Owls Blog - 'We Must All Be Mental' 2
Last Updated on Friday, 10 September 2010 06:49
Owls BlogHe's back! 5 games into the season and top of league and Rory the self proclaimed 'Southern Owl' and regular Owls Blogger Rory McAllister gives us the low down on the season so far.
And Rory tells all about his adventurous trip to Colchester and back and avoiding the Brentford score whilst 'on air'...
Dear Wednesdayites,
It's ok. It's alright. We've been here before. Winning 5-0 then rolling over like a submissive dog and losing 1-0. Any seasoned (or cynical) Wednesday supporter will be all too familiar with this. I was asked after the Brentford game if I was annoyed. Annoyed? Yes. Surprised? No.
*tut*tch*roll eyes* - we're used to it aren't we? After all, as I said in my last blog, 'Sheffield Wednesday' is an anagram of 'we must all be mental', however, it's also an anagram of 'been here before and know the drill'. Sometimes, I don't know what's more frustrating. Being a Wednesday fan? Or stuck in a torture chamber with that (“who is shhhhe?”) Nicki Grahame from Big Brother?
To be honest, my highlight on Sunday was seeing Tango in the front row, arms aloft leading the songs, including me and 'er indoors at home. I know, I know. I was supposed to be at the Brentford game. Blummin' Sky! All because of them the fixture was changed from the Saturday to the Sunday.
Sky! Grrrrrrrrrrrr! Bane of my life, but the saviours at the same time. You'd have thought I'd get better luck? The CLOSEST away fixture to my house in Berkshire all season (minus any future cup fixtures of course) and I couldn't go. The reason being, a midday-ish kick-off clashes with the BBC radio programme I present and I'd already taken my allocation of Sundays off. Now, I know this is problem for most of us, (games clashing with work commitments) but 99% percent of the time Wednesday comes first for me, of course - and I wouldn't duck going to a game just because it was on the telly, either. I'd still go. I just couldn't on Sunday. So I was left with the usual 'record the game and hope nobody tells you the result' scenario. I'm sure you've been there too? Don't check the internet. Ignore your mobile phone. What? Someone's sent you a text? Could be important? More than likely it's a mate ribbing you about the result. Ignore it! Resist! Resist! Resist! Another thing - avoid the television and radio. Yes. The radio. This is where life gets difficult for me, as that's exactly the field I work in. Luckily, Sheffield Wednesday don't normally make the sports bulletins here, but whoever's playing on a Sunday in the football league can sometimes get a mention. This is where you really do start to organise your life around Wednesday. Like telling the sports reporter not to tell you the result, or at least give you a heads up so you can "la la la la la" through the bulletin like a chimp with your hands over your ears.
Anyway, I made it home without knowing the result and watched the game back on Sky Sports. There's been enough written about the game and to be honest, tactical post-analysis isn't really the reason for my blogs. At least we stayed top.
So, since we last spoke? How are you? (sorry, I should have asked that earlier). Me? Yeah, alright. However, were you at the Colchester match? Jeez, what a journey. Should have been an hour and a half, tops, for me from Ascot. I joined the M3 at 11:25am on the Saturday. Should have been fine. No. Over an hour of delays due to an accident. Problem was the next junction was the M25 and I needed to get off there, so I had no choice but to sit in the traffic. I bunged on FiveLive to hear coverage of Spurs vs. City and my radio started to crackle after 10mins. I changed from 909 to 606 and had the same problem. So I switched from AM to Radio 2 and everything seemed fine. 10mins later, more crackling. In my (growing) frustration I knocked the radio off. I nearly knocked it out.
The Sat Nav now said my estimated time of arrival was 13:48. No major problem there, other than arriving much later than I wanted to. Problem is; I like things to go like clockwork on a matchday. You work hard all week and all you ask for is that your Saturday will go right for you. I like to arrive in plenty of time, chat to fans and settle in to the day and match ahead. Whilst I was stuck in the car, I knew this was slipping away. Eventually, I joined the M25.....
