Cousin Billy's Awayday "DENTED"

The day set off when the Rossie mobile pulled up alongside Gilligan Mansion at 7.25 am - what no Cousin Billy on the coach??? In fact I knew he would not be on the coach as he had phoned me on Thursday evening nearly in tears not that he was going but that a slight mix up with CliveD meant that there was no ticket or seat on the coach for Cousin Billy. Anyway I think Cousin Billy was thinking of a new "black" addition to the family no MrsM has not been a naughty girl and wandered into the darkness but Cousin Billy has bought a new black Merc - just £XXK well as he put it you can't take it with you!!! (should have invested the money in a executive box at the SOL for 10 of us instead!!!)
The next stop was Kella as we were to be first pick up last drop off, CliveD explaining he is rotating the way the coach picks up to keep everyone happy. So on came the Miller men, Nephew Billy without Uncle Billy as he was in Tenerife with MrsJ (for a change). We picked up at Blair Village, the Grange, TrimdonV, Fishburn, Sedgie and finally Chilton before heading down the A1(M). The banter was good on the packed coach not one seat left, it looked like there was more on the coach than allowed - I was hoping the back axel would hold out! We had some of the old clowns at the back that were in fine fettle having been in the Beehive since early doors or did they even go home on Friday night? Nephew Billy by now was feeling down was he suicidal I was worried he was - with text messages like "How are you I have just had my breakfast hope you are missing me" "I've just come in from picking up dog poo something I wouldn't be doing if I was on the bus" "Is Rossie driving say hello from me I would have put a pound in his collection if I had been on the coach"
We soon made our way down to Long Eaton and arrived at the watering hole at 10.30 am Nephew Billy said he would get them in first as he was "flush" - Beefy from England joined our company so three pints it was and Nephew Billy hit the jackpot as a mistake by the busy barmaid gave him three pints for £3, if shit fell from the sky like rain it would miss Nephew Billy!. Sausage butties were lovely as I got my round in at 3 pints for £5 the normal price - as I returned back to the table another coach arraived followed by another coach - this is where it turned bad for service behind the bar. With only 2 serving it became along wait for the drink with 45 minutes to get served being the norm. We went to a side door and got three rounds in followed by another round that Beefy got in as he had won two domino cards £74 between two of them not a bad win as it nearly covered the cost of the trip £47 for an adult.
We left the watering hole at 2.00 pm for the short drive to Pride Park most swearing not to go back to that watering hole due to the bad service even CliveD mentioned it as well.
When we entered the ground in the concourse you could not get moved- we were there in force and had the Keane factor. The only thing that pisses me off was fans wearing green Irish shirts who were probably not even Irish. It is like at England games when you see Mags with Black and White shirts on - you are there to support the team not anyone else so wear the colours of the club not anyones elses!
The game kicked off with 5 of the Keane brigade playing and first thought was that we were playing good football with plenty of forward thinking and through balls splitting the defence, something we had not seen for a while; Derby did not seem like they would trouble us with everone doing their bit for the cause. Then they hit the bar, had a few attempts their spirits were up and a cross in injury time was headed down and bang in the back of the net we went in o:1 down but we were not down and out.
Second half started as the first started we were pushing forward more with some good positive football being played. Alan Brown scrambled a ball over the line (I thought he was going to fluff it) and within another minute we were in the lead with a fine goal from a fine prospect in Ross Wallace. The away end erupted in song and dance - we would not get beat now. As the game went on we looked a team that wanted to win and although there were a few scares like the 6 minutes the ref gave at the end we were home and dry - great day with a good performance that will get better as time goes on. At the end we were applauding the team as the scoreboard showed Mags 1 Fulham 2 time to celebrate even more and even Quinny punched the air when the score went up.
So we set off at the end of a massive possie of coaches but Rossie being the driver he is paased most of them along the M1 - I think that we were in the lead as there were no coaches in sight as we turned off for Chilton at 7.50 pm. It took another 1/2 hour before I got dropped off outside Gilligan Mansion just in time to head down the club. As requested and implemented by StevieN he put on Irish music at the end of the night as he put it "as requested by the Sunderland fans" it sounded better than teh Lindisfarne songs that usually is played by the Mag concert chairman.
So a great day, nice to travel all that way and come back smiling. It's a long way to go but with this showing we will be up there pushing for promotion and hopefully get a few more bums on seats at the SOL and our coach.
Bring on Leeds on Wednesday - can't wait - coach picking me up at 2.20 pm.

PS - I put that pound in for Rossie from you Cousin Billy so you owe it next time I see you!!

Jim Gilling
SEWTKR