2012 London Olympics. Day Four

2012 London Olympics. Day Four

Tuesday 31^st July 2012

Evening people.

We're back. Cardiff Rocked. More on that later.

Remember when I wrote, the whiskey and honey worked? I was wrong. I was very wrong. I've had blood from every hole in my body and I've been in so much pain I've actually had tooth ache. Keeping it all from Anna was the worst bit. Has it stopped us doing the Olympic events we've had tickets for? DON'T BE STUPID! I'm Black Country me...

Also before I go any further. Can I just take a moment to thank everyone who has sent texts, E Mails and in some cases phone calls offering their kind words as to these diary/blog things. It's been a wonderful ego trip. Thanks again.

Here are a few loose ends from Day Three.

Apologies for it not making much sense, it was the drugs and pain...

Here is why I'm a Panasonic suck up. Yesterday, I used my camera so much that I killed my battery. It wouldn't even power up. I walked over to the Panasonic HD 3D Cinema (See crowd photo from Day Three) and introduced myself and asked if they had a re-charge facility. They hadn't. I was speaking to "Stephen Oakes". He looked at my camera and said I'll go and see if any of my staff have the same camera and I'll swop their battery for yours and he was off. 5 minutes later he came back and said that none of his staff had a TZ20 they had TZ30 and a TZ10... BUT, what he'd done was to contact Jessops the camera shop in Westfield Shopping Mail and said to them, expect this guy, he's coming to re-charge his camera. Just how cool is that? This is what separates the best from the rest. (Did I ever tell you the origin of my Panasonic love affair?).

As we were going home there were loads of 2012 Volunteers on the train. We were on a branch line and as these 2012 Volunteers got off the train, they didn't speak to each other. I found that really strange. I'm not expecting them to kiss and swop phlegm but a simple nod and greeting isn’t too much to expect is it?

We lost our Olympic Torch. We had a replica one. We were going to have our photos taken with it on the site. I can only hope that a tiny young person found it and it made their day. I like the idea that some tiny person grows up and spends the rest of their lives telling a story of how they went to the Olympic site and found a torch...

So, Day Four and Wembley for the footy. We had decided some days ago that we were going to pick off the giant Olympic rings, or as many as we could. So today gave us the chance to pick off a few more. St Pancras arrived much too quickly. Where is all off this traffic? Just where is this chaos? 

As we were taking photos of the rings and that statue, up walk two police officers from Liverpool who say, nice shirt (me in a Maiden top...? NEVER) are you fans I ask... 20 minutes later... Anna is still taking photos and we’re still yakking about Maiden, it’s been like it every day. It happened yesterday with the police too. Just before we parted I asked if they were Blue or Red. Red came the answer. “Can I ask you about Hillsborough?” I asked. We had a really good yak about that (anyone wanting to know what we said to each can forget it... unless you ask politely...).

Before going off to Wembley we popped over to Covent Garden. Anna loves it there. We were going to pop into the Olympic Museum but they had a private function on, so shopping it was.

This lack of chaos is really annoying. Getting around London is way too easy. We arrive at Wembley for GB v Brazil. What is it about female football that attracts lesbians? I don't get it. The closer we got to Wembley the more lesbians we see. I truly do not understand. It ends up being like some Gay Pride march or something. Don't misunderstand, I don't have a problem with lesbians as a quick search of my internet history can prove... but what’s the deal with female football? AND WHY DO THEY LOOK LIKE BLOKES? Really? Can someone? Anyone? Please explain why they go out of their way to look like blokes...

Loads of people took babies and toddlers to the game too. I understand "inspire a generation" etc... but you've got to be having a laugh. They had to put the buggies under one of the stands under the Bobby Moore statue (by the Wembley Shop) and quickly arrange a raffle ticket cloak room type thing. There were hundreds of the bloody things. Anna attracted the police by lying on the floor to take a photo of the Bobby Moore statue, turns out they were Maiden fans and from Stoke and were City fans...
 

Well I never thought I'd see the day. GB 1 Brazil 0 Att 70,584 What a goal it was too. Can you ever imagine the men’s team doing that?

All the usual chaos of getting out of Wembley. This is more like it. This is how it should be. EVENTUALLY we get home at midnight. Download photos. Everything on charge. Set alarms and off to bed by 01.00

Look out Cardiff here we come.

