You have no excuses now, none of you. Bristol Rovers defeated Forest Green Rovers today and are now heading to Wembley for the play off final and Bristol City scraped home narrowly against Walsall at the Gate. By the same token, those of you who have been confined to your living rooms to hear the first news of Kate and Bill Windsor’s new baby no longer have to stay in. I am asking you, as politely as I can, do get yourselves down to the Creek tomorrow afternoon – the postcode for sat navs is BS11 2HS – for 1.00 pm and support Ben Hiscox’s tribute match.
I appreciate that some of you would normally be spending your Bank Holiday Mondays sitting in front of telly watching the endless cookery, antique and house buying shows, not to mention ancient episodes of the admittedly excellent Columbo shows from the 1970s, but I suggest if you really want to see these shows, then set your video recorder or whatever modern equipment you have in your household.
These are the two clubs that defined Ben’s adult footballing life – Bristol Manor Farm and Stoke Gifford United. He loved his time at both clubs and took and relished the opportunity to play in the Premier Division of the Toolstation League. I saw him score many a shinned or scuffed effort from my vantage point behind the dug out, in those days listening to the unique and refreshing vocabulary of the legendary sheriff, John Black. It is fitting that the clubs have come together for a very special day.
Stoke Gifford villagers do not need an incentive to attend tomorrow now that they know the bar is to be open all day and food will be on sale and I can now officially guarantee the weather is going to be dry and sunny, with the temperature climbing into the low sixties by the time the game starts. An all day bar, the presence of hoards of thirsty villagers, not to mention Manor Farm players, officials and spectators – what could possibly go wrong?
Nick Day and Neil Maggs from BcFM radio will be there tomorrow too, hopefully to get some audio for the radio and indeed visual footage for Made In Bristol TV. Nick and Maggsy, whose brilliant Midweek Sports Bar show on bcFM is the fastest growing sports radio show in the south west, have been incredibly supportive in everything that has happened in the last few weeks and I am sure everyone will make them feel welcome. I would like to thank Bristol Rovers in general and Nick Day, in particular, in his capacity as PA man and for his general kindness, for publicising Monday’s game at the Forest Green game today.
There is no doubt that it will be an emotional occasion for many people. You don’t need to tell me how many tears have been shed since Ben’s passing. A packed Creek will also represent a powerful statement from the communities involved that we have not forgotten Ben and that we are there to pay tribute to the man and to be there to support his family and friends.
Like I said at the start, you have no excuses. Some of the nicest people I know will be there tomorrow and do you know what? There will be a good few laughs along the way because that’s the way it should be.
When it’s all over and you are walking back to your car, you will know you have made a difference and that is not just to Manor Farm’s bar takings! You will have shown in the best way possible that you cared by just being there. Nothing will ever take away the pain of losing Ben but all of us who knew him have a duty, in my view, to share the pain. You also need to enjoy the day too. You don’t think Ben Hiscox would have wanted it any other way, do you?