I got involved in an interesting Twitter discussion this week - “What one result would you change given the chance?” A popular response from Forest fans was the 1991 FA Cup Final (closely followed by the corrupt-ref UEFA Cup semi-final v Anderlecht). If we’d won it, would Cloughie have retired, might he have got his health and drink problems under control, might we not have gone into decline? We’ll never know. If we put any store in this, the “Sliding Doors” moment was ref Roger Milford’s insane decision not to send off Gazza for his assault on Gary Charles. What if he had? Spurs would have been down to ten men and Nayim wouldn’t have come on and swung the match their way. Of course, the ‘tackle’ wrecked Gacoigne’s knee too and probably contributed to how things have turned out for him. All very sad.
These type of Sliding Doors moments are always interesting and, of course, can have tragic, awful consequences. A close friend and his Liverpool supporting brother travelled to Hillsborough together, both with tickets for the Kop. Outside the ground, both brothers were offered a swap by a tout, which the Liverpool supporter took, resulting in him being where he (then) wanted to be so badly, in the Leppings Lane End Pen 4. The brother was subjected to the brutal crush to the point where he counted down his last ten seconds whilst looking up at a handkerchief sized square of blue sky. After blacking out, he survived, just. Two people immediately pressed up against him did not. After several years of suffering chronic PTSD, the brother became a leading light and authority on the tragedy, writing an award winning book. Of course, 97* others did not survive. How many tragic Sliding Doors decisions there? How many terrible ‘if only’ thoughts have people had to live with?
I’m sure I’ll come back to Hillsborough in future posts. Liverpool is a city close to my heart, having been a student there in the mid-80s. I’ve returned many times since, including, with the Forest supporting brother from above, on the 21st anniversary of the tragedy and spending, having been to Anfield to lay a wreath, absolutely the most drunken night of my entire life in a Karaoke joint at the bottom of Mount Pleasant. The locals were incredible. Not only were they welcoming and friendly, the old fellers in there all sang like Sinatra and were very tolerant of two hopeless Forest fans singing our “You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling” anthem at about 2am. In fact, we didn’t have to buy another drink for the final hour or so we were able to just about remain standing.
In the week approaching that fateful semi-final, my own ticket had been for the Leppings Lane. I was living in London by then and my season ticket had lapsed. Unable to get a ticket for the Forest end, I’d taken up the offer of one from my old landlord, a scouse lad called Gary, and his Dad Jim. I was to meet up with them for a few pints and then the match - I’d keep quiet! Sliding Doors moment, a mate of my Dad’s decided he couldn’t make it due to work commitments. Suddenly, I had a ticket for the Kop and could stand with my Dad and brother. Another Sliding Doors moment. Standing helplessly watching events unfold , still causes me bad dreams and anxiety in severely crowded places. I know several Forest fans, friends, who are still traumatised and affected by it even more than I am. Some who’ve never been able to face a match again. But it is as nothing compared to those who experienced the crush and those who lost loved ones. I was lucky. Justice for the 96 and their families who have never been given closure or seen those responsible held properly to account. It sickens me, to the pit of the stomach, I can’t even begin to imagine how those even closer to the tragedy must feel.
(*Which now should, I realise of course, read …for the 97)
And so, to today’s football fare, An FA Vase match at Muglet lane, with hosts Maltby Main taking on Glasshoughton Welfare, a club with their own link to Liverpool; Bruce Grobbelaar once played for them in a fund raiser that helped keep them afloat in difficult times. The usual warm welcome at Maltby, where we were treated to a cuppa in the clubhouse, from where we could briefly watch a young female bowler, maybe 13 or 14 years old, tearing apart Maltby’s tail end in the final cricket fixture of the season.
After a lovely chat with Lara in the club shop and a fuss of gorgeous Buddy Dog for the Blind, Nevis, we took our place behind he dugouts. Maltby started reasonably brightly against opposition from the division below, but a spirited Glasshoughton established a foothold in the game; cue much, errrm, angst from the Main dugout! A pretty even first half ensued, quality perhaps at a bit of a premium today. Beautiful game it wasn’t.The ref didn’t help much either, seeming to get a number of simple decisions both ways completely wrong, doing little to inspire much confidence.
A goal came for Main in the 34th minute. Alex Hardwick, we thought, got a head on a corner and captain Joe Austin forced the ball over the line in the resulting scramble. Messy. Certainly not Messi. It kind of summed the half up. Glassy’s keeper, Sam Riches, who from the touchline bore an uncanny resemblance to the Style Council’s Mick Talbot - no bad thing! - lay injured as a fracas broke out. On recovering, Mick, sorry Sam, politely enquired of the Lino, who had seemed to ignore his plight, “So, am I fucking dead or what?”
(Has the Glassy keeper - or more likely his Dad - been hanging out with Paul Weller?)
Half time came and went and, kicking up the considerable slope, Glasshoughton got a real grip on the game
Main keeper Hugo Warhurst had (another) storming match, including a fine save from a free kick. His opposite number, having sensibly decided not to re-appear in a blazer, linen trousers and boating pumps, but possibly having used the break to pen a nice cafe-jazz mod number about his afternoon, was largely untrouble; perhaps the highlight of his afternoon being the great save he made tippping tghe ball round the post for a… goal kick, which seemed to amuse him!
Mention here for Main regular Michael Desmond, with whom we had a lively 2nd half chat about the merits of various European teams we’ve watched. We agreed to disagree over Dortmund (Michael) v Köln (me). Anyone who likes a quirky story, ask Michael why (slightly) fallen Brazilian giants Fluminense have rice paper chucked over them by opposing supporters!
Main were struggling and there can have been few complaints and not much surprise when an equaliser came in the 86 minute, a low strike from inside the box by Reece Sheldon. Deserved to be fair.
And so we got to penalties. Hugo saved the first one and all the players following on both sides managed to score theirs, including the Glassy keeper with a real pile-driver. Morgan James took the decisive 5th penalty and dispatched it with some force and panache.
Main go on to what should be a decent crowd-puller at home to well-supported AFC Bury, who won at Northwich VIctoria today. Glasshoughton can feel a bit hard-done by, but fair play to their social media which was gracious in what must have been a hard defeat to take.
Off to ’Spoons then for a couple of beers and a chip butty with the players and officials, all under the watchful gaze of the worst statue of Fred Trueman you could ever imagine and a touching tribute to the Chuckle Brothers, before heading home to Nottingham. Hopefully, we’ll be back on Tuesday…
(a terrible photo of a terrible statue!)
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