Noggin xx

2012 London Olympics. Day Three

2012 London Olympics. Day Three

Monday 30^th July 2012

Evening people.

Well the whiskey and honey worked. I woke to a monster hang over and a set of lungs that were in the process of coughing up huge chunks of brown, black, very dark green, whatever it is that your lungs repel after 4 days of pain and agony...

Also, today, I became.... debt free... yes you read that correctly, DEBT FREE! The Olympics started on the 27th and I became debt free on the 28th, except the 28th fell on a Saturday so it cleared this morning. RESULT!
 

So today Anna and I went into the Olympic Park to do The Orbit. As most of you know from previous tour diaries, since 9/11 and my NYC experience I've had this insane desire to go to the top of the tallest buildings I can find and why should the Olympic Park be any different...? So as soon as I knew it was being built I made a mental note to get tickets for Anna and Myself. In the three years I've been living and working down here Anna and I have made the effort to come over to the Olympic Park and visit the "View Tube" and watch them build the Olympic Park and The Orbit.

There is no point trying to pretend. I do not like heights. I love flying but heights... NO! We get the lift to the top and I lose the plot. Anna runs right up to the edge as if it was the kitchen sink. "LOOK DAD!", she shouts... as I stare at the inside of my eyelids... and Anna hangs over the edge of The Orbit... What should be a 30 minute window for us turns into a 90 minute trip... from here to every disaster movie I've watched in my life.
 

You will be pleased to know that Anna and I walked down from the top of The Orbit on the outside spiral staircase... It took 7 minutes and 30 seconds I know that because I filmed it because I knew that no one would believe what we did.

Back tracking for a moment. When we arrived, the British Army were doing the security, DAMN RIGHT TOO! We were secured by The Para's, we should have let them do it from the start, anyway, Anna and I had a really good chat with them. Also, because I was wearing a Maiden shirt (just for a change) all the security came up and spoke to us, even "West Yorkshire Police", broke from their ranks and made a beeline for us, we had a really good chat to them too. I asked why they had to have Olympic Passes and they mentioned how stupidly tight security was. It was good to hear, that the police wear saying the security was over the top. WOW!

We went to the world’s biggest McDonalds. Over 1,000 seats. My order number was 1982... "666 The Number of The Beast" anyone...? It is simply the blag of the year and the staff were still a bunch of misery chops... what is wrong with those people... Why can't KFC sponsor the Olympics?

Anna asked if we could go to Brazil in 2016. Why, were Maiden on tour? I asked...

We bumped into Michael Johnson (100m and 200m gold flip flops) and Chris Evens (ginger DJ and all round top egg) before we went shopping in Westfield this was after we watched the Brit boys stuff up the diving... here comes our destiny, home Olympics and it will all go tits up...

Noggin xx

2012 London Olympics. Day Two

2012 London Olympics. Day Two

Sunday 29^th July 2012

Evening people.

It's the evening of Sunday 29^th July and for Anna and Myself it has been our first day off so it meant a lie in and God did I need it. I’m still in pain and tonight I’m going to invest in some whiskey and honey.

Since my new found talent for being a natural born killer with a one string guitar I've spent all day playing Ted Nugent records...

I finally got a chance to catch up with some of the images of the Opening Ceremony. It was good to see that Danny Boyle copied my idea and visited the Industrial Revolution. Just how good did those Olympic rings look when they were forged and flown into the air?

For all the people who don’t know or understand what Coalbrookdale and The Black Country has given the world look here. To make it simple, if it wasn’t for Coalbrookdale and The Black Country we would all still be living in caves.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ironbridge

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Country

Whenever anyone asks me where I’m from I always say, The Black Country and everyone says, “Where?” I used to then say, about 10 miles North West of Birmingham. Now I say, you know those forged Olympic rings…?

As for those empty seats, I don’t have a problem with sponsors having those tickets, without them we wouldn’t have an Olympics. The problem I have is that the people that they are giving those tickets to are not using them. Also, they are saying that those tickets are not owned by sponsors. YES THEY ARE. How else can they explain blocks of empty seats? How can a block of unrelated people all not turn at the same time…? 

