LOCAL HERO GOES GREEN...

Those of you who have followed my ramblings over the years will be familiar with my love of sports, in particular cricket, golf and football (soccer for my American devotees.)  And you will have noticed that apart from my life long devotion to Southampton FC with all its ups and downs, I also follow the fortunes of other, less `fashionable` clubs in the  lower reaches of the football pyramid rather than the dizzy heights.   

I think it`s just the romance of those clubs - sometimes it`s their location, sometimes their history and sometimes it`s just their sheer determination to survive and keep going for the love of it...or indeed for the hell of it.   So clubs like Fort William in Scotland`s Highland League, Truro City in the National League South Section are admired for their heroic journeys up and down the land and Forest Green Rovers in League Two for the romance of their location amid the glories of the Cotswolds, their rise from the obscurity of a village club and their devotion to all things green.  Greta must be a fan.

Over the years too I have followed and reported on the career of our street`s local hero Scott ("Buzzin` Six Pack") Wagstaff from his time playing in Charlton`s Youth team through his brief encounters at Northwich Victoria, Leyton Orient and Bournemouth, his seasons at Bristol City and Gillingham and more recently Wimbledon.   Sadly, his contract at Wimbledon expired at the end of June and there has been mounting speculation as to where he might next ply his trade as a box-to-box midfielder cum pacy flanker.

And in one of those quirks of fate he has just been snapped up by none other than Forest Green Rovers and you can see from the picture above that he along with his eco-friendly beard already look to be settling in to life at the New Lawn.   He will bring a wealth of experience to a club that is still on the up but I hope he thinks twice about celebrating any goal he might score with his trademark celebration `The Brick.`  At his age it could cause some damage.   It was at his time at Bristol City that I first reported on this remarkable celebratory contortion - here`s my report from no less than six years ago  - https://snoppersays.blogspot.com/2014/01/the-brick-is-back.html - (to view, please highlight the link, right click and the option to go to my post should appear.)

Of course with football being played behind closed doors it will not be possible to witness at first hand how Scott`s influence on his new team mates bears fruit, which of itself is a shame, as is being denied the excuse to visit deepest Gloucestershire and all it has to offer.  The Chippings at Tetbury, the Market at Minchinhampton, the Dulcima country and the Cider with Rosie.  Our local hero is in for a good time.