FC United

The latest report from the Famous Blackburn & Darwen Robins is from the final away game of last season and one which we will never forget. Without doubt the best trip ever enjoyed by our small but enthusiastic gang. Now this tale does go on a bit but I’m sure that you can understand why.
The day had finally arrived for the most eagerly awaited away game in living memory for the players as well as the supporters.
The morning at Royal Mail was pretty hectic as Dennis Hill and I rushed round like idiots in order to finish in plenty of time. Den spent the morning running round the Oakdale area of Ewood, trampling over flower beds and lawns as he dashed between the houses. Meanwhile back at the office, I put all of my mail in a grey sack, tied it up, put a ‘To Preston Distribution Centre’ label on it, and chucked it on the next van to Preston before shooting off home for a big fry-up.
Picked up the crew of Auntie Sheila, Fat Phil, Jimmy ‘Mad-Dog’ and Billy ‘The-Kid’ Hughes in bright sunshine and set off for Bury at 1-30. We had to go early in order to park up within a couple of miles of the ground.
For the first time in years we were able to follow the crowds in order to find the ground, although we had anticipated those crowds to be FC United supporters-not so! All of the football fans making their way towards the ground were Harwood followers.
Arrived at Gigg Lane an hour before kick off and thanks to the Blackburn and Darwen Robins, United’s ‘Kit-aid’ day was given a great boost as we deposited four carrier bags full of football kit, doubling the day’s collection in an instant.
We queued up to get the special match day badges, which along with the flags, replica shirts, scarves, etc. were selling like there was no tomorrow. Our own Great Harwood Town souvenirs sell so slowly that I’ve stopped bothering to take them into the ground on match days! As I mentioned to Auntie Sheila that stuff was selling like hot cakes, Fat Phil overheard and joined the queue. After five minutes he got to the front and kicked up a right stink when he realised that they weren’t selling cakes at all!
We were met outside of the ground by the rest of the crew, Paul, Phil, Sian, and Graham. We had our very own visitors section and some of our younger members were even searched! Despite me wearing a baseball cap and a mean ‘hooligan type’ snarl on my face, I wasn’t searched which I took as a personal insult! Once inside the ground we couldn’t believe it as there must have been a thousand supporters already there but we soon began to out-sing them as our voices echoed around the empty section of the ground.
A huge sarcastic cheer broke out at 2-30 as the officials came out to warm up. With the combined weight of an ocean liner, they made Fat Phil look like Kate Moss on a diet.
Then the FC United players came on and we couldn’t help but feel that they were taking the mickey by playing an elephant in shorts in between the sticks. It was certainly going to be difficult to get the ball past him but one thing was for sure, there was no way that he’d be able to dive to save a shot or jump up to take a cross. Later on, as the game progressed, he would also show that his handling was awful but unfortunately we didn’t test him too much.
As if to suppress our boistererousness, the stewards opened the gates to our section and we were swamped by United fans within five minutes. As three o’clock arrived and departed with no sign of the players or officials, hundreds more supporters continued to swarm into the ground. We finally got underway at 3-15 but most of the Robins supporters were sat apart which made it difficult to get much singing in. Nevertheless, we did our best to give the boys some vocal backing and fought gallantly against impossible odds. About 6,000 of them, and 38 of us (six singing!) Most of their 6,000 really knew how to get behind the team and the Harwood players must have been very envious of such magnificent support.
With United having hit over 100 league goals this season, we knew that the defence would have to be on top form and that we’d probably need to score a couple of goals to take anything from the game. Defences were well on top and there was very little to choose between the sides during the first 45 minutes, with neither keeper being called into serious action. The United players tried unsuccessfully to intimidate our boys but we stood firm and refused to react, Assistant manger Phil Power in particular looked like a man on a mission and had to be spoken to more than once by the Ref.
After a goal-less opening period our first objective had been achieved although the usual plan of quietening the crowd was doomed to failure as the boys in red were given fabulous backing from the record crowd. Words must have been said in the home dressing room during the interval and United came out with all guns blazing. They almost took the lead in the first minute when Power burst through on goal but somehow hit the post from about five yards. They didn’t take the lead and they didn’t take any prisoners as their tackling became more and more erratic.
After a midfield spat, Power appeared to throw a punch or slap at Keiran Fletcher who took a couple of steps forward before collapsing in a heap near the touch line. That was the signal for all hell to break loose with players from both sides diving in. First on the scene were two idiots from the United management team who tried to drag Fletch up from the ground. After a couple of minutes Power was quite rightly shown the red card but amazingly the two track-suited assassins escaped Scott free!
Fletch was now a marked man and a few minutes later he was pole-axed by a boot to the chest that wouldn’t have been out of place in a Bruce Lee film! Astonishingly, the perpetrator escaped with just a booking. Not so John Hughes, who appeared to be sent to the stands for complaining. Glad to see that the Ref. wasn’t being influenced by the complaints of the home officials and supporters!
Against the ten men Harwood came more and more into the game and little was seen of the United attack for the rest of the game.
With the amount of effort being put in by both sides, the game not surprisingly slowed down towards the last 20 minutes and several substitutes were used.
Gaz McCash came on for the Robins and we all feared the worse as he’s not the sort of lad who appreciates getting knocked around and sure enough it was ten versus ten within five minutes. Retaliation? Speaking to the Ref? Tying his boot laces? Who knows? But despite being back all square numerically, United could still make no headway against the superb Harwood defence.
Then, with around three minutes of normal time remaining, the huge bank of red and white behind the goal was finally silenced. A Harwood move down the right involving Nev Nelson and John Eastham ended with the ball finding its way to the indefatigable Ryan Fisher who buried it into the roof of the net from 8 yards. The tiny band of Robins’ fans were now dancing in the stands. The boys held on until the final whistle without any problems to record our most famous victory in recent history.
Although we would have liked to have stayed on to join in the United celebrations, we had to shoot off as I had a programme to write before setting off on holiday at 5-30 on Sunday morning-much to the annoyance of my better half who had just smashed her car up while I was at the game.
The United supporters were magnanimous in defeat and to a man congratulated us on a memorable victory and wished us all the best for the future. Unfortunately, the sportsmanship didn’t extend to the players and officials, some of whom who waited in the tunnel at the end to seek retribution on Harwood players for earlier incidents.
So, much as we’d liked to have cracked open the champagne, we’d have to make do with a couple of beers at home.
Just before we got to the Darwen turn off the motorway, Jimmy’s mobile rang. It was Mr Patel from the local newsagents where ‘Mad-Dog’ has a paper round.
“Jimmy, you are two hours late for your paper round, why aren’t you here?”
“Sorry Mr P,” apologised our little chum. “I’m in bed sick. I told Billy to tell you, didn’t he give you the message?”
“No, and now all the other boys have gone home.” Said the indignant newsagent.
“Well I can’t do it, no way, I’m at death’s door!” Lied Jimmy through his back teeth.
“I’ll pay you double.” Pleaded Mr P.
“I’ll be there in five!” Replied Jimmy.
What a business man!
If you missed this most memorable of away days, then I’ve no sympathy. No matter how old you are, you’re unlikely to ever experience another day like it for the rest of your life.
Memories are made of this

Rally round the robins!

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