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Post by The Concept on Mar 10, 2021 21:21:12 GMT
Since Dursley Dave moved a couple of years back, to be further up the stand with the Dursley/Wotton Massive, the seat to me has often been empty.
However, one benefit has been that I've had a selection of people taking up the seat for various matches: people up-grading from the terrace for the day; the once-a-season folk; the ones back from the other end of the country to see family; neutrals visiting for the day; suspicions of being an away fan, the suspected scouts scribbling down notes.
Some interesting folk ...
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Deleted
Joined: January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Mar 10, 2021 21:37:42 GMT
People stood around me on the East Terrace have often been a bit loud and unruly.
It's funniest when the family down in front of the newest tent start arguing with each other and people around them.
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Post by The Concept on Mar 10, 2021 21:42:20 GMT
Tuesday March 10th 2020 - Rovers 2 Sunderland 0.
Yes! A year ago today. A whole year since we were last able to watch a live football match.
I remember going to the game and not been comfortable at all. I had considered not going. I'd watched the film Contagion a couple of years before, and that is rather chilling. A day later and I think I'd have stayed at home. There is no way I would have attended Cheltenham Festival (even if I had an interest in horse-racing), and later in the week we were letting 4,000 Spanish fans, where the virus was already out of control, into Liverpool for a European match - crazy!
"There's no evidence Covid-19 spreads in big crowds..." we were told at the Downing Street press conference of the time - You're kidding right? This is a virus you know? You realise viruses spread by people being in close contact, you 'expert' people?
At the game I was conscious not to face people when talking. Steer clear of anyone coughing.
The chap sat next to me appeared to have duel cityzenship: he'd been brought up in both Newcastle and Bristol, and lived in both over the years. He said he planned to move back up there when able to retire.
True to his Geordie roots the cold didn't bother him - shorts and a T-shirt, when I distinctly remember it still being chilly and bobble-hat weather for me. Most of the game he was shouting things like "Ya cheatin' Mackem" ... "Youse der-ee cheatin' Mackems!"
For someone who had spent most of his life in Bristol his accent was remarkably more Geordie than Bristle. I guess it came out more because of the opposition.
My new friend for the day had watched a lot of Rovers home and away, I think he said he'd been to all games one season, and back in the 1990/91 season he was in the away end, at St. James Park, when Rovers beat Newcastle 2-0.
Despite still watching a fair bit of Rovers, he told me he had a Newcastle season-ticket and flew up to watch every other week!
If you're reading this, all the very best to you, and let's hope both The Gas and The Toon stay up!
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TaiwanGas
Paul Bannon
Tom Ramasuts Left Foot.
Joined: June 2014
Posts: 1,337
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Post by TaiwanGas on Mar 11, 2021 4:49:36 GMT
Indeed some interesting folk!, going back some, the lads from Stow-on-the-Wold were a great bunch!.
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Rex
Predictions League
Joined: June 2014
Posts: 3,287
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Post by Rex on Mar 11, 2021 7:45:28 GMT
I stand next to some very dodgy herberts. I can't remember my last game, I wasn't at the Sunderland one (I was at the Cheltenham Festival- sorry everyone) but I'm sure all around me would have been moaning like f**k, regardless of the score or performance.
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towngas
Joined: February 2021
Posts: 566
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Post by towngas on Mar 11, 2021 9:35:45 GMT
Tuesday March 10th 2020 - Rovers 2 Sunderland 0.Yes! A year ago today. A whole year since we were last able to watch a live football match. I remember going to the game and not been comfortable at all. I had considered not going. I'd watched the film Contagion a couple of years before, and that is rather chilling. A day later and I think I'd have stayed at home. There is no way I would have attended Cheltenham Festival (even if I had an interest in horse-racing), and later in the week we were letting 4,000 Spanish fans, where the virus was already out of control, into Liverpool for a European match - crazy! "There's no evidence Covid-19 spreads in big crowds..." we were told at the Downing Street press conference of the time - You're kidding right? This is a virus you know? You realise viruses spread by people being in close contact, you 'expert' people?At the game I was conscious not to face people when talking. Steer clear of anyone coughing. The chap sat next to me appeared to have duel cityzenship: he'd been brought up in both Newcastle and Bristol, and lived in both over the years. He said he planned to move back up there when able to retire. True to his Geordie roots the cold didn't bother him - shorts and a T-shirt, when I distinctly remember it still being chilly and bobble-hat weather for me. Most of the game he was shouting things like "Ya cheatin' Mackem" ... "Youse der-ee cheatin' Mackems!" For someone who had spent most of his life in Bristol his accent was remarkably more Geordie than Bristle. I guess it came out more because of the opposition. My new friend for the day had watched a lot of Rovers home and away, I think he said he'd been to all games one season, and back in the 1990/91 season he was in the away end, at St. James Park, when Rovers beat Newcastle 2-0. Despite still watching a fair bit of Rovers, he told me he had a Newcastle season-ticket and flew up to watch every other week! If you're reading this, all the very best to you, and let's hope both The Gas and The Toon stay up! One small point, I think you’ll find he pronounced the word dirty as ‘Dorty’ At least he would if you’re a Viz reader!
