“Ward 21”

Our awayday to Crewe was one to remember, not so much for the game (which was pretty ordinary but a good 3 points) but for the other ‘activities’ of the day.
We set away from the NE at 8:30 ish with a full bus but a few complaints from the Sedgefield lot when we got to Bradbury (“bloody hell it’s nearly an hour since we got on the bus and we’re only 2 miles from home”) but they soon settled down and sat back to enjoy the journey. This time Rossy had chosen the scenic route and decided to go to Crewe via the A66 & M6, so avoiding the M62. Seemed a bit of a strange route but it worked our well in the end and was a lovely journey across the Pennines with the sun shining and snow still on the hilltops. As we were nearing Manchester Clive told us that we couldn’t go straight to Crewe as the police had prevented buses going into the town centre but that we’d have to go to Knutsford instead. We were a bit disappointed as we’d had a great day in Crewe last year. However it all turned out ok as we ended up in Crewe after all! What happened was that we missed the turn off for Knutsford and by the time we realised we were nearly at Crewe so we took a chance and went into the town parking just outside of the town centre at 12 o’clock. Rossy dropped us all off and said he’d pick us up after the game.

When we got into town we all went into a pub but some of us didn't fancy it much as there were no seats and it was a bit 'plastic' so we went into "The Last Orders" pub a couple of doors up the street. Bitter was only £1 a pint and lager £1.40 so Stephen, Thomas and I quickly settled in and got some seats in the corner. We got cracking to some of the locals and had a real good time. They were a gang of seasoned drinkers who came in every day at 11 through to 7 and thoroughly enjoyed their drink at £1 a pint. They were good crack and one of the old lads even had his sandwiches with him. Wherever you go you'll find this gang - most of them retired but they all like a good drink and a bit crack. I think Stephen and Thomas had found their kindred spirits from Cheshire! During our conversations they said that their corner where we were sitting was known as 'ward 21' corner in the pub. Apparently 'ward 21' refers to the nutters ward in the local hospital - Jack should have been with us to give a professional opinion! Anyway they were as good as gold as we ended up leaving them a round of drinks (hey, we can all be big spenders at £1 a pint!)

The game came and went (not much more to be said really) but when we got back on the bus we found out the at the back window was all boarded up. What had happened was that Rossy had been parking the bus and a steward has been watching him back as he reversed but hadn't told him about the lampost behind him. The bus clipped the lampost and shattered the back window. Rossy was able to get it fixed with some plywood so it was a comfy journey home (at least it was for those at the front - maybe it was a bit draughty for those at the back?)

Jimmy was very ‘perky’ on the way home with his best mate Kenny back by his side. He’d been a bit subdued of late but made up for it on the way back when he gave a non-stop rendition of ‘popular’ songs. The Sedgefield lot looked a bit grumpy at this but Jim wasn’t put off in the slightest and kept on the go all the way home but thankfully did not disturb me. The Sedgefield contingent got of at Bradbury on the way back and arranged to be picked up to avoid another hour on the bus.

All in all a good day out but hopefully one we won’t be repeating next season as I’m expecting us to be in a different division to Crewe. Would be nice to see the ‘ward 21 lads’ again though!