Charlton Away, by JohnBoy
Three hundred words they said over a pint at The Valley in the ole nylon trousers, cod piece and all. So I’ve been sitting here ever since wondering what the hell was important enough to sanction three hundred words. The match, happily, was an epic. The first half was a bleak-pit but the second half brought about a Wycombe Wanderers that hasn’t been seen for a while. No, not one owned by some ’swanky with a silent S’ Loan Facilitator but a team that attacked with verve and energy and a Chris Zebroski with two goals to his name. Worth the last £25 in my bank account? Just about.
It wasn’t just the match though. Wycombe Wanderers is far more than the football. Missing the kick off, and having to grab a seat in front of some guy who, still, by his mid-thirties hasn’t managed to work out how to shout abuse at a referee without controlling his saliva. But, come the second goal and a ‘Chicken Curry Pie’ later, a few rows further forward gave a much better view of the glorious banner and a seat next to someone who you’d want to find yourself next to a football match. Cheese and Onion pasty jokes ensued. Enjoyable times.
But the entertainment didn’t stop there. The train ride home was the eventful part. Despite cries of ‘Lose the Nylon, Climb a Pylon’ if it weren’t for said nylon the verging on homoerotic Wycombe fans-the ones who on the train happily waved their stolen seats from The Valley and their removed clothing items in the air- would never have had the opportunity, once the Charlton fans left the train, to sing some utterly poor JohnBoy songs. I think I might write a few better ones for them.
Frankly though, nothing could dampen the spirits after that performance. If the Chairboys play that way for the rest of the season, they won’t go down. And if the Drone Army continue to quit droning and actually support as they did on Saturday, we could be in for a fun ride. Long may it continue. Fuck the summer’s deliberations. I still love Wycombe Wanderers.
