Old friends

Scunthorpe v Rotherham, Glanford Park, Saturday 12th May 12.30am! 2-2

So, after the horrors of last season, we had arrived in the play-offs with a fitness coach as manager and a bunch of youngsters and one dinosaur. A fitness coach that I did not want as permanent manager. A fitness coach that I was begging to be sacked before the turnaround at Blackpool. And a dinosaur that was on his way to Chezzie in January before a last minute change of heart by one of the parties involved (not sure who) and who is now captain fantastic and wears a magic hat. Funny old game football. 

Before us stood Scunny, a team we had already beaten twice this season. But before that we had to get tickets. The club let it be known that we would get 1601 ONLY, and that they would go on sale to season ticket holders at 9am on Weds 9th. At 9am on Weds 9th, I would be at work, Ian would be at work, and Vicky would be at uni in a lecture. Mmmm. It was decided that, despite being the poorest of us at getting massively popular tickets, it would have to be Ian who we relied on. After all, he probably just sits around drinking coffee all day. Vicky and I tutored him endlessly on the correct method for navigating the minefield that is the clubs website. We checked that he had the correct username and password, we checked that he was up early so he could be at his desk finger poised and ready at 9am. Then we both left nervous and anxious. 

At 8.04 Vicky sent me this photo.

Apparently people had been camping out since the night before. Already there were 500 people in the queue, and more were joining by the second. This was gonna be tough. 

Just before 9, Vicky sent me another message

The online site was clogged! Third method of getting tickets was phone. But, as Vicky detected, you have to keep trying as the queue only holds thirty people and you need to just get through the second someone hangs up. Armed with this knowledge, and with the website still refreshing, ian tried the phone. After just two goes he was in the queue. In keeping us up to date the texting went like this.

At work, I explained to the girls what was happening and why I was looking at my iwatch all the time. By the time the ‘tickets bought’ text came through they, and all the customers, were rooting for us. A big cheer rang around Rowlands Pharmacy Lowedges and it’s safe to say that they are all rooting for us to win. Vicky also had a stressful time of it.

By 11.45am all the tickets were sold, much to the disgust of some online Millers. Most seemed to think that unless you were one of the 100 at Gillingham on a Tuesday night you didn’t deserve a ticket. I felt a bit guilty for getting one, although the journey to Plymouth surely qualified us. 

Have tickets will travel

At 10.30 on a sunny Saturday morning we loaded up the final final munch box of the season and set off for the long drive to Scunny. Along the way we passed about 1590 other Millers, plus the team coach, which worried Vicky a little. At 11.15 on a sunny Saturday we arrived at the Glandford Park car park. It was heaving already, full of mainly Millers. 

We arrive in sunny scunny

Remembering the last time at Scunny where there was seat wars behind our pillar Vicky was extremely anxious to get in and put our bums on our seats. Being first in the stadium helped. We found the pillar we were to sit behind and claimed them before ian rushed off to buy a bacon butty. (Very nice and should be sold at all league grounds)

Have butty will travel

Making sure no one pinches our seat

Our pillar

Over the next hour the away end begin to fill up. Glancing behind I was heartened to see Mr Nasal. He used to stand behind us at Millmoor and We have found that if we ever see him at an away game we do well so fingers crossed. We heard from Wooly that he and Rob Berry were right down the other end. Rob having been refused entry as his ticket had been ‘cancelled’. They managed to find him seat A1, front row and right next to the Scunny fans.

By the time the players came out the end was packed and in full voice, mainly about Richard woods magic hat. Warne had stuck with his one (smi ith) up front leaving DaBall on the bench. 

Our fans in full throttle

A few dodgy ones at the front

After all the build up the game could have been an anticlimax, as it was it was a thriller. Midway through the first half we took the lead through Jon Taylor. Cue his song

Ain’t no body, like Jon taylor

Also cue jumping on the pitch, setting off flares, and taunting of Scunny fans. All right in front of seat A1.

Unfortunately, we switched off immediately, and Scunny equalised almost from the kick off. Cue taunting of Rotherham fans. 1-1 at half time.

It was nip and tuck in the second half until Jon Taylor went down with an injury and was replaced by Joe Newell. Immediately a mazy run by Emmanuel saw him find Towell in the area. His attempted overhead kick fell to Newell on the edge of the area and with his first touch of the ball he slotted home. Cue his song.

Super, super Joe

In his interview afterwards he let it be known that as he ran to the crowd he was hit in the face by a Balti pie.

Tasty

Unfortunately we couldn’t hold onto the lead and despite a great performance Scunny equalised on 89 minutes through a sub of their own, helped by a Mike/Rodek mix up. On 90 mins Warne turned to his mate and Scunny manager Daws And asked ‘would you take the draw. ‘Too right I would’ he replied. They both got their wish and it finished 2-2. The team were cheered off as all the Millers felt that we could take them in the home leg. There was a good vibe as we headed back to the car for the much box. 

We left Scunny to drive down to Southampton and help Kathy with her move, via an All Bar One. We needed cocktails to toast a fabulous Millers performance

Cheers!

Man of the match

Ian - Vaulkes

Jackie - Emmanuel

Vicky - taylor

Toilet watch

4/10 - Only two loos, spiders, tendency to block. Not great