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Rushall Olympic (Away):
A nice long away trip by our own meagre standards was the promise and, my, did it deliver! 8am and the rather depleted RRF met up at Picadilly for our first train of the day, down to Wolverhampton. Despite the slow train over to Rushall, we made our first pub (The Boathouse) by mid-morning and got stuck into the darts and pool. The police turned up a bit later for a nose around, but the bar stayed open and it was only when the only cask ale (Partridges very own Directors) ran out that we took a wander on. That was a bit of luck as it happened, as the next pub was even better, with a big range of ales and, bizarrely, no bar! You just sort of wandered in and stood where the bar should be, whilst the barmaid served from the taps on the wall. After a few leisurely drinks in the sunshine outside, it was time for kick-off so we made our way over the bridge to the ground.
The match itself was nothing to write home about. An uneven pitch and very agricultural football from both sides. It was unlikely there were going to be many goals in it, and low and behold, Rushall got the break through a defensive cock-up. We had a goal disallowed, and had probably deserved a draw, but it was not to be. As always though the result is only half the matter with football, and a good time was had under the covered stand, mostly catching up with friends.
After the match we headed for the Black Country Arms in nearby Walsall. This place had about 12 different ales on cask, was full of reds and so we weren’t keen to move on. As certain beers ran out, the sign, listing what was on each pump, even clattered down like a departures board at the train station!
The journey home eventually had to be made. We had an hour to spare though, waiting for our connection back to Manchester, so we decided to stop for one in Birmingham too. We opted for my old favourite, The Victoria, a vaguely “in” pub and hangout with Wyre Valley beer on offer. We weren’t disappointed. No bouncers and a good pint served in proper pint glasses with handles!
A quick stop to stock up on spirits, and we caught our train back home. Then it was off out into the night, with good soul music at the Thirsty Scholar.
“Do you know what a shit barometer is?” :-)
FCUM A.D. Established 2009. Yeah, I know what you are thinking, FC United of Manchester was established in 2005, not 2009. Well here Im talking about FCUM A.D., that is a blog (the very blog you are currently clicking about on) and some (but not all) of the activities documented within.
Whats it all about? Getting off your arse and doing something. Not watching the match in the pub, not even just turning up once in a while to the ground, but dedicating time to pushing things on a notch. Whether its knocking out fanzines, running radio shows, producing banners and choreos for matches or running around town late at night making the walls and lampposts look prettier with football club related stickers, paste ups, graffitis or tags.
The A.D. is short for Art Department, thats vague enough to incorporate plenty. This blog started out concentrating just on the stickers and streetart bit, but it likes to cover other things too. As the Germans would say "blick über den Tellerrand". Is it all Grade A? Probably not, but as Minor Threat sang "You tell me that I make no difference. At least I'm fuckin' trying. What the fuck have you done?" :-D
Supporters not Consumers.
Contact/Feedback: fcum.a.d[at]googlemail.com
