CAPTAIN'S BIG DAY OUT
Take a few hours off this afternoon from worrying whether it's 'Goodnight Vienna' for Torquay United, and tune in and join with a few rousing renditions of 'Goodnight Irene' instead, as we cheer our heroic former Captain, Lee Mansell, in his bid to achieve a Wembley win and get himself back into the Football League.
We certainly need a rest from wondering how many expletives were contained in the answer from the Breed Consortium when replying to TUST's request that they hand all their money over to them, or biting our nails and wondering just what sort of club we'll be left with by August kick off time.
Not that singing 'Irene' will necessarily cheer anyone up. Some of the darkest lyrics since Morrissey penned 'Guardian readers of the world, unite and take over'.
Sometimes I live in the country,
Sometimes I live in the town,
Sometimes I have a great notion,
To jump in to the river and drown.
I love Irene, God knows I do,
I'll love her till the seas run dry.
And if Irene turns her back on me,
I'd take morphine and die.
The Captain's opponents today are Grimsby Town. The Independent tells us that:
Grimsby Town’s players will stroll out at Wembley before tomorrow’s Conference play-off final wearing suits bought by a pair of fans who had the good fortune to win the EuroMillions lottery jackpot.Grimsby-supporting couple Lee and Sue Mullen donated £10,000 to ensure that Paul Hurst’s squad look smart on the big day'
Whether that association with a Lottery winner will prove to be a good or bad omen for Grimsby, we'll find out later.
Additionally, Grimsby director, John Fenty, tells the paper:
"Promotion is arguably worth around £1m, with the contribution towards the youth set-up and the additional TV moneys,” Fenty said. “It gives you a little respite.”
link - £1 million showdown
The type of respite that would have been gladly received at Plainmoor, but wasn't to be last season.
A trip to Wembley is about so much more than football, it's about wondering whether you can spot a celebrity fan. Our very own TFF celebrity, Glostergull, will be representing us, and loudly cheering on Cap'n Manse this afternoon. But who else might be there ? A question posed yesterday by The Bristol Post:
How about that ? A tweet from Jeffrey, (husband of the fragrant Mary) Archer ! Real 'A' list stuff. Sadly for younger readers, we have to inform you that Rod Hull will almost certainly not be there to support his beloved Rovers this afternoon, and I would assume there are severe doubts therefore, whether Emu will attend.
Rod Hull was a staunch Rovers fan, as his Wikipedia page will confirm:
Hull was a fan of the football club, Bristol Rovers, and he recorded a song called "Bristol Rovers All The Way" in 1974, with the squad of that time.
Wiki goes to remind us that Rod also missed seeing the Inter Milan v Manchester United match in March 1999, which accounts in a large part, for his absence from Wembley today:
On 17th March 1999, Hull climbed onto the roof of his house in Winchelsea, near Rye, to adjust his television aerial during the second leg of the Champions League quarter final football match between Internazionale and Manchester United at the San Siro. In his attempt to improve reception, he slipped from the roof and fell through an adjoining greenhouse. The 63-year-old entertainer suffered a severe skull fracture and chest injuries. He was pronounced dead on arrival at Conquest Hospital in Hastings.
Following an inquest, the East Sussex Coroner, Alan Craze, recorded a verdict of accidental death.
link - Rod Hull
Let's hope that at 2pm today, as Manse and his team kick off, Rod is looking down and able to enjoy watching a victory for his Pirates.
GOODNIGHT CAPTAIN, GOODNIGHT CAPTAIN, WE'LL SEE YOU IN THE LEAGUE
