The two weeks leading up to the fixture at Bournemouth had been League footballess due to the international break so we were getting withdrawal symptoms, especially because of what happened with the transfer window. As you know, the window slammed shut at exactly 11pm on Monday 1st July. On transfer deadline day Sky have a dedicated full day of programmes where all the presenters wear yellow and a giant clock ticks down the hours, minutes and seconds until 11pm. On this occasion players were moving here, there and everywhere except for at the New York Stadium. Around 10.30 Vicky told me that Steve was still on the phone, according to Facebook, (How they knew I'm not sure, telephoto lens from Ken Booths scrapyard perhaps) but I decided to go to bed. Nothing to see here. Off I went to work the next day as usual, only to get a text from Vicky at lunchtime. Just on the stroke of eleven, allegedly after a takeaway Pizza, Steve had signed some kid from Oldham and Lucciano Beccio!!! Beccio is an Argentinian striker who scored loads for Leeds before making a big money move to Premiership (then) Norwich. He never really played for them and had decided to come to us even though loads of other clubs were interested. (Again allegedly). How exciting! So the wait to see him play seemed interminable.
Other things that had happened over the looooooong international break.
-Watford sacked Beppe and appointed Oscar
-The Wolves manager won the manager of the month despite losing to us
-Leeds sacked their manager
-England played in Switzerland in a Euro qualifier and won 2-0
-Carlisle sacked their manager
-Oscar Pistorius got away with murder
-Accrington Stanley sacked their manager
-Vicky got an interview to try out for volunteering at the Rugby Union World Cup
-Colchester sacked their manager
-We went to the Rotherham show to see the giant vegetables
Look at those lovely onions
After what seemed like months the wait was over and Sat Sept 13th dawned. We had never been on such a long awayday before and after consulting google maps (4hrs 24mins with traffic) and the beer bus's departure time (trades club 7.45am) decided on an 8.30 start. We had weighed up the lunch options and decided on the tried and tested munchbox, so I set too preparing that while the other two lazed in bed. A mass panic ensued when I could not find my discreet RUFC T-shirt, and Vicky offered to loan me her, not quite so discreet Revell, 'Ambitious.......but brilliant!' T-shirt. Would this come back to haunt us later?
The munchbox, the T-shirt, and me.
Only a few minutes late we set off for the long trek to the south coast. Due to some SatNav conspiracy, Tara tried to take us via London. Having been caught out by Pippa the last time we went to Southampton to visit Kathy we were ready for her and took the M69 and M40. As we were making up time all the way we stopped at Warwick services for coffee, and cakes for some. On away trips we like to spot fans of other clubs, as well as fellow Millers, along the way. There was'nt much activity here, just a few Burnley fans on their way to Palace. We got held up by some heavy traffic on the M3, but made it to Southampton with plenty of time left. Only 30mins more said Tara. Plenty of time for a picnic. We stopped at a services for a toilet break. A few years ago we made a stop at Bolton services, and ever since we have believed those to be England's worse. These ones didn't take the crown but they weren't far off. Off we set again, only to run into more traffic. We decided to take a slight detour through the New Forest, where we could picnic in lovely surroundings. Only to run into yet more traffic. The surroundings were lovely, as were the ponies (from the safety of the car). No time for the picnic though. We couldn't come all this way and miss the start. At last we broke through the trees and into Biurnemouth. Tara took us unerringly to the Stadium and we arrived at the car park around 2.30. Rolling down the window Ian asked the steward how much. £1 came the unexpected reply. £1!!!!! (See pride and prejudice). We parked up in a lovely spot around 2.30. Just time for the munchbox, and the short stroll across the car park to the Goldsands arena, formerly Dean Court.
We were seated in a part of a stand on the side of the pitch, and the sun was beating down from beginning to end, causing us to have to shield our eyes the whole match. Luckily Ian hadn't brought his hat.
The team was announced and Becchio was playing, along with Clarke-Harris. Someone was quick off the mark at the club shop. His dad?
Ian decided that the munch box wasn't quite enough and that he needed pie, which he rated as very good. I must admit that in that heat it didn't smell too appetising. A voiciferius away support welcomed the players to the pitch and the match kicked off. A forgettable first half was saved only by the Millers fans attempt to sing a song for Becchio, veering away from the tried and tested one we all know and love it was a horrible mishmash of sounds. I would prefer to stick to the original. Alas, poor Jonson Clarke-Harris didn't get one, but I live in hope.
Half time and the oppressive heat drove us indoors to the concourse. How we long for the freezing cold days of winter. Of course if we hadn't gone in we would have missed the guy with the Law shirt ( he left us in 2011) and the guy munching on a bag of giant spring onions.
Back out into the sun and the second half kicked off. This half started better, for Bournemouth anyway as they seemed to have wave on wave of attacks, hitting the post, before the inevitable happened and they scored. Now it was going to be difficult as we had only scored two goals in the league, one of those a penalty. But we still have that never say die attitude, and with Alex Revell and Jordan Bowery coming on, for the ineffective ( and not match fit ) Becchio and Clarke-Harris, we started to put pressure on them. Revell almost got to a cross, and in the 93rd minute Bowery rose like a salmon and headed home. 1-1. Cue wild scenes among the away fans. Four more added minutes later (where did they come from) and the referee blew for full time. We had smuggled a point from a game that looked lost. And the sun was still shining.
We left the ground to the sound of the fans singing Jordan Bowerys song. 'He scores goals, he scores goals, Jordan Bowery.' To the tune of give me oil in my lamp keep me burning. A proper song that takes little learning. A great start to a weekend away with Kathy. Next up, Bolton away.
Final score 1-1
Man of the match
Ian - Arneson
Jackie - Arneson
Vicky - Arneson
Quote of the day
Guy behind on the Becchio song. 'That needs work!'
Funniest moment
When do you ever see a man eating a bag of giant spring onions? Only at a rotherham match.
Toilets
8/10 . Pretty good. Clean and loads of hot water. No drips or leaks.
Ian's award
Booked Scarz for his first foul well inside his own half.
I'm not too keen on the onion stories but am so pleased Ian didn't have his hat. Good result.
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