Colour-blind
By Don Fraser
Coventry holds many footballing memories for me. League Cup games up there
when the infamous SPG seemed to delight in cracking a few heads, purely
because we were football fans, but then they never needed an excuse....
The 'novelty' of an all seater stadium.
Steve Sherwood's goal.
Trevor Senior's goal.
Being very annoyed when the ref blew for half time just as the ball was
about to cross the line after John Barnes had beaten half the team on his
own. Trust me, if it had been allowed to stand it would have made his goal in
Brazil look like a tap in.
How ever far back you go back through the mists of time there is one constant
when thinking of Coventry FC. The appalling kits that their players
wear. Granted, I am colour blind but I never wanted to be an airline pilot
anyway.
This proud tradition was alive and well as they entered the field of dreams
to take on the Golden Boyz - even the geezer on telly with the long hair and
the fluffy cuffs, on some so-called 'style' programme, would struggle to
describe Cov's latest offering.
Earlier in the week I had popped down to Portman Road to watch our
reserves. For possible future reference,the transformation in the ground is
amazing, but the 'away bit' is still as cack as ever. Their fans, for what
it's worth, want Wayne Brown back, but time will tell. Could well depend what
division they're in. Part of their new stand is halfway out into a
main road. Be interesting to see how they cope with this added expense should
they get relegated.
I make no apologises what so ever for being a huge Wooter fan and hope
that he stays with us. Was delighted to see him play down at Ipswich and thought he might have been
a sub v Cov. Have seen Cookie (Lee) and Anthony McNamee play in the reserves...and, boy, are
they fast.
Among my many superstitions for first team games is never to read the
programme 'til after the game and that, coupled with the fact that I was
still sitting in the bowels of the Rookery when the team was announced, meant
that I didn't know that Macca and Cookie were in the squad. Even when I got
to my seat, I thought Lloyd Doyley was one of the subs, but put that down to
my eyesight.
We would do very well to get anything out of this game.
Then again the boyz seemed to be playing for each other and pressuring Cov
every time they had the ball and a blinding cross from Cookie (in my opinion, the best
crosser of the ball since Darren Bazzley), was met by a brill header from
Wayne Brown. Fecking hell, we'd only played three minutes.
AC made a couple of blinding saves and the ref seemed oblivious to the fouls
been committed by Cov. I know I'm biased but if anyone can explain how they never had anybody
booked, then feel free. We were playing great stuff and best of all playing
for each other.
Went off half time 2-0 up after another headed goal from Brown having
dominated the first half. Mahon, in particular, had been a star in defence but,
on the rare occasion that the boyz had given, or lost the ball, they went
looking for it as unit, and worked very, very hard. Delightful stuff.
Second half carried on as in the first half. Sure, Cov had a few more chances
but AC done the biz. Gayle scored number three and later went off to rapturous
applause. Double substitution. On came GNW and McNamee. A little fella, he looks like a gust of wind would
blow him over, but, boy, can he play.
WFC have quite a future. Be patient and stay positive. Trust me, it will be
worth it.
