A Game for All

3rd round day arrived with a peculiar feeling, see this would be the first game we had been too which you could describe as local since the opening round the first time we did this. That meant a much more normal Saturday. In the morning I took JJ’s brother to the supermarket. Then JJ and I had lunch together in our own dining room. I still had time to pack up our bag (and a lot of warm clothes) before it was time to drive the 25 mins or so to the home of Oxford United. Now 3rd round day for me was always when the competition really started. The cup upsets felt bigger the stories would consume the papers. In this very round back in the 80’s it was rumoured Sir Alex Ferguson (back when he was just Alex) would of lost his job had Man United be knocked out by my beloved Forest. I remember watching the game and being so disappointed at the Mark Robins goal. Ok, ok I’ll stop reminiscing my point being this was always the start when I was young I never really understood the significance or

So 2nd round day bought some proper football weather freezing temperatures greeted me on the morning of departure. Again due to the craziness of work I was really late organising tickets so late I hadn’t realised that the game was on Sunday cue some hilarity as I asked repeatedly for tickets for Saturdays game, much to the amusement of the ticket office. The club were excellent talking me through parking arrangements and where to collect tickets etc. So match day and an early start was required a because frankly it’s A bloody long way to Exeter and B Sunday’s mean a 2pm kick off. So with JJ medicated and in his car seat I knew i was guaranteed some piece and quiet. We had a relatively uneventful journey and came into Exeter with plenty of time. A stop at a big Sainsbury’s for a bathroom break as I had way to many drinks on the way down before we went to find some parking near to the ground. On the Blue badge we were able to park within a 5 min walk of the ground. Residents parking

So where has this post been I hear nobody ask?  Well it’s been a hectic few weeks and the game was something of a washout. I mean that quite literally. So having rang Yeovil in the week to organise some tickets where I have to say they were super helpful (as most ticket offices are to be fair) and having stumped up the quid for the two tickets. Their children’s tickets were so cheap (and for those not aware once you get to sort of national league level, you pay for the disabled space and a carer goes free, lower then that I normally pay for a ticket for me and JJ is free. We were really looking forward to the game. An earlier then normal start prevailed. My wife needed us out for a story then I’ll come back to one day. So by 9am we were on our way fully expecting to be in Yeovil by 11/11.30. Within 30 mins of departure the rain started and well pretty much didn’t stop for the entire journey. With time on our heads we checked out the ground location then head down town for some lun

Well what to call this, the programme said replay, I'm not sure that's the right phrase. I think more its the rerun. A Tuesday night game means no JJ.  I always hate midweek games, we were so lucky last time we did this, to only get one replay. Midweek games just don't really work with JJ. His meds have to be equally spread over the 24 hours and also he's only likely to last an hour before he's out for hours. So the only sensible thing is to go it alone. I'd weeks ago already agreed to be in Leicestershire with work that day, so a 5pm clothes change and swift departure saw me making the long journey down the M1 to the game. I'm so glad I did, I got there about 30 mins before kick off and the car park was pretty much full already, a huge change to the 1st game (Spurs were at home that day). I walked in and our spot from last time was closed off for TV, so I went left and nearer to that end from the original game. As I stood waiting for kick off I looked

Its been a week since the match, a week in which I've debated whether to even post following the match, that in its own right is such a disappointment. Those of you that are not football fans may have missed it but the game was abandoned in the second half following some absolutely disgraceful scenes from behind the goal where the Yeovil fans were. We were a long way from that end and in many respects I'm grateful for that, that were a lot of kids around us enjoying the game. Yeovil were awarded a penalty about 15 mins into the second half (rightfully so) and the Yeovil fans went to real lengths to disrupt the keeper, it appeared this had overstepped the mark a little and the ref called for calm, the Haringey keeper was gesticulating to the ref about his treatment when a plastic bottle was thrown onto the pitch, it was hard to tell if it hit anyone although it was confirmed after the game that it had hit the keeper. That on its own would of been a disgrace. What followe

Its taken a while to find the time to write this up, largely due to the fact its took me all week to catch up from events the week prior. I got one of those calls on Thursday morning before the match. I had literally just sat down at work when my phone rang, it was my wife, she hardly ever calls me when I'm at work so I knew something was wrong. JJ had arrived at school in a long paralysis episode and his sats were compromised. The transport team were administering oxygen and an ambulance was en route. As it was it wasn't that big an event in JJ world, he sleeps every morning after meds so by the time he came round from those he was back to his usual bouncing off the ceiling self. The bad ones he can sleep all day after. So whilst those calls are always scary, at least until we get to see him, this was a relatively run of the mill event for us. So much so I wasn't too concerned about attending the game though I did go and buy another rear view mirror so I can better see

Well safe to say we were super excited about heading out to a new ground for the 2nd Qualifying round, more so given the reason the game had been moved to Sunday was because Bromley who Cray share with were hosting Notts County on Saturday (who are my Dad's team). Thanks to my sat nav we went on another wonderful journey to get to the ground taking in some delightful Kent countryside and long stretches of single track road, not ideal in a WAV. Anyway en route we stopped at Cobham the only major services we passed the whole journey and one we were already familiar with and therefore knew there was a changing places here (though yet again not sign posted until you get all the way through to the disabled facilities at the back of the services), I really am amazed they don't scream about having these facilities as they were really clean and being well used. Our wonderful journey in meant we arrived just after 2.15pm, there are building works around the ground (well mentioned o