That there Conference play off win for Bristol Rovers was for a lot of people of a blue and white quartered persuasion. In an ideal world, I’d be up there with you, but this isn’t an ideal world, so please raise a glass in my absence!
Without any doubt, that was a win for Ben Hiscox. Taken from his family and friends little more than a month ago, his local team Stoke Gifford United went on to win the Suburban League for him and now his beloved Bristol Rovers have won a Wembley play off final for him. It is not a script anyone would have wanted to write and in an ideal world Ben would have been around to celebrate both these mighty achievements, but this is not a world of perfect. In fact, it is a world of large imperfect and we claw what consolation we can from things like today.
I cannot pick out too many other individual supporters to say today was for them because this blog would appear as nothing more than a long list of names. As I mentioned above, at times like these I remember absent friends and relatives, not least my dad who died four years ago. He was a regular visitor to Eastville in the 1950s and would have been cussing rotten at the very idea of Bristol Rovers spending a year in non league football. And there are others, who I shall refrain from naming, who left us, some young, some old, who lived for the prospect of days like these. And there are others, who have lost relatives and friends, during their Rovers years. This one is for you guys, too, so when you too raise a glass to the team you love, spare a thought for them too.
I can only imagine the Wembley celebrations but they must be wonderful. Darrell Clarke, the manager, has worked wonders on a wage bill slashed this season to £900k from £1.7m the year before. He put together a nearly new side and, although I have not seen them once (obviously!), it is very obvious that it knitted together perfectly. If anyone deserves a pay rise, it’s that man.
And so does my close friend, Nick Day, who has worked unpaid at the club for 20 years, through thin and thinner, in all weathers, on a cronky PA system, as well as helping the club in a myriad of other ways and, always, helping others, like Oskar Pycroft at the City and Ben Hiscox’s family and the local community of Stoke Gifford. I am assuming that, for once, Nick had a seat in the stand and, quite possibly, a swift half or two. You, my friend, deserve that.
I chose not to watch the game and only heard the final part of the penalty shoot out on BBC Radio Five Live but I could not help but smile at the scenes of joy from some of the finest supporters in the land who have, finally, been rewarded with something good. You will not need any advice from me on how to party after the long years of dross you have had to endure.
Quite magnificently, Darrell Clarke has ensured that Rovers will not face the financial disaster and savage blow to morale that another year in the Conference would have given. If there has been a more remarkable managerial performance by anyone in league or non league football – apart from Martin Black at Stoke Gifford, obviously – I haven’t seen it.
And, finally, well done to the club’s owner Nick Higgs. I have been very critical of Mr Higgs’ stewardship since he became chairman and with good reason. A succession of terrible seasons, poor managerial decisions, two relegations, a spiteful lifetime banning order of a former director for “consistent criticism” and ever increasing losses suggest the criticism has been more than justified. But credit where credit is due. Following the bizarre decision to allow John Ward to “move upstairs” at the end of last season, Mr Higgs’ appointment of Darrell Clarke has proved to be inspired. In my view, Mr Higgs needs another promotion in order to restore the club to where it normally is, in League One, but you get the feeling he might just have the manager and players to manage just that.
In the final analysis though, it’s not about Mr Higgs and it’s certainly not about me. Whilst he owns the club and he can do what he likes with it, the spirit of the club is with the fans. Having ignored all attempts to unite the fan base years ago, it looks like most of it has united itself and he would do well to remember that, running the club on a more inclusive, less autocratic, basis. Football club owners are temporary, supporters are forever.
I’m really chuffed for all you Gasheads and you know I really mean it too. Today was for all of you.