Here is a possible solution to the problem. Why don't they hold the tickets back and make them collect on the door, then any tickets that have not been collected one hour before it starts get sold at the cheapest price to anyone who has been willing enough to queue up for them.

Here are some photos that didn't make the final cut.

I'm dreading tomorrow... what have I done...?

Noggin xx

2012 London Olympics. Day One

2012 London Olympics. Day One

Saturday 28^th July 2012

Morning people.

I did eventually find my bed but I couldn't remember where I had put my keys... told you that memory mattress doesn't work...

As I write it is the morning of Sunday 29th. Re yesterday, I was awoken by my alarm at 05.30. Have I just had a MASSIVE 14 hours sleep since 05.00 on Wednesday? I do believe so. I felt so ill and I looked even worse. My urine was bright yellow, Van Gogh eat your heart out and I made another mental note that Katie really must die... What a F***ing rotter... (See the photo, just how ill do I look...).

 
We got the second train out of my local branch line only to find some volunteers on the platform going into London and that's how it was for the rest of the journey, lots of locals had got involved with 2012.

Jump on the tube at Tottenham Hale and into town, then the tube driver came on and said there was a shuttle bus to Lords from Kings Cross, except there wasn't. It was now starting to go wrong.

The 2012 volunteers didn't have a clue what we were looking for or how to help us either. We did speak to one guy, a Jock (a Jock in Kings Cross... whatever next...) and he really did try to help, but at least we discovered that what we were looking for did not exist. Back onto the tube and off to St John's Wood. I learnt a lesson, follow my own knowledge and ignore what I'm being told. I really do know best.
 

We arrive at Lords. Everywhere is decked out in Cadbury's purple and a very lovely lime green colour. Just huge blocks of colour. It looked so impressive. Airport style security. Simple. Easy. Efficient. No sense of humour though.  It was Anna's first time at such things and as usual she just took it her stride. I said to Anna, "Is everything in the tray? No Thermonuclear Warheads..?", the women just looked at me and said, "Your aren't supposed to joke about things like that...", I just said, "Yeah, you’re probably right...", over walked the police...

Just a thought, but, what is to stop a random archer going on a random killing spree?

2012 Volunteers, Police and The British Army, made the place feel very safe and friendly and we had a great first morning at our first Olympic sporting event. Archery, Men's Team Event.
 

GBR got done over by Ukraine (World Cup Qualifiers next month anyone?). Japan v India went to penalties and Malaysia lost to Mexico but not before their final three arrows were 10 10 10... WOW! (See photo, Malaysian Team speaking with fans and officials after hitting 10 10 10). Before, during and after the event all the archers where happily walking around the venue. No hiding away, photos, autographs, talking with anyone that approached them... I like this... To qualify what I'm writing, are these people the most famous sports people on our planet? Not in our world they aren't, but we don't live in Planet Archery, 5,000 spectators were inside that venue and 5,000 people is still 5,000 people and they made themselves very accessible. I guess this is what separates The Olympians from the overpaid inflated egos of the rest of the sporting world.
 

We did the Cricket Museum and then Anna and I had a go at Archery. Anna's first arrow was never found the second killed a worm the third hit the target while the fourth hit the statue of (WG Grace?) which sent the arrow into the overhanging tree where it hit a pigeon, two squirrels and a low flying police helicopter... OK I lied about the pigeon... As for Myself? It turns out that I'm a natural born killer. I hit three gold's and a red, I don't know what flavour red is on an Archery target, but I did a lot better than Team GBR. I made a mental note to take up Archery very quickly followed by someone who handed me some contact details... Where is the next Olympics? I asked, “Brazil”, came the answer... um... Brazil... interesting...

We decided to run all over London and use our travel passes. Did I mention that with every Olympic ticket you get a free All Zones Travelcard? We so abused it. We eventually popped down to see the end of the Cycling Road Race. We also saw the Canadian PM leaving the Beach Volleyball in shorts... just how cool is that, a PM wearing shorts and getting into the spirit of it all.

 
We left London and promptly feel asleep on the train and promptly woke up as our train left our station. I woke up, looked out of the window and thought, Why is my house getting smaller...? Oh F**K... We got off at the next station and walked home along the river.

