'A sorry affair'

Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross must be feeling pretty pleased with themselves today. ‘Leading article’ status in The Times and to be blogged by A Shot from Wales ahead of Peter Mandelson, George Osborne, Gordon Brown and even dear old Harry Redknapp, is an achievement that not even the inflated egos of the two ‘entertainers’ could have established as an outcome, when they hatched their sordid plan to phone Andrew Sachs.

Until yesterday, I have to admit, I didn’t really know who Russell Brand was. His name only creating an image in my mind of an overweight TV astrologer…

Then I saw the news, and Russell Brand came chaotically into focus….and to compound my feeling of unease, I was subsequently advised that ‘we’ pay his wages.

Jonathan Ross is less of a mystery….he is simply overpaid and without talent.

The reported unsavoury incident was described by one commentator on Radio 4 this morning, as a product of ‘the pursuit of youth by the BBC, which is why Jonathan Ross is employed’.

Now at this point I choked on my croissant. The statement was as grotesque as witnessing a 47 years old Jonathan Ross ‘dancing’ to The Prodigy at a wedding party. Perhaps just acceptable at midnight, and after the bride's gran and spinster aunt have gone to bed…..and when all of the remaining guests are equally drunk. But in daylight hours? No, it would never pass the, ‘but it was quite funny’, test of Radio 2 listeners, many of whom drink no more than a glass of Pic St Loup with their evening meal.

After the painful defeat at Chesterfield on Wednesday evening, Aldershot crossed the Pennines to play Rochdale on Saturday.

I have always had a soft spot for the Lancashire club, probably because their footballing history can be found in the same reference section as the Shots.

A lifetime in the basement was beautifully described in Derick Allsop’s book – Kicking in the Wind.

‘The third (D2) is the factory floor of the game, where diligent tradesmen endeavour to stave off injury and competition long enough to make a living, buy a comfortable semi and run a second-hand car….And yet, within inevitable constraints, a club like Rochdale can still have its ambition and motivation…..The supporters, too, yearn for greater things – a Cup run, the play offs, even promotion. Faith and hope will forever bond all football people.’

So when Aldershot Town ran out at Spotland they entered a familiar world….a world in balance.

48 matches between the ‘two clubs’….14 wins, 7 draws and 3 defeats for the Shots at the Rec and 14 defeats, 7 draws and 3 wins for the Shots at Spotland.

The 3v1 defeat no more than another statistic……..but it wasn’t funny.

Tonight we entertain another old favourite, Port Vale, in a game that will have ‘urgent improvement needed’ coursing through the arteries of every Aldershot fan.

But on the 67th birthday of Hank Marvin, The Shadows, it will be good to hear the sound of Apache rolling down from the East Bank to form a protective shield around Bully’s goal……

Der…Der…….Der…Der…Der…Der…Der …Der….

I’m off now in search of the single that reached ‘number one’ on August 25th 1960, just as I was about to begin my love affair with the Shots…..

It's time to shape up......