Well, with luck and fair weather, we made it, Albion are into the melting pot that is the play-offs with a more than fair chance of making it to Wembley. Southampton haven’t been in the best of form, a bit hit and miss, just like Albion, so it’s all to play for.
Before I post yesterday’s stuff, I want to congratulate Ipswich Town for making it back to the Premier League, As many of you may or may not know, Ipswich is the town of my birth, and by coincidence I was born next door to an Ipswich Town Director, Mr Robinson, so there has always been a little bit of Town within my soul, so on behalf of the Ipswich Town supporting side of my family, many congraulations the ‘Tractor Boys’ and to the Albion contingent at Portman Road, former Junior goal-keeper, now CEO Mark Ashton and his partner Sarah Winning, who worked at the club back in the day and Town Director Mike O’Leary, who has many friends at B71. Hopefully Albion will make the long, long, trip to East Anglia to play them next season….Who knows!
Yesterday was indeed a fun day, despite the pressure of the situation, needing of course, a positive result, which in fairness was never in doubt. A 3-0 win, means we now have arguably the hardest task of making the Final, Southampton will be a tough nut to crack, but I’m sure Carlos has everything under ccontrol.
On the Former Players fron, a new face was ‘on duty’ yesterday, former Everton man John Thomas, who joined us from yesterdays opponents Preston North End in 1989, and joined Darry Burgess and Joe Mayo on East Stand duty, whilst Gary Hackett, Bernie McNally and Ally Robertson joined Chairman Ray Wilson, Secretary Geoff Snape, celebrating his 75th Birthday a ‘tad’ early, and Treasurer Norman Westbury, with guests from the PFA as well as AJ’s Mum and Dad, supporting their very proud son, who completed a quite remarkable achievemant, walking from Wembley to Hawthorns, in support of The Albion Foundation.
There is by the way, still time to put your hand in your pocket to donate to our former player’s extremely painful sacrifice. 160 miles is a long way to walk! Well done AJ, my hat, yes the one I was wearing, is raised for you my mate!
It was as always, great to see the Legend that is Tony Brown popping in to say ‘Hello’ No Albion matchday is complete without Tony who honoured the current crop of players, by presenting the pre-match awards, photo honours by the ‘one and only’ Fradge whilst I was in the East stand on my usual pre-match travels, which included popping into box number 26, to re-unite myself with John Wile’s iconic 1978 Cup Semi-Final shirt, won by Richard at the recent ‘Football Wanted’ Auction, as well as snapping the newest member of his family. It was indeed a privilege.
See you all next Sunday…..The show goes on!!