McFly to McNish......

I have written tens of thousands of words in support of the Shots over the past couple of seasons in an attempt to expose the emotions of the terrace, while at the same time placing the feelings in context with a view of the world beyond the Recreation Ground.

Tonights blog is however a first.....

Last Saturday I took a friend to see the Shots play Exeter and this is her account of the day....with just a bit of Editorial privilege applied.



''It was with a heightened sense of anticipation that I made ready for my first visit to the Recreation Ground, Aldershot. Of course I had prepared for the trip. My years at the University of Liverpool had not been wasted and I studiously spent the week building up to the Exeter game listening to Radio Five. And by Saturday I think I had a pretty keen understanding of the current interpretation of the offside rule and I knew all about the Respect Campaign. So yes, this wee Scottish Lassie, brought up on a diet of Andy Irvine and Gavin Hastings felt fully ready to embark on a voyage of discovery, in search of the true meaning of ‘the beautiful game.’

Isn’t it funny how theory and real life evolve in disparate worlds. Read a book and life is simple. Step out onto the street and cars all seem to go very fast.

What I experienced on Saturday was a day full of rituals, a gathering of the ‘Clans’, the strengthening of common bonds and a heightening passion for ‘The Lads’.

The rituals ‘kicked off’ when I was picked up in Cardiff and presented with my outfit for the day - an Aldershot away shirt. But I was soon to discover that the true fan does not simply rely on a replica shirt; no the true obsessive is wrapped up in an array of knitted items, many of which have been handed down through the generations.

And then with the Second Severn Crossing disappearing from the rear view mirror my senses were shattered by, ‘Gary Waddocks Red and Blue Army….Gary Waddocks Red and Blue Army….just coming over the bridge son’. I suppose a simple answer to the question, ‘where are you?’ And a ritual hands free phone call that must take place as England is entered. Well if the Shots are to win……

On the face of it pre-match drinks in La Fontaine and the clinking of glasses to support ‘The Lads’, should have been a pretty ordinary event. Apparently the ‘clinking’ had been going on since the FA Cup defeat at the hands of Shrewsbury in 1979…..and it was something that Jutta, over from Stuttgart, was to be held responsible for.

But then uncertainty over the likely result took hold of the ‘Clan’ when we were not able to sit in the ‘ceremonial’ seats in the pub. It was full of ‘The Exeter’. And then this trauma was followed by a bit of a debate on the purchase of the pre-match pie. ‘A Shot from Wales’ had already consumed two rolls ….should he purchase the ‘traditional’ steak pie and then give it away, bin it, or eat something that he really didn’t want…just to maintain the unbeaten home record. Suddenly I was welling up with a feeling of horror.

Taking over the season ticket of ASFW’s brother who was en-route to Bournemouth, with his young kids, to see McFly was scrambling the forces of nature. Was my presence upsetting the unseen and dark forces that control football….

And after a truly lack lustre first half and with the ‘thermos flask’ in Bournemouth, I was definitely getting worried that the deviations from normal practice were indeed having an effect on the outcome of the game.

But I shouldn’t have fretted because for the second half, a totally different Aldershot came out onto the pitch….a team packed with blazing guns. It was not long before I was able to add my sigh of relief to the hearty cheers as the ball found the back of the net after a defensive error and a John Grant shot.

The excitement continued right up to the final whistle. Loads of shots…off target. A few saves and a penalty miss. Aldershot never really in trouble and the Town held on admirably to win 1-0.

And as the songs from the terraces reverberated around the Eastbank I began to understand the drug that had ‘hooked’ my friend for all these years,

I’m now safely back in Cardiff and contemplating my weekend.

Thank you Aldershot Town for letting me share your team for the day.

And I raise my glass - “To the Lads”......''

A Shot from Morningside.....