TUESDAY DECEMBER 4
Warrington 1 Radcliffe Borough 0
WARRINGTON or Oxford City tonight? A quick positive response to my ‘is the match on' enquiry from the former decides it. I am still a bit doubtful being as it is extremely wet around the country but the secretary is also a referee so I put my trust in him.
I arrive at the The Abacus Community Solicitors Stadium just as the heavens open. They are to remain open for the next two hours.
I enter the ground to find the match officials inspecting the pitch. The referee then asks a club official to join him in the changing rooms for a chat. Uh oh!
While I wait, I scan my surroundings from my position on the clubhouse balcony. There is a covered terrace behind the goal to my left and a seated stand across the other side of the pitch.
There is also a covered area to the left of the main building, followed by a cosy tea hut and another seated stand. A movement catches my eye: a massive ship is sailing past the stand. I had forgotten that the Manchester Ship Canal is so close! Talking of water, pools are now forming on the pitch.
The officials emerge from their pow-wow and everyone disperses to get changed. PHEW!! It is only now that I venture from cover to get a programme from the club shop by the turnstile (£2). I am soaked and I have only dashed thirty yards.
The refreshments hut is cosy, warm and, most importantly, dry. The homemade pies are absolutely wonderful. Cakes and mince pies are also on sale.
I am not surprised when I am told that the guy serving owns a nearby bakery. I'm staying in here for a while longer!
I still cannot quite believe that the game will go ahead but the players squelch onto the pitch on schedule. The match can effectively be summed up thus: a damp squib.
We have to wait until the 88th minute for a goal. The collective sigh of relief from the gaggle of Hopping Royalty (and me!) is almost enough to dry out the sodden pitch.
sad.hopper@ntlworld.com