Home. Shower. Food. I tried to catch up with this diary and find out who won the Archery Team Event. I failed at both. I did see some of the highlights from the day. What is it with those empty seats? Where did they come from? I tried so hard to get tickets. To be a part of this. I moved my home and job to be within striking distance of the Olympics. What more they want from me? I even took my laptop on the road trying to get tickets. I parked my truck outside Leicester Square one day trying to get tickets (my boss should look away now... well... earlier...). I’m really not happy about this...

I staggered off to bed close to 01.30.

Noggin xx

2012 London Olympics. Opening Day

2012 London Olympics. Opening Day

Friday 27^th July 2012

Evening people.

My bed my bed my kingdom for a bed.

Hands up, its already going wrong. I sit here on the evening of Saturday 28th very quickly losing a fight with a cold virus that has been passed onto me by... it’s not fair to mention KATIE any names, that KATIE wouldn't be KATIE right would it... What a rotter...

Anna said that she wanted to watch the Olympic Clock in Trafalgar Square go to "0.00.00" (we had been there EXACTLY two years ago when they had a, "two years to go" party) so it seemed to make perfect sense. We didn't get into Liverpool Street St until late afternoon and the place was empty. London was empty. We should have the Olympics every day. Where was all the traffic? Where was the chaos that all the doom merchants had predicted?

We saw loads of people walking around with their passes proudly on show, "LOOK AT ME... LOOK AT ME", you know the sort, but when you looked they were just press passes and not very important press people at that. All the competitors were walking around in their suits, uniforms, tracksuits and they were really cool about being spotted and were happy to stop and talk with their fellow countrymen.

We saw the Royal Dingy, "Gloriana" in St Katherine’s Dock, nice bit of wood that. The Danes have their own little piece of Denmark in there too and what a great vibe they have created and what is it with those bright pink plastic pigs? Very strange. While I'm on the subject, Czech Rep are in the Islington Hilton, Austria are at Tower Hill (you couldn't miss it if you tried) and the Danes are in SKD.

Then came the count down to 0.00.00 and we missed the Red Arrows because Anna wanted to go into a shop. We came out of the shop to find loads of red, white and blue smoke falling through the sky and I made a mental note that my daughter was up for adoption in the morning...

Once the clock had hit 0.00.00 the party began. The whole vibe of London had been one of the happiness of NYE with the calmness of 6am on a Sunday morning, very happy and chilled.

A group of Americans decided to climb onto the base of Nelson's Column and started to chant, "USA...USA...USA...", then someone started to chant, "You guys suck... You guys suck...", a few hundred people all chanting the same thing put them firmly in their place and it was simply stunning, the Americans simply sulked off to the corner of the base...

Then Brazil and Portugal took the party vibe to whole new level. So many people, so many flags, of all nations, Brazil TV joined in and Broadcast LIVE from the middle of the base, everyone was just busy getting on with getting on, except the Americans who were still sulking in their own little corner of misery. LOVE IT!!!


We got home somewhere very close to way past midnight.

I do remember having a king sized bed with a NASA memory foam mattress... which obviously doesn't work because I couldn't remember where it was...

Noggin xx

2012 London Olympics. Opening Day -1

2012 London Olympics

Introduction

What you are about to read is a little something I quickly wrote during the 2012 London Olympics and sent out via E Mails, I wasn’t blogging at the time. I wrote it, or at least tried to write it, on a daily basis.

I was chatting to someone a few weeks ago and it was suggested that I should blog it properly, so that what I’m going to try to do.

Has it really been two years?

2012 London Olympics. Opening Day -1

Thursday 26^th July 2012

Evening People.

Let me cut to the chase, because as I type this I have been up for 23.5 hours, I've done 720 miles and I want my bed. Some bright spark asked me to write an Olympics Diary/Blog type thing. How could I refuse? Before you all start to panic, it is not going to be like previous tour diaries. This is going to be very short and sweet - JUST LIKE ME - and I will only send a maximum of 5 photos. Got it? Good.

Here is a brief history. 6th July 2005 and London is awarded the 2012 Olympics and I decide I have to be a part of it. 7th July 2005 and London is attacked and that makes me more determined to a part of it. I completely change my career and then relocate with my new job to be closer to London and chase that dream.

