Blues and Watto bow out quietly
Features, Match Center, Match Reports, News | admin | December 19, 2011 at 11:21 am
49 years ago this month this then 11 year old witnessed a cold December evening when Bertie Auld headed into a Railway End net to record a meaningless 1-0 win against Espanyol of Spain. Having lost the first leg 5-2, the icy conditions and freezing temperatures were not enough to bridge the gap.
Adam Rooney’s header was remarkably similar in that he headed into the railway end from a superb cross from Nathan Redmond. Sadly Blues were relying on the honesty of two other teams in the group to send them through. Honesty as Blues will surely testify is sadly lacking in this and any country’s footballers. The night in 1962 ended up with 9 a side as Bertie K-O’ed two Spaniards with his sweet right hook and a Jimmy Harris head butt accounted for another. No simulation required as three Spanish hit the icy floor as cold as mutton.
Two stands at the railway end have come and gone since that night and Nathan Redmond’s grand ma was still in her pram. Nathan will without doubt make it big time. Hopefully he’s with Blues and in a European Theatre again before too long. Thinking of those who have played with the tree lions on their breast pocket, Young, Lennon, Milner and Walcott all have pace and ability to beat a man yet hardly ever deliver a decent cross from either side yet alone both. Redmond, after a couple of miss hits tortured the Maribor defender’s and had Blues front men committed themselves more, there would have been a avalanche of goals.
Sadly Nathan’s future will not be tracked by this old fart’s pen any longer. The end of this European road signals the end of my Blog. It’s been great and I thank the Bluesnet guys for their support over the years and for all you readers. The ones who have slagged me off are particularly welcome to take over the reins and will have me as an avid reader.
Frankly I am tired of the Second division garbage that we have to endure at the moment. The European trail was different. That was where we should be. It’s where we should be with a Premiership quality team and a Premiership quality manager with a premiership budget. At the moment we have the prospect of only one of these.
Anyway, a Merry Christmas and a happy new year to all us Bluenoses.
By Alan Watton
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A strange final comment if im honest. If supporting the team is just about watching a team in the prem, with alot of money- then BCFC really is not the team to support.
For me thats everything that is wrong with football- i couldnt care less that we are int he 2nd tier. Its all about getting behind my local side and seeing them fight against adversity and try and become a top tier club once again. The next few years is going to be a huge test.
Would far rather watch that than a mid table prem club bobbing along with nothing to really play for.
bn68
It is rather sad that all you want to watch is a top Premiership team with a lot of money; at least you recognize we have a top manager. As a Blues' supporter you are not the kind we need, but thanks for the blog & don't forget you probably live far enough away from Salford (or even Manchester now or Stamford Bridge) to hunt for glory.
Blues for life not just PL, move on old fart I've heard there's a team in Manchester that would suit your needs!
Have you noticed how happy the 'supporters' of the Premiership big boys actually are? Listen to to the phone ins; they bleat about everything that does not go their way and expect a divine right to win things. Every non victory is a disaster; every misfortune someone else's fault; every minor mistake criticised. There is plenty of proper football outside the Premiership; shock news to those who think the game was invented by Sky in 1992 ( the claims to an England World Cup win sometime in the distant past always baffles those people). At least the games in the Championship usually see struggling clubs have a go far more than the park the bus mentality that is seen far too often in the division above and; shock horror, there is a game even below the level we are at now!! KRO