January 21 2006

Selhurst Park

Steve Coppell's second trip back to Selhurst Park since his departure in 2000 brought him a more satisfactory result than a 5-0 defeat, says Jamesey

Friday night - what an odd time to play a football match.

But BSkyB calls the shots now, so the desires and convenience of "live" supporters count for little.

Anyway our game against Reading (Jan 20) was an intriguing fixture - the runaway leaders of the Championship against strong play-off contenders, having their best run of the season.

I would have leapt at a 1-1 draw before the game but, in the event, I found the outcome disappointing.

The match was very much a bout between two heavyweights, pounding away at each other. Palace shaded it on points, were awarded a deserved penalty but conceded immediately to a well-taken equaliser.

A gut-wrencher indeed.

Being a grumpy old bloke, I tend to get irritated quite easily.

Unfortunately, I have two vacant seats (normally occupied by friends) next to me at the moment.

At the Reading fixture, 20 minutes into the game, a young man - patently well the worse for drink - and his girlfriend stumbled up the stairs and sat in the unoccupied seats.

Why they couldn't have sat in the seats numbered on their tickets mystifies me but apart from nearly perforating my right earhole with their bellowing, they were harmless enough.

However when the loudmouth tried to cajole me into joining in, I took exception. It is everyone's right to sing or not to sing at a match.

I love listening to the Holmesdale in full voice and, more recently, the "Arfur". But something you are extremely unlikely ever to hear at Selhurst is "We're the Main Stand over 'ere."

I am an ex-singer. I've done my share. I am no longer a singer. I am a retired singer.

Midway through the second half, the girlfriend asked me: "Are we the team playing from left to right?"

Lord give me strength.

Another thing that gets right up my proboscis is people standing in their seats.

I understand that many HOL members would prefer to stand at matches and I respect their views.

But when a stadium is all-seater and flouting safety regulations could even result in a ground closure, it seems stupid to do it.

I have been plagued by successive idiots in front of me jumping up in a delirium of excitement whenever the ball crosses the half-way line towards the opposition goal.

Of course, everybody behind has to jump up as well.

I can appreciate an involuntary reaction when AJ sprints into the box with a genuine scoring opportunity - but not every 20 seconds throughout the whole game please!

On a happier note, I have already bought my season card for 06-07.

After watching Premiership football in 04-05 with a discounted, concessionary season card at a cost of £9 a game, I am hoping for a repeat of the same in 06-07 at the exorbitant price of £11, come August.

Here's hoping.

Email Jamesey with any of your comments to Jevans3704@aol.com

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