Post by stevek192 on May 7, 2016 9:20:26 GMT
Hopefully this title will be as relevant tonight as it is now but if you wanted a prequel to the Big Match today then the Kingswood Legion Club was the place to be last night surrounded by gasheads in a musical atmosphere that took me back 30 or 40 years in the company of some of the fine players we have had over the years and for todays fans there was possibly the greatest diplomat of the club at present (DC aside), the wonderful Stuart Sinclair.
For those who weren't there the rooms were clad in flags of all shaped and sizes amd although I have never been there it was like a visit to the Cavern in its hey day in a funny sort of way. There was drink, some tasty beefburgers and entertainment in the form of Sick Note Steve - I hope I have the name right as it was certainly not the folk star but the local Band that were just perfect for the night with lots of Punk and Rovers songs thrown in. But most of all there were the players- Frankie Prince, Jim Eadie, Martin Thomas, Vaughan Jones, Graham Day, Christian McClean, Harold Jarman and Stuart Sinclair to represent the club today for a special award to the Team and the players from the fans. We were told beforehand that Harold Jarman, Jim Eadie, Paul Randall, and Vaughan Jones would be inducted to the Tote End Hall of Fame and Stuart Taylor would get a special presentation for his record of 546 games for the Gas (Surely this will never be beaten). Unfortunately Stuart was in hospital and Paul Randall couldn't make the night out due to personal reasons but the awards were duly made by John Kayes and Christian McClean and Martin Thomas were also made awards (I assume it was induction awards but not sure as had a few drinks by then!). A story or two from John didn't go amiss and all recipitants gave a little talk and received suitable cheers and claps and a song or two from the crowd (certainly a few hundred there but I'm not very good at guessing attendances and certainly wasn't going to try to count them- I did try this in some of the grounds last season!!!! and Accrington this season!!!. On a side note it was good to see so many there from Sabadell and it certainly looks like this is going to be a great "partnership". It was sad that Oscar couldn't make the event as he was in hospital but his wife was able to give an update and he is getting better and should be home soon and what a great ideal from John Kayes that Oscar should sell the first programme at the new ground.
If I have missed out any players that attended I do apologise but I'll blame it on my age! What I do have to say is how humble the former players are and how brilliantly they conducted themselves. They mingled throughout with the fans and were willing to chat from the time they arrived until they left at various stages of the night. Highlight for me was Martin Thomas meeting up again with Jim Eadie - a fine pair of goalkeepers and I didn't realise that Martin took over after Jim was injured. If asked beforehand I would have thought Martin was more recent than that. I enjoyed quite long chats with Martin Thomas , Vaughan Jones, Graham Day and Christian Mc Clean and I have to say here what a superb ambassador of our club Christian is. He is gas through and through and this comes across with every word he said. I asked Vaughan Jones if he would have liked to be leading the gas out today and saw the glint in his eyes when he said how much he wished he could and how moments like today are few and far between for players. Aside of that I managed to meet a couple of forum members for the first time Gashead79 and Sean Clevedongas and Roadman (not for the first time) who managed to tell me he was still friends with Lee Johnson!! They are all great guys and it was good to put a face to the people who insult you!!!
The music of the night has that ability to take you back to the times long gone and in many ways it was sad to say I knew every song that was played and many were favourites of mine even though again unfortunately they were a few years after my "Time". When I left just in time to avoid changing into a pumpkin my thoughts turned to what lay ahead today with "Goodnight Irene" ringing in my ears.
I couldn't leave this report without thanking John Kayes for the work he puts in to put on an event like this, it is certainly not an easy task - it was well worth the £20 and long may it continue. Thanks John.
For those who weren't there the rooms were clad in flags of all shaped and sizes amd although I have never been there it was like a visit to the Cavern in its hey day in a funny sort of way. There was drink, some tasty beefburgers and entertainment in the form of Sick Note Steve - I hope I have the name right as it was certainly not the folk star but the local Band that were just perfect for the night with lots of Punk and Rovers songs thrown in. But most of all there were the players- Frankie Prince, Jim Eadie, Martin Thomas, Vaughan Jones, Graham Day, Christian McClean, Harold Jarman and Stuart Sinclair to represent the club today for a special award to the Team and the players from the fans. We were told beforehand that Harold Jarman, Jim Eadie, Paul Randall, and Vaughan Jones would be inducted to the Tote End Hall of Fame and Stuart Taylor would get a special presentation for his record of 546 games for the Gas (Surely this will never be beaten). Unfortunately Stuart was in hospital and Paul Randall couldn't make the night out due to personal reasons but the awards were duly made by John Kayes and Christian McClean and Martin Thomas were also made awards (I assume it was induction awards but not sure as had a few drinks by then!). A story or two from John didn't go amiss and all recipitants gave a little talk and received suitable cheers and claps and a song or two from the crowd (certainly a few hundred there but I'm not very good at guessing attendances and certainly wasn't going to try to count them- I did try this in some of the grounds last season!!!! and Accrington this season!!!. On a side note it was good to see so many there from Sabadell and it certainly looks like this is going to be a great "partnership". It was sad that Oscar couldn't make the event as he was in hospital but his wife was able to give an update and he is getting better and should be home soon and what a great ideal from John Kayes that Oscar should sell the first programme at the new ground.
If I have missed out any players that attended I do apologise but I'll blame it on my age! What I do have to say is how humble the former players are and how brilliantly they conducted themselves. They mingled throughout with the fans and were willing to chat from the time they arrived until they left at various stages of the night. Highlight for me was Martin Thomas meeting up again with Jim Eadie - a fine pair of goalkeepers and I didn't realise that Martin took over after Jim was injured. If asked beforehand I would have thought Martin was more recent than that. I enjoyed quite long chats with Martin Thomas , Vaughan Jones, Graham Day and Christian Mc Clean and I have to say here what a superb ambassador of our club Christian is. He is gas through and through and this comes across with every word he said. I asked Vaughan Jones if he would have liked to be leading the gas out today and saw the glint in his eyes when he said how much he wished he could and how moments like today are few and far between for players. Aside of that I managed to meet a couple of forum members for the first time Gashead79 and Sean Clevedongas and Roadman (not for the first time) who managed to tell me he was still friends with Lee Johnson!! They are all great guys and it was good to put a face to the people who insult you!!!
The music of the night has that ability to take you back to the times long gone and in many ways it was sad to say I knew every song that was played and many were favourites of mine even though again unfortunately they were a few years after my "Time". When I left just in time to avoid changing into a pumpkin my thoughts turned to what lay ahead today with "Goodnight Irene" ringing in my ears.
I couldn't leave this report without thanking John Kayes for the work he puts in to put on an event like this, it is certainly not an easy task - it was well worth the £20 and long may it continue. Thanks John.