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warehamgas
Predictions League
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 3,430
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Post by warehamgas on Mar 11, 2021 13:42:27 GMT
Interesting who you get sat next to at any football. At AFCB I sit with those I’ve sat next to for years, now friends. When I go to Rovers I try and get the East Stand, best view in football in my opinion, esp block nearest away fans and South Stand, Block C (?). Not a ST holder so I get to sit next to all sorts, some are very friendly and chat away happily about Rovers and all sorts. Funnily enough I’ve sat next to a guy from Dursley, a few years ago near the front of the Stand in Block C but knowing the area and remembering Dursley I remember him. Very friendly and chatted about all sorts. But football's a bit like that you can be sat next to some and they are very chatty, some not so. I find cricket is even friendlier, I sit at Taunton and there’s always fans from other counties there and it’s a very friendly way to watch sport. UTG!
ps. Best not to try and be too friendly at Yeovil, I did once but a few Yeovil fans nearby told a steward to move me elsewhere! He didn’t because I was very well behaved. Mind you that day there wasn’t much to be happy about. 😢
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irishrover
Global Moderator
Joined: June 2014
Posts: 3,372
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Post by irishrover on Mar 11, 2021 14:07:20 GMT
I have 2 (similar) stories along these lines.
I always go in (what I still call) the West Stand Enclosure at the Mem - at the top right underneath the seats. For years the guy who sat down in the front row immediately behind me was an elderly Scotsman who used to get most worked up when we were defending. You'd get a constant stream of 'Tarckle, Tarckle, Tarckle' and sometimes 'Hurt him, Hurt him' and once 'he nay gettin up again - good lad'. After years of I happened to mention it to one of the people I go with and he pointed out that this was ex-Rovers manager Bobby Campbell. I asked my friends what we were like under his tenure - 'violent' was his reponse.....
About 10 years or so ago me and a friend would go to Bath City semi-regularly largely to bask in Twerton nostalgia from our youth. We'd always stand on the Pop side and there was an older guy who used to get extremely worked up whenever the game stopped and the ball had to be re-positioned for a free-kick or when a spare ball had to be called for etc. Many times on these occasions we'd hear him angrily shout out 'f**k the ball - get on with the game'. We liked the idea that for him the ball had, at best, a peripheral role to play in the non-league game.
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Deleted
Joined: January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Mar 11, 2021 14:10:11 GMT
I have 2 (similar) stories along these lines.
I always go in (what I still call) the West Stand Enclosure at the Mem - at the top right underneath the seats. For years the guy who sat down in the front row immediately behind me was an elderly Scotsman who used to get most worked up when we were defending. You'd get a constant stream of 'Tarckle, Tarckle, Tarckle' and sometimes 'Hurt him, Hurt him' and once 'he nay gettin up again - good lad'. After years of I happened to mention it to one of the people I go with and he pointed out that this was ex-Rovers manager Bobby Campbell. I asked my friends what we were like under his tenure - 'violent' was his reponse.....
About 10 years or so ago me and a friend would go to Bath City semi-regularly largely to bask in Twerton nostalgia from our youth. We'd always stand on the Pop side and there was an older guy who used to get extremely worked up whenever the game stopped and the ball had to be re-positioned for a free-kick or when a spare ball had to be called for etc. Many times on these occasions we'd hear him angrily shout out 'f the ball - get on with the game'. We liked the idea that for him the ball had, at best, a peripheral role to play in the non-league game.
I knew that was going to be Bobby way before I got to the punch line. Lovely stories.
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kingswood Polak
Without music life would be a mistake
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 10,255
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Post by kingswood Polak on Mar 11, 2021 17:02:36 GMT
I have 2 (similar) stories along these lines.
I always go in (what I still call) the West Stand Enclosure at the Mem - at the top right underneath the seats. For years the guy who sat down in the front row immediately behind me was an elderly Scotsman who used to get most worked up when we were defending. You'd get a constant stream of 'Tarckle, Tarckle, Tarckle' and sometimes 'Hurt him, Hurt him' and once 'he nay gettin up again - good lad'. After years of I happened to mention it to one of the people I go with and he pointed out that this was ex-Rovers manager Bobby Campbell. I asked my friends what we were like under his tenure - 'violent' was his reponse.....
