Route 66 - A Blog by Peter Butcher: January 2010

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Route 66 - Peter Butcher's Blog

Wednesday, 27 January 2010 | | | << Route 66 Home | << TGSPHOTO Home

Star-Spangled Soccer

Another one! I think I'm finally getting this blog together (famous last words?).

For anyone puzzled by the reference in the last one, all my blogs suddenly became dated December 9, a glitch which star man Gavin has now resolved.

Northwood last night, then; the 51st Ryman League club I've visited so far this season, just 15 to go.

Good game against Great Wakering, 3-3 (0-1 after 44 minutes, 2-2 at half-time). The officials took much stick from the benches, not much of it justified (if, indeed, you can justify any abuse of the officials). One manager was giving the poor old ref a real haranguing as they walked off at half-time. His opposite number added, "Ref, to be fair, he's spot on." Still, if the FA won't stop Fergie, Wenger and that lot blaming the officials every time they drop a point, Ryman managers are hardly likely to be any different, are they?

For all that, it was an entertaining game on a very chilly night.

Northwood's first goal came from Leon Osei - "Osei can you see?" as I called him in the book when he scored at Wingate a few weeks back (Route 66, available some time in the summer). Pathetically, while in this anthemic mood I failed to notice that another scorer was Chris Seeby. So if Northwood would only sign Kanu (presumably they can pay him more than Portsmouth do), they could have a goalscoring line of Osei Kanu Seeby which should be good for some American sponsorship. Maybe the Glazers would take them over: lucky, lucky Northwood!

While in this ridiculous mood, let's carry on. I'm struggling with 'the dawn' but we have any number of Searles (let's say Mark who used to play for Worthing) and Lees (pick one), and I'm sure there used to be a Light (Danny?) somewhere. Then Steve Watts...

So, so far, our Star-Spangled Soccer Banner goes:

OSEI KANU SEE-

BY the dawn' S EARLE LEE LIGHT

WATT So proudly we hailed....

Any advance, devoted reader (or even readers)?

For the record, by the way, I discovered yesterday that it's pronounced OSS-EYE not O-SAY. But that would spoil the fun.

As Gav would say, I'll get my coat.

posted by Anonymous at 11:43 am 0 Comments

Tuesday, 26 January 2010 | | | << Route 66 Home | << TGSPHOTO Home

So I was wrong. What a surprise.

I see all my blogs are now dated December 9, presumably an effort to kick me into writing something by making me feel guilty that I've done nothing since such a productive day.

Well, it worked, and anyway it was pointed out to me last night that I'd said on a previous entry that I didn't expect to see any 'first-class' football this season. It was pleasing to know that I not only have a reader but one who remembers what I said.

This conversation occurred in the press box at Charlton. So out of touch am I with the 'big time' that I didn't even realise that the O's were playing there until I read the paper on Monday morning. I had a vague plan to do Barkingside v Barking that evening but that was almost certain to be off - and it was.

Over the river, then, to watch the Orient for the first time almost three years. Since much of my loss of interest in the club was down to the fact that I no longer recognised any of the players, such was the Brisbane Road turnover, it was nice that the goal was from an old face, Scott McGleish, whom I last saw score for the O's in 1997 and, before that, for Edgware at Aveley in 1994 (gratuitous Ryman League plug).

So here were the O's, desperate for points, one up against one of the division's top teams. What bothered me was how little it bothered me that Charlton might equalise. Something in my heart has definitely gone missing (which is odd, because a surgeon added some bits a few years back).

Charlton are now offering five-year season tickets. Imagine buying one of them, sitting down at of the next season and discovering that the bloke next to you also has a five-year season ticket ... and a drum.

Lloyd Sam was on the left wing for Charlton. I wondered if "SAM 11" used less material (or whatever it is) than any other shirt in the league. My old friend Gary Haines, now part of the team producing the super Charlton programme, immediately came up with former Brentford player Charlie Ide. I've had to check that one, but it was "IDE 25" so Sam probably beats him. But what the guy who just left man City? JO 14, wasn't he? This stuff's important, you know.

I could see the Sky pictures from where I was sitting. They were some seven seconds behind the live action. If you have HD at home, have you ever noticed that the picture there is far enough behind the 'regular' one that you can switch channels and still arrive before you left, as it were?

Anyway, I thought it was about time that this blog got going again, especially as Gavin was at the game and will no doubt slot in a super picture very shortly. Thanks, Gav.

Before I have to press on, though, a quick update on Route 66. The weather has caused a hold-up, of course, but progress is steady. Northwood should be no.51 tonight. The remaining 15 (people do ask me) are Billericay, Bognor, Canvey, Dartford, Horsham and Margate in the Premier, Cheshunt, Concord, Maldon and VCD in 1 North, Chatham, Fleet, Godalming, Ramsgate and Sittingbourne in 1 South. With luck I can save the seaside trips for sunnier days.

Labels: Charlton, Leyton Orient, Ryman League

posted by Anonymous at 12:16 pm 1 Comments

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