Art’noon all. It’s a while since I’ve been to Laverstock although I enjoyed a couple of good days out there in their early days in the Wessex League. One memorable trip saw an incredible 8-0 win for Cowes, and another memory was of a proper apocalyptic rain storm that saw us all huddling in their likeable little pair of stands up the top corner of the ground (I’d say a repeat of the rain today is much more likely than a repeat of that scoreline!)
Laverstock enjoyed a fine run in the F.A. Cup this season, clocking up victories over Alresford, U.S. Portsmouth and a mighty impressive away win at Southern League Cinderford already under their belts, before only dipping out by the finest of margins when they were drawn away at Taunton (remember them?!)Sounds like I missed a workmanlike performance on Saturday. Maybe not the most exciting of games, by all accounts, but a very useful point to help nudge us up the table a bit more as we reach the point where a couple of results either way can see some proper daylight open up above or below you. Looking at the table, it seems strange seeing Blackfield and Alresford occupying the bottom two slots, although it is very early days.
I was sorry to miss the game on Saturday, even more-so given that it was Ed Hatt’s 400th appearance for us – that’s quite an achievement and bears testament to Ed’s form, loyalty and commitment over the years. Congratulations, Ed!
Speaking of missing games, yep, it looks like I’ll be absent again tonight, unfortunately, so I apologise to those of you who might be missing my dulcet tones over the tannoy (am pretty sure nobody will be, apart perhaps from whoever it is who has to replace me on the mic…) I am trying to sort out some new music for the tannoy too, since we haven’t had much of a change for a while. The gramophone under the stand is getting a bit tired and the 78s are getting scratched, so it’s probably time…
Hopefully details have been firmed up by now re. our trip to Rayners Lane in the F.A. Vase on 22nd October and we can start assembling the travelling mob. It sounds as though there’ll be a good number of coach tickets available (listen out tonight for news, if there wasn’t an announcement on Saturday), but if you can’t get a place on the coach or just fancy doing something different, the game is eminently reachable by public transport. Rayners Lane is around 45 minutes from Waterloo by tube (Jubilee and Metropolitan Lines), then the ground is around a five minute walk from the tube, so a 10.20 Red Jet and 11.30 train from Southampton would get you there in plenty of time.
The number of jobs needing doing around Westwood on a matchday never seems to go down, only up, so worth asking again if anyone fancies helping out a bit (before, during or after the match) please make yourself known to Pete Jeffery or any other committee member. Many hands do indeed make light work and whatever help you can offer would be massively appreciated.
Right, need to sign off and get this away before the programmes are printed. Rest assured I’ll be glued to Facebook tonight following events, and I look forward to seeing you all up here on the 15th for the Hythe match.
Enjoy the game.
Toby.
