There's a reason why those of us who blog about a subject rarely engage directly with the subject. We've written about the Poppies for the thick-end of four decades but have almost never used Patgod to interact directly with the Poppies. Sure, we've used this vehicle to raise Poppies-related points and float questions, but hardly ever aimed specific questions at specific KTFC employees. Partly because we feel it's more our role to speak AS fans rather than speak TO the powers that be. And partly because, although now well into middle-age we still get a bit frit engaging with the professional Poppies blazer wearers!
But, the main reason we don't engage directly is that we're not very good at it. Take the "Poppies Voice" initiative. Poppies fans invited to ask any question of the good and great at the club. Numbers of supporters have written in with very good queries, which the club have mostly answered.
Questions asked included the future direction of work at Frenchies Field. Player contracts in light of the past two, unfinished seasons. Work on the problematic surface at LP, and thoughts about an artificial pitch. All good questions whose answers move us forward as a supporter body. Unfortunately, as hard as I scratched my head, when actually asked to come up with a relevant Poppies-question all I could come up with....
.....will the next Poppies shirts come with a round or "V" neck. This may seem like a pretty pointless question in the grand scheme, but bear with me. With middle age showing every likelihood of not abating any time soon, one needs to consider how one's both flabby AND wrinkly neck might project from the next Poppies home shirt. A "V" neck, while comfy to wear shows off the full length and breadth of ones jowly waddle. A round neck, if on the snug size can push the wobbly turkeyness front and centre whenever one isn't determinedly gritting one's jaw.
A perfect solution would be for a roll-neck football shirt of a type that might have been acceptable over a hundred years ago. I'd buy it. So what if our players would regularly overheat and performances suffer. I'D look better.
In the unlikely event this idea to disguise my waning youth fails to find favour with Ritchie et al, a middle path might be to have a rounded collar with a looser neck, or a "V" neck with a slightly tighter fit. Are these options that can be discussed before new shirts are shipped on the usual slow boat from China?
Or are last seasons shirts going to be reused? After barely a handful of games I'm sure they have a little more wear in them. Sure, the BM pallets advert might need unpicking, but, still.....
All of which sartorial nonsense reminds me again why we don't often engage directly with the club.
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| "Does my neck look young in this?" |