About 10 years or so ago me and a friend would go to Bath City semi-regularly largely to bask in Twerton nostalgia from our youth. We'd always stand on the Pop side and there was an older guy who used to get extremely worked up whenever the game stopped and the ball had to be re-positioned for a free-kick or when a spare ball had to be called for etc. Many times on these occasions we'd hear him angrily shout out 'f the ball - get on with the game'. We liked the idea that for him the ball had, at best, a peripheral role to play in the non-league game.
Did this guy wear a newsboy type cap ? I’m pretty sure I know who you are talking about. If the same guy, he now sit in the seats of west stand. Me and my friend really enjoy his banter. Never with anyone in particular EDIT. I didn’t take in that you were talking about Bobby Campbell. I guess our Scotsman is somone totally different and hope he’s ok
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Post by The Concept on Mar 12, 2021 22:21:01 GMT
Tuesday March 10th 2020 - Rovers 2 Sunderland 0.Yes! A year ago today. A whole year since we were last able to watch a live football match. I remember going to the game and not been comfortable at all. I had considered not going. I'd watched the film Contagion a couple of years before, and that is rather chilling. A day later and I think I'd have stayed at home. There is no way I would have attended Cheltenham Festival (even if I had an interest in horse-racing), and later in the week we were letting 4,000 Spanish fans, where the virus was already out of control, into Liverpool for a European match - crazy! "There's no evidence Covid-19 spreads in big crowds..." we were told at the Downing Street press conference of the time - You're kidding right? This is a virus you know? You realise viruses spread by people being in close contact, you 'expert' people?At the game I was conscious not to face people when talking. Steer clear of anyone coughing. The chap sat next to me appeared to have duel cityzenship: he'd been brought up in both Newcastle and Bristol, and lived in both over the years. He said he planned to move back up there when able to retire. True to his Geordie roots the cold didn't bother him - shorts and a T-shirt, when I distinctly remember it still being chilly and bobble-hat weather for me. Most of the game he was shouting things like "Ya cheatin' Mackem" ... "Youse der-ee cheatin' Mackems!" For someone who had spent most of his life in Bristol his accent was remarkably more Geordie than Bristle. I guess it came out more because of the opposition. My new friend for the day had watched a lot of Rovers home and away, I think he said he'd been to all games one season, and back in the 1990/91 season he was in the away end, at St. James Park, when Rovers beat Newcastle 2-0. Despite still watching a fair bit of Rovers, he told me he had a Newcastle season-ticket and flew up to watch every other week! If you're reading this, all the very best to you, and let's hope both The Gas and The Toon stay up! One small point, I think you’ll find he pronounced the word dirty as ‘Dorty’ At least he would if you’re a Viz reader! Hmm! I'm struggling with that. Whenever I try 'Dorty' it either comes out with an Irish accent, or James Cagney describing a type of rat!
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Deleted
Joined: January 1970
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Post by Deleted on Mar 12, 2021 22:39:42 GMT
One small point, I think you’ll find he pronounced the word dirty as ‘Dorty’ At least he would if you’re a Viz reader! Hmm! I'm struggling with that. Whenever I try 'Dorty' it either comes out with an Irish accent, or James Cagney describing a type of rat! An urban myth. Cagney never actually said you dirty rat or even you dorty rat.
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Post by The Concept on Mar 12, 2021 22:54:46 GMT
Saturday February 9th 2019 - Rovers 1 Shrewsbury 1.
I had to google this to find the actual game, remembering that the bloke sat next to me had been to see a trilla at the Villa the night before. When looking at Aston Villa's results for the 2018/19 season you get an indication of how many high scoring, close games with last minute winners they had - if was difficult to establish the right one, and I eventually got it by linking a home Friday night game for them with a home Saturday game for us.
Get this: the bloke sat next to me had been to see Aston Villa draw 3-3 with Sheffield United, in a top of the table clash, with a crowd of 34,892, and Villa having been 3-0 down before scoring in the 82nd and 86th minutes, and finally grabbing a last gasp 94th minute equiliser. ... Then the next day journeying to Bristol to see a 'tetchy League One relegation battle' (according to the BBC report) - grim, I would have called it - in a wind-swept stadium, with a quarter of the crowd that was at Birmingham of 8,322.
I remember at the time wondering what the hell this chap was doing coming to watch us, and at the same time feeling rather sorry for him that he'd made the decision. What made things even stranger was the fact that the bloke sat next to me was from The Netherlands!