Thursday 26th July 2012. 2am, alarm. 3am, leave Hertfordshire and drive to Cumbria to pick up my daughter Anna. We leave Cumbria and head back to Hertfordshire via Much Wenlock - where the modern day Olympics started - before going off to look at the Iron Bridge in Ironbridge, very convenient that... We finally get back at 11pm.

 

As for the photos? They tell their own story. Yes those are ADIDAS Tuscanny in light blue suede with navy blue trim and ain't they killers... and yes there are 6 photos and not 5 but it's my ball and if I don't win I'm taking my ball home with me... Have a closer look at the statue of the soldier, notice anything about his back pack?

That’s it. I'm off to bed.

 

Hope these make you smile.

Noggin xx

Walsall FC... 125 years and me...

Introduction

On 08^th February 2013 Andrew Poole (Walsall FC programme editor and top banana posted this on the WFC web site, http://www.saddlers.co.uk/news/article/anniversary-matchday-programme-630998.aspx ). Well I just had to get involved didn’t I?

The idea was that Andrew would send us all a questionnaire and he would then publish our answers in the match day programme.

Also, we were invited to a photo shoot at Bescot on Saturday 23^rd March 2013. By the time I got there the snow was almost 10 inches deep, but it was worth it, we were handed the keys to the stadium and told to lock up when we were finished.

We ran all over it like kids on Christmas morning. It was such a laugh, but more on that later.

Until then, enjoy.

More photo’s at the bottom.

WALSALL FC QUESTIONS

How did your support of The Saddlers start?

You know, that’s a very good question and I wish I had a very good answer, but I don’t.

I was born in 1966 so as a kid in the 70’s and 80’s I was a Liverpool fan – cause you do those daft things when you’re a kid – I also played football a lot, so didn’t get to go to many games – the curse of being good at something you love – combine that with if I wasn’t playing football that weekend for whatever reason, you’d get the football coupon and see who was playing at home, so it would be off to Villa, or Albion or Wolves or Walsall.

Yes kids you did read that right, you could do that then it’s not like today where doing a game is like planning an invasion of a small country. You could just turn up pay on the gate find your mates and take your place on the terraces. Great times. Great memories.

As the seasons past by doing Walsall games was simply the easy option because I could walk to and from the games. So becoming a Walsall “Fan” slowly crept up on me. By the time we lost to Liverpool (1989?) in the League Cup, I walked away thinking “we’d” lost and I thought “we?” where did that “WE” come from…? Oh Bugger!

Are there a lot of Walsall supporters amongst your family?

No. I’m the only sane one in the family tree.

What was the first game that you attended? What are your memories of it?

My first Walsall game was Walsall v Stafford Rangers FA Cup Rd1 Nov 22^nd 1980 KO 3pm. Yes kids you did read that right, we had 3pm KO’s in those days. The only two things I remember is they played in black and white and that it took four coppers to eject one of their fans. They had one copper on each of his limbs as they carried him away.

My first league game took place one week later. Walsall v Sheffield United League Division Three Nov 29^th 1980 KO 3pm. The thing I remember most is that I do not remember it being 4-4. FOUR ALL!? Really? I’m must have had too much Bovril from the hut behind the Street End. Somebody somewhere is having a Toffee Crisp.

What have been the highlights of supporting the club?

The ever constant disappointments… Ha Ha Ha…  You’re all going to hate me for writing this, but, it’s not the 90 minutes of football that just gets in the way and totally stuffs up your life depending on your team’s fortune, it’s the people, in all the years I’ve been going to football, it’s the people you meet along the way, and those who are no longer here, home games and meeting up in your local, those long away trips, walking around the corner of a strange town to see a familiar face coming the other way, the times I’ve jumped up and down screaming and shouting like a loony after a goal, while I and some large fat sweaty bloke embrace like long lost lovers, more often than not, I’ve no idea who they were… it’s the banter at school and then at work, dreading going in on the following Monday or not being able to wait… and you know the daftest thing is this, most of the faces I known and spoken to at games over the years, I don’t even know their names, probably never did… but it doesn’t matter, I know that whatever happens during and then after the game, when it comes to our team, we will feel exactly the same emotion…

Are there any particular quirky stories and memories that you would like to share from either following the club or showing your support for the club?