Yet another jam. 47mins later I was moving again despite umpteen phone calls to 'er indoors ranting if I should turn around and come home (how I was going to turn around, I'll never know). It's at times like that you really wish you had some sort of Back To The Future hover-conversion.
I got into Colchester, eventually. 2:43pm. 250 yrds to go. Turn right. Turn left. At the roundabout, take the 3rd exit. Turn right. 2.44pm. At the junction, turn right. In 50yrds, turn right.......You have reached your destination.
Have I? Looks deserted to me? And I hadn't seen that many fans. In fact, none. A few blokes walking along 'looking' like they were on their way to the match? Otherwise, nothing. 2.45pm. 15mins til kick off. I pulled over and asked some pensioners at a bus stop where Colchester's ground was. "The old one or the new one, mate?" Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr! "The old one's up there, about 50yards away...." What? "The new one's right over the other side of town, guv'nah". You what? "You might make it". Might? Might? What?! This has ALREADY been the journey from hell. All for a poxy £19 pound ticket and a football match.
I got to the new ground. Eventually. After being stung for £6 quid to park, various wrong directions from passers by and driving in the coach and taxi entrance, I then had to drive the whole way around to come in the right way. And I only saw ONE sign for the stadium. One! And that was about 1/4 mile from the stadium.
Anyway, I got in to the ground and sat down (in the wrong seat - I think we were ALL in the wrong seats?). It was about 3:20pm and goalless. For now. Just as I was settling in there were two Wednesday fans arguing, almost fighting over anti-Sheffield United songs. "Hey pal, sing more 'bout Wensdee rather than putting effort in't United!" "You what, pal? At least am singing...what you doin'?" “I was saying ‘ow e’s singin’ ‘bout t’pigs, love. What? I know…gonna ‘it ‘im in a minnit”. etc etc etc etc. What a nightmare day and now these two were at it. There wasn’t a fight though. Just a bloke next to me who’d had his shower-radio nicked by a drunk bloke in a suit.
Thank God for Mellor's equaliser. I won't tell you about my journey home, spinning the car 720 degrees just off the M4 in the wet. I got home and am still alive. And yes, still supporting Wednesday.
The things you do.
UP THE OWLS!!!!!!
Rory - The Southern Owl
Want to be become an Owls Blogger for Wednesdayite? Then click here to contact us...
It's ok. It's alright. We've been here before. Winning 5-0 then rolling over like a submissive dog and losing 1-0. Any seasoned (or cynical) Wednesday supporter will be all too familiar with this. I was asked after the Brentford game if I was annoyed. Annoyed? Yes. Surprised? No.
*tut*tch*roll eyes* - we're used to it aren't we? After all, as I said in my last blog, 'Sheffield Wednesday' is an anagram of 'we must all be mental', however, it's also an anagram of 'been here before and know the drill'. Sometimes, I don't know what's more frustrating. Being a Wednesday fan? Or stuck in a torture chamber with that (“who is shhhhe?”) Nicki Grahame from Big Brother?
To be honest, my highlight on Sunday was seeing Tango in the front row, arms aloft leading the songs, including me and 'er indoors at home. I know, I know. I was supposed to be at the Brentford game. Blummin' Sky! All because of them the fixture was changed from the Saturday to the Sunday.
Sky! Grrrrrrrrrrrr! Bane of my life, but the saviours at the same time. You'd have thought I'd get better luck? The CLOSEST away fixture to my house in Berkshire all season (minus any future cup fixtures of course) and I couldn't go. The reason being, a midday-ish kick-off clashes with the BBC radio programme I present and I'd already taken my allocation of Sundays off. Now, I know this is problem for most of us, (games clashing with work commitments) but 99% percent of the time Wednesday comes first for me, of course - and I wouldn't duck going to a game just because it was on the telly, either. I'd still go. I just couldn't on Sunday. So I was left with the usual 'record the game and hope nobody tells you the result' scenario. I'm sure you've been there too? Don't check the internet. Ignore your mobile phone. What? Someone's sent you a text? Could be important? More than likely it's a mate ribbing you about the result. Ignore it! Resist! Resist! Resist! Another thing - avoid the television and radio. Yes. The radio. This is where life gets difficult for me, as that's exactly the field I work in. Luckily, Sheffield Wednesday don't normally make the sports bulletins here, but whoever's playing on a Sunday in the football league can sometimes get a mention. This is where you really do start to organise your life around Wednesday. Like telling the sports reporter not to tell you the result, or at least give you a heads up so you can "la la la la la" through the bulletin like a chimp with your hands over your ears.
