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Pete
Ockenden’s Villa Day Out
Sunday 23rd
September
Woke up Sunday morning, hung-over,
straight on the Everton website to see who
was fit for the match today. Showered and
shaved and tea in bed for the wife, quick
peck and off to get the 8.40 train to Hedge
End. Meet Mark on the train, great he’s
nursing a hangover too!
Get picked up at nine in our Limo by
Steve and Phil. Start chatting straight away
about the UEFA game against Metal Guru, we
all agreed only Everton can put on a
performance like that. To cap it all, the
ticket situation was a shambles but typical
fashion blame the postie. Anyway, get to
East Isley to pick up Walshie. Phil gets in
the back to make way for Walshie to sit in
the front because he’s a big lump (have
first hand experience crushed between him
and the gear stick on the way to Bolton).
Next stop, Warwick Services, Steve’s been
testing his brakes on the M40 so it was a
welcome break.
Meet up with the other car load at
Warwick. To be honest, Scally’s would be a
better description. Quick ten minute break
then Robbo (Scally) says he knows a social
club at Villa that would welcome us and to
follow them for the rest of the journey.
Well that was quite hard to do seeing as
Andy (got to keep my trainers clean) was
driving like Lewis Hamilton and Dave our
driver thought the accelerator was the break
pedal.
Duly arrive at the social club 11.50.
Time to top up on the lager and chat with
the other mob. Got the beer in, sat down and
started to dwell over the match. Looked
around the table, Robbo to my left, Dave
with his newly acquired Alan Ball Shirt and
Mediterranean tan, then came Tom, well what
can I say about Tom. Just thinking to myself
about ESSCA day out in the summer when we
all had too much to drink at the cricket and
Tom hit a wall in the pub and his legs
turned to jelly. Then there was Clint, who
broke the rules, Eddie his carry out
consisted of the dreaded Murder Juice!
Anyway, better move on. The ten of us
moved off to the ground at 1.30. Hopefully,
praying for a good performance and three
points. Got down to the ground. Hadn’t been
here since 1989 semi-final but well
impressed with the ground. Everton take
note, Villa have modernised this ground over
the years. It can be done. Good atmosphere,
but sadly the match was shite, we badly need
the Spaniard back or Gravesen to give us
some direction. Not going to say any more
about it.
Back to the social club. We‘re all pissed
off, the club had transformed itself to a
Caribbean Calypso – could say it sums up
Brum.
On the drive home, Walshie cheered us up
with a few jokes, couple pints at East Isley,
got back to Hedge End at 8.40, next train
9.30 so the four of us had to cram in two
more.
Got 9.30 train back to Portchester and in
doors for ten.
Got to thank Steve for doing the driving
and see you all at the next game.
Many thanks
Paulsgrove Pete
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