It’s been four months since I last saw a football match
played live at Hayes Lane, me and my son Mikey, made the familiar journey from
our house to the ground to see Cray Wanderers play Brightlingsea Regent in an
Isthmian League Premier Division game. Sadly my Dad Doug couldn’t make up out
usual family trio who attend games as he wasn’t well enough to attend.
I love the routine of attending Cray Wands games at Hayes
Lane, the familiarity, the match day rituals and seeing the usual friendly
faces. It’s only now I know how much I value it and how much I have missed it
since it all came to a halt in the middle of March 2020.
We pulled in to the new car park that runs alongside the
main stand, Barry The Steward nodded and pointed down to the end. When myself
and Mikey got out of the car I realised I had picked up my wife’s coat by
accident as I was in a rush and I would have to ‘tough it out’ in a sweatshirt
on a blustery early March afternoon. Peter greeted us with his usual welcome on
the gate and asks about my Dad, wishing him well. I buy a golden goal ticket
from Steve and look at the club merchandise. Then it’s into the bar to buy a
programme from Phil and then look for Mark who saves me a team sheet to help
with my reporting duties for KSN. I have a quick catch up with Mark and we go
through the team for today, who is in, who is out injured or suspended.
Walking up to our usual spot in the stand I see first tam
manager Tony and we have a quick chat, Joe & Nathan the coaches both say
hello and high five Mikey, Ally the Physio says hello too. Sam the CEO makes a
point of saying Hi as does the club owner Gary Hillman. This is what makes this
club so special. I have a quick chat with Roger & Brian who have been
involved with Bromley and Cray Wands for years now we discuss the chances of
both The Wands and The Ravens this afternoon. Mikey wants to sit in a different
spot to usual, but once he discovers that we sit at the back of the stand
because the WiFi signal is stronger we moved to the usual seats and we say
hello to the familiar faces around us. He voices what I am thinking when he
says ‘I wish Grandad was here’.
As the players begin to head to the dressing room after
their warm up Mikey goes down to the tunnel and every single Cray player gives
him a high five and says hello. A few seconds of their time means the world to
him, he’s beaming as he walks back up to our seats ready for kick off.
At half time Mikey makes his biggest decision of the day,
will it be chips or a hot dig from the Tea Bar, there are around 180 people
here today, but even at 9 years old it’s fine for him to go and buy them
himself, so many people down here know who he is, including Chef Scott behind
the counter. I send in my Twitter update to KSN and check the other scores. I
need a hot coffee, you really do need a coat today, but mine is at home!
Cray are in brilliant form, unbeaten in 2020, playing some
great football, despite dominating he match they only run out 1-0 winners, but
it’s three more points, which keeps them in second place and within touching
distance of the leaders Worthing. Amazing considering this is The Wands first
season back up at this level following last year’s promotion. When the game
finishes we wait for the players to come off after their warm down, Tony comes
over for a few words and Joe does too, the players high five Mikey again as
they head down the tunnel. It’s been a really good afternoon.
I call my Dad to let him know the score, he’s desperate to
be well enough to come to the next match and we can’t wait also. Little did we
know at the time it would be several of months away rather than a week or so.
Col.