Where would you like me to start? Which one of us couldn’t fill a book telling tales?

I’ve been very lucky to have seen Iron Maiden all over the world and I always wear my Walsall shirt to the gigs, I’ve been on stage with Maiden in my Walsall shirt. You can find it on You Tube if you can be bothered to look (Iron Maiden, New Jersey, Heaven Can Wait, 2008, I’m the one in the Walsall shirt). Which all lead to having a drunken argument with Adrian Smith (guitarist) at the end of tour party in Toronto…

Doing an end of tour party with Bruce Dickinson in London and one of the door staff had a little pin badge on his jacket, I looked, “Southend?” I said, “Yes” came the reply, “I’m a Walsall fan” continued me, “I was there when Roger Boli got that goal” he said, “No way, really, did you stand up and applaud?” I asked, “F***ING TO RIGHT I DID..! What a goal…” 20 minutes later and were still yakking away.

I still meet Fulham fans that say thank you especially as I now live and work in London.

But, as this is Sheffield United let’s keep it topical. In 1997 my mate Billy said, let’s do Rotherham away (March 29^th Won 1-2 Lightbourne, Viveash) and we can stay at his place in Stocksbridge Sheffield (which is the Wednesday side of the city). So an Easter weekend away day was arranged. After the game we went down Stocky for a few beers, I meet this really fit blonde bird from Oughtibridge fell in love and the rest as they say is history… (I wonder where she is now?).

ANYWAY! Some weeks later we were all due to go down to Hillsborough for some reason and Caroline (the fit blonde bird) said, “Please don’t wear that Walsall badge”, which lead to minor domestic and strangely enough people phoning the house asking to speak to me and asking me not to wear the said badge. Now, even for Captain Stubborn, this was getting a bit strange. After all, I had no idea who these people were.

So off with the badge and off to Hillsborough with my arse in my hands we go and a great time was had by all, or so I’m told. Because of how I look and my accent I kind of stuck out like a sore thumb. “Hello love, you must be Noggin, I’ve heard a lot about you”. Did he just call me LOVE!?

Eventually people would ask where I was from and I’d say very proudly, “I’m a Black Country lad me” and then I’d spend 20 minutes explaining where it was… but as soon as I mentioned that I was a Walsall fan, it kicked off, “You’re a Walsall fan? You lot got United relegated in 1981, last game of the season… HEY GUYS! This blokes a Walsall supporter…” They never forget… and I never bought a beer all night…

I have a very distant memory of being in this right dodgy pub and seeing a “Green Un” on a table (it’s their version of the pink paper) and I staggered over, “Skhuze me maate can I loooook at ya Green Un pleeze… “I slurred, “Yes, who’s result are you looking for?” he asked, “Waaallllsulll” I said, “Hey Guys” he shouted across the pub, “This blokes a Walsall supporter” over came more drinks, my liver and kidneys waved at me as they left the pub…

A few months later we dumped them out of The Coca Cola Cup live on SKY. My doctor told me to stop drinking or I would not reach 40… Ha Ha Ha…

What lengths do you go to, to watch the club or find out our result (cutting short holidays, missing relatives’ weddings etc., that kind of thing)?

Well there was a train journey across North America to see Iron Maiden when my mate Richard was banging on about a stunning 1-1 away at Forest… He was in England, I was in North America it was 11am I was drunk and I couldn’t understand why he knew the football results so early in the day…

Remember getting promoted at County a few seasons back? I was at work that day. While you lot were cheering at getting that goal and promotion, so was I, the only difference was I had it on the radio and I nearly wrote off a spanking brand new Scania worth £120,000 OUCH!

My daughters 12 birthday is May 19^th. Anyone noticed what date the Play Off Final is? I’ll cross that bridge when it arrives. I might just crash my truck into it… Ha Ha Ha…

Who is your all-time favourite player and current favourite player and why?

Again, you’re all going to hate me, Jimmy Walker. People talk about midfield and strikers as being 30 goals a season players. Jimmy Walker would EASILY save us 30 and more goals a season. Let’s be honest. If Jimmy was 3 inches taller, he wouldn’t have been at Walsall so long and he would have been in the England set up.

