Night Out
Hywel Roberts - London-based Wrexham fan - watches the Welsh Maestros in action…
It was with some trepidation that I accepted my son's invitation to accompany him and his mate to the London Arena to watch the Home Nations Masters 2000 six-a-side tournament for the Over-35s.
Far too many times he's heard me moan, 'he's not as good as hls father' (more of Jeremy Charles later) and 'that would not have been a foul in my day - let alone a booking'. Despite thinking that it would be some old prima donnas parading their fancy tricks to earn a few 'undeserved pennies', I went along - not drawn either by the promise of a captain's appearance by the (legendary) Ian Rush. I promised myself that I would tell him (if given the chance) that I had scored more often in a Wrexham shirt than he had, even if it was for the old London Welsh Vets!
The London Arena was easy to get to - but parking was expensive. I got there early to watch the Leeds- Arsenal match on the big screen, to read the programme and keep an eye out for some familiar old faces. The programme suggested Ally McCoist would be there, with Bryan Robson, Viv Anderson, Ian Wright and Rushie and Barry Horne (is it really 13 years since he left the Racecourse?) None of them turned up - didn't really expect (or want) to see Robson. I will never, EVER forgive him for not giving us an ounce of credit for dumping his shower of misfits out of the FA Cup last year. Him and Venables could make an ideal couple.
Then things started to pick up. Not far from the Greenwich version… could that be the wrinkled dome of the 'magic little man who at the venerable age of 37' put Arsenal out of the Cup. YES, Mickey had turned up and not long afterwards we spied the smiling face of the Messiah - Mr Brian Flynn. We were hoping that our family's spiritual leader King Joey would make our day complete, but no, that was not to be. Without Rush, Wales were captained by Neville Southall with the team being made up of Mark Bowen, Paul Bodin, Jeremy Charles, Paul Price, Mickey, David Phillips, Glyn Hodges and Clayton Blackmore. England had among others Hoddle and Waddle, Scotland had Alan McAnally, Brian McClair and Pat Nevin while the Irish included Sammy Mcllroy, Ray Houghton, Liam Brady (voted the best player on view) and Frank Stapleton. In my opinion, the Irish played the better football but their lack of fitness told in the end. Scotland had nobody upfront - Frank McAvennie was even slower in speed of thought (and movement) than ever, while England were the fancy dans - Hoddle and Waddle doing their Diamond Lights bit while Kerry Dixon and Paul Walsh were more like Nutty Slack in the dark.
The standard of football was much better than I expected. Wales retained the title - beating the Irish in the final. The fact that Blackmore and Bowen have recent playing experience helped a great deal. Jeremy Charles was less fit than most and probably upset by me asking him if he had enjoyed his stay at Porthmadog. 'That was my father, Mel,' he said. Mickey was just Mickey - never playing a simple pass without a bit if magic first and upsetting Garry Nelson of the PFA by removing his red shirt to show his Radio Station T-shirt, with 'THERE'S ONLY ONE JOEY JONES!' on the back. It was gratifying to see Mickey, and especially Brian, being greeted with heart-felt warmth and affection by all the players they met.
All I would ask next time is that Brian put in an appearance as a player instead of restricting himself to playing the master technician role off the pitch and BRING JOEY ALONG if only to 'coach' and clench his fist!