London-based Exile Steve Hill starts the season in
style…
What was once a ten-minute walk is now a 200-mile drive, but
it’s the first game of the season – home to Barnet - and it has to be done. A couple of days before the match her indoors announces that she has to work on
Saturday afternoon and that it’s apparently illegal to leave a three-year old
boy on his own. Making hasty arrangements to drop him near Watford Gap (with
some friends), we set off on Friday night to avoid any mishaps.
On Saturday morning, the designated driver arrives from
Newbury. It’s a familiar routine: a spotless car, Chester scarf stretched
across the back window, the tassels blackened from thousands of miles of
motorway filth. The SatNav locked in, an unbreached Guardian on the back seat,
TalkSport Warm Up on the radio, the obligatory shaking of heads as a combined
total of 70 years of watching Chester is set to continue. Think I’ve got
problems? He also has a season ticket at Bordeaux.
It’s a glorious day, tinged with heady optimism. The M6
roadworks are finally finished and the landmarks fly by: Walsall’s Bescot
Stadium on the right, a reminder of previous league status. Villa Park on the
left, a reminder of a hefty dicking in the League Cup. A country pub, lunch
with the driver’s Dad, the squad photo in the local paper raises anticipation
to near frenzy.
Lost 5-0. Back in the car: chips and peas. Five Live. Nobody
speaks until Birmingham, where we overtake a family of Barnet fans.
Some Tranmere are spotted in a service station. The car is now full of arse
gas, chocolate wrappers and resentment. Handing over the petrol money is
the final insult. 27 hours after leaving, I’m back home with a replica shirt
for the boy. Thoughts turn to Forest Green away. A mere 100
miles each way.
