Saturday 3rd January
Att 10,007
Winner gets £67,500
Many thanks
to Notcutts Garden Centre Restaurant for their sponsoring my supply of pepper(they
don’t know yet).
From setting out to arrival the weather was atrocious. Seems
to be a pattern emerging. The weather is so much different to the short sleeved
days of Atherstone in August which seems an age ago.
Left very early to go to
Wallasey and find the house I was born in. After a few hiccups, a stop off at a
pub, I found it and also found it an eerie disappointment. Knocked the door –
no reply so up the road to the match.
Half hour to kick off and buzzing
compared to the Oxford replay. Not surprising. Went into the bar which was
rammed. Having already had a sandwich at
a pub I thought I would save the culinary delights till after half time. Took
my seat high up in the stands and watched the preliminaries. So many
photographs on the half way line with the officials alongside dignitaries, ball
boys, mascots and anyone else that could be rounded up.
The match began with
both sides eager to get the upper hand but it was obvious where the class was
and it was no surprise to see Swansea go ahead through Dyer after 34 minutes.
The Tranmere fans behind the goal were convinced there was a handball. Will
have to look at that later. Half time 1 – 0 and off to try a pie and Bovril.
Massive long queue. Man and wife doing all the cooking and serving on their
own. Obviously too tight to pay any helpers. Forced to
watch the first 10 minutes of the second half in the bar on closed circuit TV
eating my pie. The pie was excellent and was sourced from a local butcher. No chips!
Saw Swansea score 2 more goals through Carroll and the very impressive Mo Barrow. Back in my seat now but I nearly didn’t go back. Bloke next to me repeats everything I say. “Knock it wide”, he says “Knock it wide”, Swansea’s attack cuts open the Tranmere defence, I say “Too Easy” he turns to his mate “Too easy”. Ah well. Power gets one back to give the Tranmere fans a little hope only for Gomis to make it 4-1. Stockton got a second for Tranmere but Swansea killed the game off with goals from Routledge and Gomis again. At least the rain had relented and not too bad getting off the car park.
Saw Swansea score 2 more goals through Carroll and the very impressive Mo Barrow. Back in my seat now but I nearly didn’t go back. Bloke next to me repeats everything I say. “Knock it wide”, he says “Knock it wide”, Swansea’s attack cuts open the Tranmere defence, I say “Too Easy” he turns to his mate “Too easy”. Ah well. Power gets one back to give the Tranmere fans a little hope only for Gomis to make it 4-1. Stockton got a second for Tranmere but Swansea killed the game off with goals from Routledge and Gomis again. At least the rain had relented and not too bad getting off the car park.
A friend of a friend reading my blog pointed out the
ever widening gap between grass roots football and the mighty commercial
juggernaut the game has become. Brocton earned £1500 for beating Atherstone in
the first preliminary round. In any given week it takes Eden Hazard 76 minutes
to earn that amount!! Just under 3 days to earn Swansea’s winnings of £67,500
on Saturday. Brocton would be delighted
with the £1500.
Bought a ‘Tranmere Equalizer’ raffle ticket on Saturday before
the match and the guy who sold it to me said to “listen carefully” at half time
for the winner. I think they must whisper the winner. I never heard a thing.
1862 miles covered and Blackburn next. 1245 kick off.
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