The last drop ..... at last

Well bloggers on the road again yesterday to see our fantastic team play at Bolton and an early start at 8.20am pick up time outside Gilligan Mansions.

Hang on a minute did I really say fantastic team ......... rewind and start again!

The "luxury" coach from Griersons picked me up within walking distance of my house, actually it was parked right outside the house. It was a 33 seater and I was the last pick up with still about 5 spare seats showing the sign of the times I thought; even Mrs 100% MaryF was not on the bus having said before the last away game that this was to be her last even CliveD was not on the trip as several nights on night shift took their toll ... or so he says. Only two ladies on the coach one reading a book all the way one showing her wagger off and sitting next to me all the way down; I'll let the regulars determine who they were.

We sped our way down towards Bolton making phone calls to the Chester-Le-Street branch who had booked us into a pub that no one, even them, knew where it was. Arriving about 10.30am on the boundaries of Oldham/Manchester and following CliveD's AA route guide we ended up as the directions said in a place called Middleton - a quick call to the Chester branch to find that the pub was no where near Middleton and they were sitting outside a pub waiting for a man to take them to a the pub where we were booked in; where's CliveD went you want him. Anyway with me and big Geoff leading the way we eventuallly found the Chester coach and then followed them to a pub near Oldham called the Last Drop and at £1.00 per pint of John Smiths me and StevieW settled in nicely at the bar, StevieW wanted to sit down but as Michele, Natalie and Helen behind the bar were very good looking and increasingly so every time they bent over we stayed at the bar all afternoon. The banter was good between the two of us and our new found friends behind the bar at one point we re-called saying that a pint and muffin at £2.50 was a real bargain at which point Michele made it clear that a muffin in Oldham was a sandwich.... our mistake or wishful thinking!

So after 7 or was it 8 pints it was off to Bolton and a coach parking fee of £20.00 - how do they get away with it and why doesn't SAFC charge away coaches if we have to continually pay. We settled into our £32 seats right at the back to be joined by the Miller Men who were stopping for the night at the hotel at the ground, well they were now after Chrissy booked them into the wrong hotel at first. I hope Miller gives us a report on his night out.

The game well it wasn't a game it was the worst performance I have recently seen no guts, no spunk or ability between them and when Leadbitter was taken off to be replaced by Breen I think that said the lot. Shite all the way through, even I started to nod off mid way through the second half. Trouble between SAFC supporters shouting for Murray Out and others (the Wingate branch) shouting get behind the team leading to several ejections from the ground. At the end when the whistle went it was a blessing as we all headed back to the coach. With a quick get away we were back in Gilligan Mansions for 7.45pm in time to take Mrs Gilligan out on her weekly treat to Coxa Club and back to £1.64 per pint.... far too expensive.

So we ended where we started the day ...... The Last Drop.


Jim Gilling
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