a defeat, chops for a draw and a joint for a win, plus bus fares!? All the result of great hardship in that area at the time, of course, but I do wonder what today?s players and agents would make of that kind of a deal?

Three?. Remember my sad tale of the Dingle who couldn?t secure a pensioners? half-price deal on his season ticket, although he?d turned 65 in August, with just one home game only played at the Custard Bowl? Having read the sorry plight of this person, Cyril Randle, a fine upstanding ?senior Baggie?, mailed me to say that although reaching the age of 65 on the 30th October 1995, and Albion being financially wobbly at that time, not only did he receive a Senior Season Ticket from the mighty Baggies for the whole season, he was also sent good wishes from our club! As Cyril had supported them since Sep 1944 and now they were supporting him, ?a nice touch indeed?, as he so rightly commented.

 - Glynis Wright

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