So what was this Dutchman doing watching Rovers v Shrewsbury? "Oh, I enjoy watching English League matches," he told me, "I come over about six times a year and try to get to as many games as I can." The English team he looks out for is Crystal Palace, as for a while he lived and worked in London and Palace became his team.
The Dutch bloke sat next to me seemed to be enjoying the match: he remarked how competitive it was; was impressed with the size of our crowd for a 3rd Tier team, and was also impressed with the noise levels the Rovers supporters made.
He wore his jacket hood up the whole game, as if he didn't want to be noticed. If I remember rightly he said he was a Feyenoord fan from Rotterdam, but I'm not so sure ... going by his looks and accent, I'm not convinced that the bloke sat next to me wasn't Henning Wehn.
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Post by o2o2bo2ba on Mar 14, 2021 11:23:26 GMT
Hmm! I'm struggling with that. Whenever I try 'Dorty' it either comes out with an Irish accent, or James Cagney describing a type of rat! An urban myth. Cagney never actually said you dirty rat or even you dorty rat. He did in The Germans episode of Fawlty Towers...
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Deleted
Joined: January 1970
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Post by Deleted on Mar 14, 2021 11:27:04 GMT
An urban myth. Cagney never actually said you dirty rat or even you dorty rat. He did in The Germans episode of Fawlty Towers... That was Sh*thead John Cleese.
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Post by o2o2bo2ba on Mar 14, 2021 11:31:14 GMT
He did in The Germans episode of Fawlty Towers... That was Sh*thead John Cleese. I think it was the pretty Connie, actually... But yea, the sheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeedhead was there too.
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Post by a more piratey game on Mar 14, 2021 11:32:11 GMT
going by his looks and accent, I'm not convinced that the bloke sat next to me wasn't Henning Wehn. I once went to a corporate gig where Henning Wehn was booked as the comedian. Noone had heard of him then, and it was explained that 'we've booked this German comedian as last year's booking turned out to be very old school and I'm not sure it went down well with some of our Continental colleagues who join us for this every year' so expectations were low, and I think Henning probably delivered on those expectations but I've always noticed him since, and I think he's tremendous. His grasp of idiomatic English is outstanding, certainly better than the vast majority of Brits IMO, and when it is spoken with his German accent the attention to nuance and subtlety seems amplified so I really hope he is a Rovers fan, as unlikely as that seems
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Deleted
Joined: January 1970
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Post by Deleted on Mar 14, 2021 12:00:03 GMT
That was Sh*thead John Cleese. I think it was the pretty Connie, actually... But yea, the sheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeedhead was there too. Oh yeh.. sorry.
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Rex
Predictions League
Joined: June 2014
Posts: 3,287
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Post by Rex on Mar 14, 2021 12:08:08 GMT
going by his looks and accent, I'm not convinced that the bloke sat next to me wasn't Henning Wehn. I once went to a corporate gig where Henning Wehn was booked as the comedian. Noone had heard of him then, and it was explained that 'we've booked this German comedian as last year's booking turned out to be very old school and I'm not sure it went down well with some of our Continental colleagues who join us for this every year' so expectations were low, and I think Henning probably delivered on those expectations but I've always noticed him since, and I think he's tremendous. His grasp of idiomatic English is outstanding, certainly better than the vast majority of Brits IMO, and when it is spoken with his German accent the attention to nuance and subtlety seems amplified so I really hope he is a Rovers fan, as unlikely as that seemsI saw him perform in Nottingham once, funny guy, he did mention who he supported, but I've forgotten. However, it's fairly common knowledge that he worked for Wycombe Wanderers, so if he does have an English team, you would think it would be them.
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Post by a more piratey game on Mar 14, 2021 12:17:44 GMT
I once went to a corporate gig where Henning Wehn was booked as the comedian. Noone had heard of him then, and it was explained that 'we've booked this German comedian as last year's booking turned out to be very old school and I'm not sure it went down well with some of our Continental colleagues who join us for this every year' so expectations were low, and I think Henning probably delivered on those expectations but I've always noticed him since, and I think he's tremendous. His grasp of idiomatic English is outstanding, certainly better than the vast majority of Brits IMO, and when it is spoken with his German accent the attention to nuance and subtlety seems amplified so I really hope he is a Rovers fan, as unlikely as that seemsI saw him perform in Nottingham once, funny guy, he did mention who he supported, but I've forgotten. However, it's fairly common knowledge that he worked for Wycombe Wanderers, so if he does have an English team, you would think it would be them. absolutely plummets in my estimation....
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