ALL IN VAIN...

The photo above shows our street`s local hero Scott ("Buzzin` six pack fashion icon") Wagstaff, currently plying his footballing trade with AFC Wimbledon.  In the last round of the FA Cup. Wimbledon managed to beat Premier League outfit West Ham 4-2, thanks largely to two splendidly taken goals from the aforementioned Wagstaff.

At the end pf that game, he was challenged by one of the hoards of BBC reporters to have his beard dyed in the club colours of yellow and blue for the next round. the ties for which are being played out over this weekend. As can be seen, his fulsome beard underwent a serious operation earlier in the week in order to meet the challenge laid down after the last round, Wagstaff having declared himself `up for it 100 percent,` thereby  committing himself to going through with it. 

And what a resplendent sight it reveals - the ample growth providing a formidable basis for the two tone dye that he had promised to fulfil.  Just one snag.   The Dons had a midweek game away at Walsall (a notoriously difficult place to go to) and Wagstaff found himself consigned to the bench for that game. presumably to ensure that he would be `up for it 100 percent` for yesterday`s FA Cup clash with Millwall.

But yesterday, he found himself on the bench yet again and this time he didn`t even get on to play any part in the game, which Millwall won 1-0.   Now of course, Wagstaff`s beard had gained much publicity which must have raised the profile of the cash strapped club and brought them much needed attention as a result of all the media interest.  However, despite a good deal of coverage in the run up to the game, Wagstaff and his beard were nowhere to be seen during the game and he may be forgiven for thinking that his efforts had been all in vain.

Now, there might be those cynics or conspiracy theorists who might suggest that all the publicity and media interest in the colourful beard and its owner may have deflected perhaps a little too much attention in his direction and away from the management and powers that be in the higher echelons of Kingsmeadow Stadium.  Why on earth would Wimbledon deny themselves the goal scoring exploits of the hero of their last FA Cup victory? I`ve no idea, but maybe there was perhaps a touch of karma  in the fact that Wimbledon lost the game yesterday and today they may be regretting the extraordinary decision to leave the beard on the bench.