Anyway, I made it home without knowing the result and watched the game back on Sky Sports. There's been enough written about the game and to be honest, tactical post-analysis isn't really the reason for my blogs. At least we stayed top.
So, since we last spoke? How are you? (sorry, I should have asked that earlier). Me? Yeah, alright. However, were you at the Colchester match? Jeez, what a journey. Should have been an hour and a half, tops, for me from Ascot. I joined the M3 at 11:25am on the Saturday. Should have been fine. No. Over an hour of delays due to an accident. Problem was the next junction was the M25 and I needed to get off there, so I had no choice but to sit in the traffic. I bunged on FiveLive to hear coverage of Spurs vs. City and my radio started to crackle after 10mins. I changed from 909 to 606 and had the same problem. So I switched from AM to Radio 2 and everything seemed fine. 10mins later, more crackling. In my (growing) frustration I knocked the radio off. I nearly knocked it out.
The Sat Nav now said my estimated time of arrival was 13:48. No major problem there, other than arriving much later than I wanted to. Problem is; I like things to go like clockwork on a matchday. You work hard all week and all you ask for is that your Saturday will go right for you. I like to arrive in plenty of time, chat to fans and settle in to the day and match ahead. Whilst I was stuck in the car, I knew this was slipping away. Eventually, I joined the M25.....
Yet another jam. 47mins later I was moving again despite umpteen phone calls to 'er indoors ranting if I should turn around and come home (how I was going to turn around, I'll never know). It's at times like that you really wish you had some sort of Back To The Future hover-conversion.
I got into Colchester, eventually. 2:43pm. 250 yrds to go. Turn right. Turn left. At the roundabout, take the 3rd exit. Turn right. 2.44pm. At the junction, turn right. In 50yrds, turn right.......You have reached your destination.
Have I? Looks deserted to me? And I hadn't seen that many fans. In fact, none. A few blokes walking along 'looking' like they were on their way to the match? Otherwise, nothing. 2.45pm. 15mins til kick off. I pulled over and asked some pensioners at a bus stop where Colchester's ground was. "The old one or the new one, mate?" Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr! "The old one's up there, about 50yards away...." What? "The new one's right over the other side of town, guv'nah". You what? "You might make it". Might? Might? What?! This has ALREADY been the journey from hell. All for a poxy £19 pound ticket and a football match.
I got to the new ground. Eventually. After being stung for £6 quid to park, various wrong directions from passers by and driving in the coach and taxi entrance, I then had to drive the whole way around to come in the right way. And I only saw ONE sign for the stadium. One! And that was about 1/4 mile from the stadium.
Anyway, I got in to the ground and sat down (in the wrong seat - I think we were ALL in the wrong seats?). It was about 3:20pm and goalless. For now. Just as I was settling in there were two Wednesday fans arguing, almost fighting over anti-Sheffield United songs. "Hey pal, sing more 'bout Wensdee rather than putting effort in't United!" "You what, pal? At least am singing...what you doin'?" “I was saying ‘ow e’s singin’ ‘bout t’pigs, love. What? I know…gonna ‘it ‘im in a minnit”. etc etc etc etc. What a nightmare day and now these two were at it. There wasn’t a fight though. Just a bloke next to me who’d had his shower-radio nicked by a drunk bloke in a suit.
Thank God for Mellor's equaliser. I won't tell you about my journey home, spinning the car 720 degrees just off the M4 in the wet. I got home and am still alive. And yes, still supporting Wednesday.
The things you do.
UP THE OWLS!!!!!!
Rory - The Southern Owl
Want to be become an Owls Blogger for Wednesdayite? Then click here to contact us...
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