This blog was established in July 2007 and tracked Aldershot Town’s successful Blue Square Premier campaign that led to the restoration of League football to my beloved Recreation Ground. The blog was maintained throughout our first season back in the League and for much of last season too…..it went into hibernation earlier this year.
So as a reprise……the following is from July 1st 2007.
'Hi there Aled. Good trip. Did you travel down from north Wales this morning?' I enquired as we made our way through the terminal building at Heathrow.
We had met just once before; a short planning meeting held in the depth of mid-Wales, but after just one cup of coffee I could sense we were both thinking the same thing…..'Kuwait is a long way to go to give a series of lectures to the Ministry of Sport.'
Check-in, baggage security checks, body search, more checks, more searches. 'Certainly no risks were being taken here', I thought to myself.
'Exits left. Right.' The Flight attendant was in full flow. 'Oxygen above', with just a hint of body armour under the blouse.
The plane quickly climbed into the clear blue sky above London. And my hearing was restored to normal at 35,000 feet, with Paris stretched out below like Bekonscot, the world’s oldest model village.
I turned to face Aled.
'You like football then. So Rugby isn't your religion. What team do you support?'
It's bound to be Bangor City, I thought to myself. European Cup Winners Cup against AC Napoli in 1962 – if the away goals rule had applied all those years ago Bangor City would have secured a quite remarkable victory over the one time Italian giants. As it was they lost in the replayed tie at Highbury.
'Sorry Aled, who did you say? Wolves? 'Yes, Wolverhampton Wanderers’, came the reply without the faintest hint of a Brummie accent.
'Mmmm….and your best memory?' Aled's features lit up with the brilliance of the Molineux floodlights. 'The European nights. Stan Cullis. Billy Wright. Great adventures.'
'Yes, I'm sure the ground must have been rocking with excitement and passion when Real Madrid and Dynamo Moscow visited the Black Country’, I was so reassuring with my agreement.
'And your worst memory?'
'Oh easy.' Aled's response was instant and the recall clearly vivid. '1987, the 4th Division play-off final. We had beaten Aldershot at home and away in the League…finishing nine points clear of them at the end of the season. Then quite unbelievably we lost two nil away and one nil at Molyneux. It was awful…..so disappointing. I was devastated….it was so unfair……
’So what team do you support?’, Aled enquired with an air of innocence.
I smiled and settled back into my seat. Kuwait is a long way to go…..
It's now 50 years, to the day, that I experienced my first game at the Recreation Ground, Aldershot…….and I look forward to quite a few more….
Friday, 15 October 2010
It's good to be back....
Posted by A Shot from Wales at 13:55
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