ANOTHER RECORD TO CHERISH ?
I think I`ve arrived at that stage where there is no point in being cross about it. Instead, as Southampton FC lurch to yet another home defeat, this time at the hands of Everton, I seem to have been overcome by a feeling of almost benign amusement. Yesterday`s game was billed as yet another in a long line of `must win six pointers` but the 2-1 home defeat leaves the Saints next to bottom of the Premier League with the worst goal difference in the league.
Moreover, following the recent 9-0 stuffing by Leicester City which made history by being the record home defeat by any team ever in the history of the Premier League, yesterday`s defeat set yet more milestones in what is becoming a season to forget. It marked the worst ever start to a season in over 130 years of competitive football for the Saints and the return of only one point from six home matches played so far has equalled that set by Blackpool way back in the 1930s. So history continues to be made.
Just a few miles up the road from Southampton is the small village of Blackfield, where I spent much of the war in an aunt`s house with my mother whilst my father was away being a prisoner of war for five years. I played my first football there at the age of about five which I imagine is when the romance with the game may have started.
Blackfield and Langley (the adjoining hamlet) now have a team playing in the Southern League South Division and yesterday they had a replay against Truro City in the FA Trophy qualifying round, having drawn at Truro in the week. In front of a recorded `crowd` of 57, Blackfield won 3-1 and so not only did Truro have to wearily trudge the 200 and more miles back home but it also marked another disappointment in my affection for the Cornish White Tigers despite my divided loyalties on this occasion.
The good news is that Gillingham went all the way to Sunderland on Friday night and came away with a 1-1 draw in the FA Cup, so my neighbour will be `up for it` when the replay takes place at Priestfield nextTuesday evening. Wimbledon too had a 1-1 draw in the Cup at at home against Doncaster Rovers, so our street`s local hero Scott ("Buzzin` Six-pack") Wagstaff and his chums have to make the journey to the Don Valley Stadium for their replay also next Tuesday evening. Forest Green Rovers had a 4-0 win in the Cup against Billericay and Maidstone pulled off a surprise 1-0 win against Torquay United.
So it`s not all bad then. Just most of it.
Just a few miles up the road from Southampton is the small village of Blackfield, where I spent much of the war in an aunt`s house with my mother whilst my father was away being a prisoner of war for five years. I played my first football there at the age of about five which I imagine is when the romance with the game may have started.
Blackfield and Langley (the adjoining hamlet) now have a team playing in the Southern League South Division and yesterday they had a replay against Truro City in the FA Trophy qualifying round, having drawn at Truro in the week. In front of a recorded `crowd` of 57, Blackfield won 3-1 and so not only did Truro have to wearily trudge the 200 and more miles back home but it also marked another disappointment in my affection for the Cornish White Tigers despite my divided loyalties on this occasion.
The good news is that Gillingham went all the way to Sunderland on Friday night and came away with a 1-1 draw in the FA Cup, so my neighbour will be `up for it` when the replay takes place at Priestfield nextTuesday evening. Wimbledon too had a 1-1 draw in the Cup at at home against Doncaster Rovers, so our street`s local hero Scott ("Buzzin` Six-pack") Wagstaff and his chums have to make the journey to the Don Valley Stadium for their replay also next Tuesday evening. Forest Green Rovers had a 4-0 win in the Cup against Billericay and Maidstone pulled off a surprise 1-0 win against Torquay United.
So it`s not all bad then. Just most of it.
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