That Was The Game That Was - 2

 

George writes:

It would be highly dishonest of me to claim the credit for the idea of this series, that belongs to a man called Dave Roberts, who has written a highly entertaining and amusing book called 32 programmes. Those are the programmes he saved from a much much larger collection when he moved to a different country. I did a similar thing with my collection of programmes 12 years ago. In the book, Mr Roberts charts his life through his chosen programmes, chronologically. I, though, chose my programmes solely on what they meant to me regardless of the date; and unlike Mr Roberts I will ramble almost incoherently about anything that comes to mind whilst I contemplate the programme and of course shoehorn in some tunes. 

Today, it’s Plough Lane, and Wimbledon FC. (That’s the club who were bought and relocated to Milton Keynes.) But On April 8, 1978, we went to see 4th Division Wimbledon play the once mighty and then fallen, or should that be plummeted, Huddersfield Town. The “we” is the four us, my Mum, Dad and wee brother. As for why, well given the time of year we must have been on our Easter holiday, staying with my grandparents (my Dad’s parents) who lived in the Borough of Merton and thus quite close to the ground - it was 4 miles from their house - and I suspect my brother and I had ants-in-our-pants, and Dad thought we should go to a game. But not to Chelsea, Arsenal, Spurs, or even Crystal Palace. But Wimbledon. Which sounds very churlish of me.  I wonder if he was thinking there might be a hooligan problem at the larger grounds, but I also think the likely larger output of crude chants and foul language was not a consideration as a couple of years earlier me, Mum and Dad stood in the “Provie” Road end of Dens Park watching Dundee v.. Ayr United.

I have absolutely no memory of this game at all, unlike the games Mr Roberts talks about, he seems to have perfect recall. Looking at the team sheets I recognise no player despite Wimbledon having Dave Bassett on their books (and he played in 35 league games that season) and Dickie Guy (who I had heard of). The score, I have discovered, was 2-0 to Wimbledon. But I have kept the programme, because, well, if you buy one you just cannot throw it away…………..that is until you are told to by your partner, with the proviso that you can keep a few. Maybe it’s a simple reminder of a day out for the four of us. I have asked my brother about this game, but he was nae to use to man nor beast. Although he did tell me that we (the four of us) also went to the speedway in Wimbledon and also to the dogs there.  

As for the day itself, the website “onthisday” has absolutely NOTHING for April 8 1978 (although why it has omitted “The Forsyths went to see Wimbledon v. Huddersfield Town” I haven’t a scooby). 

As for the AITT, I instantly recognise all 10 songs, although I can quite gladly go through the rest of my days without hearing again five of them. Not this, though, it’s aged quite well - almost:

Someone who calls them self Missy Elliott has absolutely murdered that song, as has Alannah Myles. It’s criminal.

But here on 18 seconds you have one of the most sublime moments in music:

Ann Peebles - I Can't Stand The Rain

Here’s one of those 5 songs I referred to above, introduced by Kid Jensen, at no. 9 on April 8, and one place behind G****is:

We never did shake them up by winning the world cup, but it totally shook me up and I lost all interest in the national team after that.

The Top Ten Albums are barely worth a mention. Bar one, 

Oh, and unlike Mr Roberts, I have fewer than 32 programmes. Hopefully I can be inspired by the next one.

Thanks for reading (and listening), and thanks to Mr CC for hosting.

CC writes:

Thanks George

Sadly the great Denis Law passed away shortly after being referenced in George's last post. I hope no-one referenced in this post suffers the same fate!

And on behalf of a Nation a very sarcastic thanks for bringing up Argentina 78!