Recycled Plastics Here

With the new campaign only a few days away, this most eventful of close seasons is almost at an end and finally it will be the real thing again – except that first optimistic pot shot will bounce into the path of traffic on the A6, rather than disturbing the poplars behind the Tin Hat goal.

(sniff)

Sorry, just a bit of a nostalgic flashback there.

Much that just two months ago seemed unthinkable is now old news. Last week I wandered into Nene Park to buy a season ticket. On a scale of probability, that would once have ranked a close second to getting explicit texts from Scarlett Johannson. Whilst there I chatted about our new signing from Real Madrid. This week, Chelsea pay £10 million for Koo Booth.

So if surreal is the new normal (Surreal Madrid?) is it not time to let bygones be bygones and extend an amnesty to any former plastics reading this who may be worried about whether they will be welcome.

Why not. We’re a forgiving bunch. Just look at how many of your former players have been welcomed into the Rockingham Road fold. Pretty much all of them in fact.
We grew to like Dale Watkins. We loved Richard Butcher. Johnny D became a hero. We admire Marcus Kelly. Darren Collins... Anyway.

There are a few things you might initially find unfamiliar. Possibly not just the away end of the ground will be making a noise. Radio Northampton aren’t providing commentary every week. Not all of the people in neighbouring seats are linked to you by unusual blood group or birthmark.

However stick with it and in time you’ll gain sufficient confidence to offer your first tentative heckle when the Poppies aren’t 2-0 up after 15 minutes. From there it’s a short hop to blending right in by picking on a particular player and cheering when he is taken off, or groaning in dismay at the replacement.

The fact is, neither of us has much choice. We need more bums on seats to compensate for those who can’t or won’t travel. And what else does Rushden have to offer in terms of live entertainment, now that the stocks are in disrepair.