“WELCOME BACK”
After what had seemed an eternity since Albion’s last home game against Stoke City at The Hawthorns on 12th November, normal service was resumed at the ‘Shrine’ when the stoic Yorkshiremen of Rotherham breezed into the West Midlands, to provide stern resilience for an Albion side looking to claim their fifth win of the bounce after a ‘cracking’ away win at Sunderland last Monday (12th December).
With the World Cup hiatus now just a distant memory, Carlos Corberan’s side comfortable saw off the challenge of a dogged Rotherham side, and now quite remarkably, given the early season results, sit just five points off of play-off places, an amazing turn-around in the team’s fortunes.
Off of the pitch Darren Bradley, Gary Hackett, Darryl Burgess and ‘Superbob’ Taylor were on hand to give their assessments of current and past performances in the East stand suites, with Chairman Ray Wilson, joined in the Regis Suite by Secretary Geoff Snape, Treasurer Norman Westbury, former Scottish international mid-fielder Nigel Quashie and David Ashman, son of Cup winning manager Alan, for the afternoon’s entertainment. The Association were also pleased to welcome Jonathan Ward from the Albion Foundation and guests from our visitors, Rotherham United. There was also the customary ‘flying visit’ from the one and only ‘AJ’ on his way to the commentary gantry, along with Baggie Bird and a ‘frisky’ boiler! which of course was great fun for some of us!!
Next up, following a difficult trip down the M6 to Coventry on Wednesday night, is the home clash with Preston North End on Thursday 29th December, a game that always conjures up memories of Wembley in May 1954. That od course is the magic of the ‘beautiful’ game.