20 Months

I've been a blue since 1977 and got the glory years of the mid-80s, including trips to Bayern away, Rotterdam and Villa Park, where Pat van den Hauwe kicked Ricky Hill into the stand 3 yards away from me. Nice memories. 

I kind of started to fade away from it in the mid- to late-90s. University, job in London, a mortgage, marriage and kids getting in the way of trips to Liverpool, and when I was there, I felt duty bound to spend some time with my parents who were knocking on and not brilliant health-wise. 

I took my daughter once under David Moyes when she was about 5 or 6. I parked up near the away coaches on Pinehurst Ave, pointed out my Infants and Junior Schools to her as well as where I used to live.  No interest whatsoever.  Got to the ground and once she was scarved, badged and fed we sat down to watch us wallop Fulham 4-1.  I think Chris Coleman was sacked by Al Fayed the same evening. 

It didn’t stick. Other interests, not the Blues for her.  I had to wait until my son grew up a bit and see if there was a spark of interest there.  Took a while. Out on a Saturday afternoon in leafy Hertfordshire, going for a swifty with My Mrs and Her Mum. My son came too. I knew the landlady, Sami, so asked if we could put the footy on.  FA cup semi v Man United (not the one we won). Martinez in charge, or the players by half time judging from reports.  Me and Alex proceeded to get very animated during the second half where we battered them and still lost due to Anthony Martial.

So, the spark was there but it took a bit longer to flame.  A mate of mine in Brighton had 2 spares for Brighton vs Everton in the dog days of Marco Silva.  In the home stand but bubbling away despite stewards telling us to sit down and for him not to show his colours.   Dom scored right in front of us and we went mental, only for VAR to give a pen to Brighton for Michael Keane for standing on a toenail. Lost 3-2, heavens opened.  An hour of wet kettling at the station to celebrate his first game.  Set the tone for the future.

Started going home games and concentrating on getting the Bullens Road tickets when the away team didn’t take full allocation.  Brighton, the return. Carlo in charge. 1-0 Richy.  At least he saw us win in his first game at Goodison.  And then came Covid…

Next game, Watford at home under you know who.  Winning 2-1 with 20 to go, Josh King sliding on his knees wearing his man bra in front of us. 5-2.  We coined a term that we use regularly that day. Pulp fiction. Not going to say it, but it’s what the wolf man says to Vincent and Jules just after they had cleaned the dead body out of the car in the Bonnie incident chapter of the film. How we’ve used it since.

Covid 2.0.  Had tickets for Leicester at home, then Newcastle after that got postponed.  Then Newcastle got postponed.  Got really expensive tickets for the 5-0 defeat away at Tottenham.  It was almost like we were cursed.

Then a spark of light.  Lad and dad sickie for the Newcastle rearranged game.  Just Stop Oil man cable-tied to the post.  Allan sent off. Iwobi!!! 27 years of injury time. Top Balcony was rocking.  Ended up in Formby drinking in the 'spoons till midnight.  Best joint memory so far.  Leicester game was drawn, stayed up.  Forest 1-1 start of next season.  Wolves at Christmas, lost in the last minute, bye bye Frank.

Brentford 1-0.  McNeil 1^st minute. Backs to the wall. Dull as ditchwater, but we won, and that’s what it’s all about.

And that’s essentially what this article is about.  We go the match with a bit of hope that you will see your team win and have a lovely, relaxed weekend as a result.  Grinning on the Merseyrail train for no other reason than you’ve just seen the Blues win. 

We went a few more times under Dyche, the most notable being the dullest where the Burnley keeper kicked it at Dom and it bounced in just before half time.  Joy, until we realised Luton had scored last minute to win.  Still in the relegation mire.

There then followed 9 games in the space of exactly 20 months in which we didn’t see the Blues win.  Forest at home, Luton in the Cup being sickeners, but none get close to Bournemouth. 2-0 up going into injury time. 2-3.  We were going straight back to Hertfordshire and my Mrs found us both slumped against a wall outside of Rice Lane Aldi.  Last visit to Goodison v Ipswich was slightly spoilt by the implosion against Ipswich. 2-0, 2-2.  Pulp fiction was being quoted again.

I said earlier I’ve seen the Blues win a few things and they were all great days and nights with my dad.  I was reconciled to it never being the same with Alex, but all we want is to see the Blues win when we can.  Villa 0-0 at the new place in September.  And then it happened.  Row 2, not far from the way fans against Nott'm Forest.  Pickford shouting at the away fans, Barry scoring after resisting their pre-half-time pressure.  Dewsbury-Hall giving it the fist right in front of us.  Special day. 

On the train back, looked at Alex and saw the grin.  No better feeling in the world. A long 20 months that was…

Been once since.  Sunderland in the FA Cup.  You couldn’t make it up.  Still doesn’t take away from the feeling of the Forest game.  Happy days.