As for the current team, we have some really good young players coming through which is great to see. Could I name one that’s head and shoulders above the rest? Not really. I’m looking forward to seeing how well this team plays next season. I’ve gone all tingly in my special place…

Who do you currently attend matches with? Where do you sit? Where did you used to watch games from at Fellows Park?

It doesn’t matter who I go with, cause our seats are very rarely together, crappy all seater stadiums. I do not sit. I stand behind the goal. The sooner terraces come back the better.

As for Fellows Park, behind the goal, apart from the first half when I’d sometimes walk around to the side.

What thoughts spring to mind when you think of Fellows Park?

Terraces. Walking around the side of the pitch for the first half. “Gravely Bank Corner” Ha! Ha! Ha! The two police officers that used to walk around the pitch (I still see one of them at the games – she must be over 100 and she’s still fit… I’m going to get slapped silly… Ha Ha Ha…). Man City in the FA Cup and the snowball fight. Chelsea in the League Cup, nice and naughty. The wall falling over in the Semi against Liverpool. Watford in the Cup “Elton is a bender Elton is a bender…” (PRINT THAT I DARE YOU! Ha Ha Ha).

Do you attend away matches? If so, how often?

Yes. Whenever I can. I have to fit it around work, but next season… No, I don’t want to tempt fate.

What are your favourite away grounds and why?

Easy. Villa Park. The history of it. It really is that simple. All the Games that have been held there. World Cup games. European games. Semi Finals. Cup Final Replays. European Finals. “AV” floodlights anyone? Just how cool were they.

I’ve never seen Walsall play there, probably never will. Don’t care to be honest. Villa Park is very special. I’ve done all four sides at Villa too.

What is your occupation?

I’m a HGV Driver.

Sheffield has to be the only city in England that has finished its ring road and made it more difficult to drive around. Bizarre. Still, I do have a soft spot for the city, the people are fantastic – once you’ve got over the shock of being called love - and to be honest, even though the ring road is a shocker, I really do miss it. I get free beer… RESULT!

How long have you been a season-ticket holder for?

I’m not, but I used to be. Once we’d built that two tier horror show behind the goal I moved my season ticket to the very back row in line with the penalty spot. Smack bang centre. Great view, no atmosphere, but I could stand up. But I got so fed up with turning up every week and finding some new idiot sat next to me that I just gave up my season ticket.

Why Noggin?

Because I was little as a kid and I got all the usual name calling and for some reason “Noggin” just stuck. It’s from the 70’s kids TV show “Noggin The Nog” with “Nog Bad The Bad” being a bit of a hero… hahaha…

Noggin xx

P.S. Filling this in as bought back a lot of memories. I’m going to try to track down a few people and see if we can get a bit of a meet up going on the 6^th.

As promised here are some more photos from that day.

(Page 17 of the programme, blizzard… what blizzard…) Malcolm Gilbert – 78 years old – and still turned up despite the blizzard as did Ivan Anson – 83 years old – both, I’m happy to report  are completely mad. I’d love to get them in a pub one day and have a proper chat.

Taking the piss…?

Believe this or not there are rules and regulations about using the pitch before and after the game. Every available space was taken up with rules and regulations about this, that and everything in between.

They also had detailed plans for emergencies, giving direct phone numbers to doctors and other emergency staff members. You can rest assured that Hillsborough is not a forgotten subject.

Do you think I could get that off the wall…

It’s not all glamour you know. As with the walls, every available space is used for something, in this case the space under the stands is a small gym.  Still want to a professional footballer?

Chelsea FC have one of these hand carved in gold with diamonds.

Stuart Manley and Shaun Mallen from www.sm2studio.co.uk if you ever needed to meet two people who were living the dream then look no further than these two.

Paul Brookes, his parent’s ashes are buried where he is standing. Well, part of the ashes, now there’s a story worth telling…

Believe this or not, on the day of the photo shoot, Bescot was supposed to host England v Portugal (U21 I think) anyway, it was called off because of the blizzard and moved to St Georges Park.

Here are two Portuguese fans that didn’t know it was off…  

Further to the story a quick phone call was made and off to St Georges Park they went. I’d love to know if they got in.

Noggin xx