Five matches altogether last week have boosted my totals to 43 for the season and 5,175 all told. These were the results: AFC Bournemouth 0 Northampton Town 0, Poole Town 1 Frome Town 3, Heritage 1 Vienna Windows 4, Boodle Hatfield 1 Time Out 3 and Visa 1 Hudson 4. No home wins, you’ll notice.
The Cherries had brought their League One fixture forward to Friday night to avoid clashing with England. Two clueless teams contributed to a dreadful 0-0 and I’d put it in my all-time worst ten matches. And I had a bloke sitting next to me whom the legendary Spooner would’ve called "a shining wit". Oh dear – and it was £18 to get in too.
Poole Town, The Dolphins, were missing some of their stars for the FA Vase First Round Proper tie at Tatnam on Saturday. Their Somerset visitors, Frome Town, were said to be "joint top" of the Western League’s Premier Division. Compared to the previous night it was a cracking match, if a bit on the rough side. There were, I think, twelve yellow cards and one red. It was certainly the most yellows I’d seen in one match.
I sat in the impressive new stand in the first half and some old boy near me called out in exasperation: "I hope your tea’s hot enough at half-time, ref, or you’ll be booking the tea lady!"
Standing behind the goal that Poole were attacking in the second period, I heard this schoolboy’s comment as a Frome substitution was made: "Could we bring a sub on for you, ref!"
So a very entertaining afternoon in Dorset. And Poole did pretty well in the circumstances, definitely in with a shout until Frome’s third goal went in. I got the 5.14 train back to Bournemouth and watched the second half of the England match on TV in the hotel lounge with the owner, a Norwich City fan.
Another bright day on Sunday, absurdly warm for October, and "The Barber" had a choice of five matches in King’s Park. I liked the sound of "Vienna Windows", so I plumped for their Bournemouth Sunday League Division Three fixture on Pitch 1. A crowd of eight, plus at least the same number of dogs, saw them win at a canter. They even missed with a penalty that was hit with such force against the ‘keeper’s left-hand post that the ball ended up near the corner flag.
When I was first at The FA as a teenager in the International Department, I remember being sent out to Roehampton to get the England squad to sign some balls at one of their training sessions under Sir Alf.
It was a bit daunting for a youngster but one player helped me out and made sure I got them signed properly. It was Alan Mullery. I’ve just finished reading his autobiography and in the book he thanks me for the career stats that I provided. My pleasure, Alan.