According to the Middlesborough Gazette, a preseason poll found that the awayday most Boro' fans were looking forward to was the match at the New York Stadium against Rotherham United. Now with big teams such as Fulham, Norwich and Sheffield Weds in the same league that seems a little strange to say the least, but we do have a nice new ground. Their feelings may have changed by the day of the match however, with South Yorkshire Police conspiring with RUFC to thwart them at every opportunity. First they received only 2,500 tickets, standard for us because we have a small ground and like our own fans to get the tickets if possible. This meant they were highly sought after and sold out on the day they went on sale. A lot of Middlesborough fans then decided to pretend they weren't Middlesborough fans and bought tickets in the home end. All went well until the day before the match when RUFC phoned them all up after checking with some superspywear and cancelling their tickets. Data protection and basic human rights were cited to no avail. They were not getting in. Never mind, the ones with tickets in the away end would still have a lovely day out. Enter SYPD. Coach drivers were given a call on the day before the game (we like to keep them on their toes) to tell them in no circumstances could they enter Rotherham before 1pm. 'We have roadworks', they were told, 'so roadblocks will be in place and we will escort you in'. Their plans of having a quiet drink in a town centre pub were dashed. A sensible suggestion from a lady at RUFC was to call at a pub just off the M18 called Sir Jacks. I bet all the mums with kids in the play area and Saturday shoppers at Morrisons were pleased to see them! Still, we were all safe and warm within our town centre cocoon all morning with not a Jordie voice to be heard.
A peaceful morning in Rotherham
The special guest at today's game was a certain Tony Towner. A flying winger, 'Tiger' was a fixture in the wonderful promotion winning team of 1980-81. When he got the ball a buzz would go around the ground and the sounds of 'Tony Towner is one in a million' would ring out. To a generation of Millers, me included, Tiger is quite simply the best Rotherham player of all time.
Tiger
Vicky was to meet us at the ground due to other social commitments in 'Spoons', so Ian and I made our way to the New York Tavern. We saw no magpies on the way, walked under no ladders, and saw no cross eyed women, so I have no explanation for what happened later. We had a nice drink and chat with Wooly, James and Dave. Topics broached were the Boro Manager, Daves hatred for Ben Pringle, and how James appeared to be suffering from some kind of brain injury. Vicky texted that some Boro fans were in 'Spoons' and it was kicking off with chanting and posturing.
Spoons
We left and walked to the ground the same as usual, meeting Vicky outside and entering via turnstyle 10. Inside the concourse the 'Wall of Fame' had been erected. All the fans who had bought a brick during the ill fated Millers 05 tenure at the club finally saw their names up in lights on the wall.
We found our seats and applauded wildly as Tiger was introduced to the crowd. We were all in place, old guy on the end, the tweeters, wooly and James, woman in front (she appears to be a fixture now). Sideshow Bob sidled in behind with his crutch.
Not actual match footage...
We were feeling good. Then Mr Russell entered the field of play.
To be fair, which I don't want to be, it wasn't all his fault. Middlesborough kicked off and tore us to pieces, scoring two goals in the first twenty minutes with ease. Then number 4 came from behind Revell on the halfway line and kicked him in the head. Revs went down unmoving, and Mr Russell gave a free kick for dangerous play. No booking. For five minutes the doctor, physios and St Johns ambulance treated him, until he eventually managed to get back on his feet. He couldn't carry on however and was replace by Jordan Bowery. Our most influential player had been kicked off the park with no sanction for the culprit. Five minutes later Bowery won the ball in front of their bench. Foul said Mr Russell, their bench screamed, their players surrounded all the officials, and Mr Russell showed Jordan a straight red card. The tweeters said Sky were reporting that he was sent off for a stamp, the BBC said for fighting, we were there and didn't have a clue. Viewing the incident later on Sky we were still nonplussed. Bowery appeared to shake his leg at a Boro player who was hanging on to it. 'What was that for?' said Matt Le Tissier, 'doesn't seem to be anything in that' said Jeff.
Why me??
Back to the New York and it was game over. We were never coming back from that. Mr Russell was booed from the field at half time. Steve took Pringle and Taylor off at half time and replaced them with Derbyshire and Smallwood, but we got nowhere. Mr Russell spoke sternly to number 4 after yet another foul by him, he held up his fingers to us all so we could see him counting, 1,2,3,4. Next time he would clearly book him, or the time after. Green brought down a Boro player two minutes later, and despite it being his first foul was booked. In the last minute Boro broke and scored a third goal. We would probably have lost in all honesty, but the refs decisions left us all seething. It was a despondent crowd that left the New York later, maybe we will get relegated after all. We are certainly not entering via turnstyle 10 next game.
Next up Reading away on Tuesday night.
Men of the match
Ian - Frecklington
Jackie - JCR
Vicky - Alex Revell
Ian's award - Bowerygate
Quote of the day, Steve Evans post match.
"We go away remembering an absolutely shocking, awful, woeful, disgraceful, abject decision to send Jordan Bowery off. There are no other words I can use for it.
Could the ref be biased? Still, it was good to see your names displayed.
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