Footnote to the season

22 May, 2011

I’ve spoken about the highs. But with my club you also have to deal with the lows. Interestingly, we’ve managed to combine both in one season. What else would you expect? Euphoria followed by abject failure.

In terms of my relegation walk back to my house (I watched it at the pub), there were various things going through my head. One, I’d done this before, I think about three years ago. Two, I’m pretty drunk, and I need to try and walk properly (two minutes walk). Three, how is my son going to take the news (although a fellow season ticket holder Jacob had to watch it at home with his Mom, this was far too serious for an eight year old to experience).

I opened the door and the aforementioned son was in tears on the sofa.  Mom was consoling. I grunted an indignant acknowledgement that I was home, padded towards the kitchen and then circled aimlessly. Mom eventually came in and told me to talk to my grief stricken son. I grunted again and told her “that he’d better get used to it!”

That sounds awful doesn’t it! Actually, my mood softened quite quickly. I’d been telling everybody we’d get relegated for weeks, so it was no big surprise. Yet, the circumstances on the day were quite cruel. Anyway, Jacob had retired to his bedroom by now, so it was my time to face the monster that I had created. He was sitting in his bed still in tears, but in a bizarre way that ability to cry cheered me up. We cuddled and shared our disappointment, in a quivering voice Jacob pointed out that we would now lose some of “our key players”. I agreed, but countered that we would probably win more games in the Championship.

In a sense, this disappointment was long overdue. Relegation (he was too young to understand), followed by promotion on the final day of the season against Uncle Paul’s team, then we had the highest league finish since time began, then we won our first major trophy in my living memory (and we were there!)…But, it all had to end…

“Who do you think will go Daddy?”

“I’m not sure Jake, maybe Johnson and Foster. I’d keep one of Johnson or Dann”

“What about Gardner?” (he had Chuco on the back of his shirt the season before and I advised that Gardner might be a better choice for this season.)

“No, he’ll stay. He loves Birmingham.”

There were a few more spurious comments (he’s only eight) before the tears subsided.

“I’m sorry Daddy.”

“It’s ok son. We’ll be ok. Trust me.”

And that’s how it was left. I went to bed early that night. There was nothing more to say or do…

29 June, 2011

McLeish is now the manager of Aston Villa. Uncle Paul spent a day in Dubai with Big Eck and told me he was a sound bloke, very down to earth. Somebody you can have a beer with. He didn’t get on with Karren and David. And I like him for that. Does it bother me that he has crossed the divide? Not really…all the best to him!

Chris Hughton?  A popular appointment. Jacob and I wish him well. I just hope the board back the manager properly. We can all give ultimatums but if you make them unrealistic then you only have yourselves to blame.

One piece of advice for Chris from my eight year old son: “We need to score more goals.”

You know Chris, I think he may have a point.