Fame at last. Kind of.

As the few shops we have left in Kettering are starting to reopen we could all find ourselves in the Newland Centre more often.

When moving between HMV and, er, another store, you might very well come across a display case decked out with Poppies memorabilia from past decades.

It was heartening for us to see, among the treasured items from our, ahem, illustrious past, an old issue of Patgod, proudly front and centre to catch the eye of the shopping public.

Dated from the very early 1990's when we had literally just watched, goggle-eyed, Mark English being driven away by the Old Bill, any glow of pride at seeing this blast from our past was tempered by the thought that this issue was almost 30 years ago.  Suddenly the inclusion of an issue of Patgod seemed to fit in with the historical aesthetic the Newland Centre was aiming for.  An oldie, but a goldie.

Original issues from this period rarely change hands.  If you were lucky enough to stumble a collector willing to sell a copy you may well have to shell out up to the original purchase price of 80p add this artifact to your collection of prized possessions.

Coming soon, to a particularly moderate episode of Antiques Roadshow near you.....

Golden Gordon

With no Poppies news of note this month, last month, next month but maybe a smidgeon of a tit bit in June (last week we fed on the crumbs of a Paul Cox chat in which he revealed that “initial conversations” have taken place with “certain players”, and consulted wise old men for clues to the meaning of such gnomic utterances), it’s probably as good a time as any to look back.

On the FB group Rob’s Unforgettable Kettering, Glyn Dobbs pops up regularly to post images taken with his trusty camera. Usually these are either a scenic shot of ducks waddling into Wicksteed Park Lake or a ‘spot the face you know’ team photo or presentation evening from a window of 1984-87 when Glyn seems to have been extraordinarily busy, attending every occasion of any note in the borough until mysteriously the gigs seem to have dried up. Why?  Who can say. Maybe the North Park Club skittles league enforcers applied their ‘no paparazzi’ rule a little too vigorously.       

But just recently Glyn dipped further back into his archive to offer a Poppies photo and a lovely one it is too.  I can’t stop admiring it.    

We’re seeing a snapshot from a home game, I’m guessing circa 1975, where Gordon Livesey in the Poppies goal is having a joke with fans at the Tin Hat end. It’s obviously more than an idle quip because the man two to the left is leaning in intently, as if listening to a particularly interesting observation. However there is clearly humour in what Gordon is saying, judging by the widespread smiles. Though not enough to amuse Joan Bambridge, the lifelong scourge of anyone wearing a no.1 shirt, who won’t allow her guard to drop just because this one is on our side.

Aside from Joan I recognise a number of faces in this photo, mostly people I couldn’t name but they were part of the fabric of going to a game. What I like the most about this image is the obvious camaraderie, the friendliness and the intimacy of the exchange. This was a bit before my time as a regular Poppies watcher but even a few years later there was still a good natured edge to proceedings, where opposition players would smile and pass a comment without risking an earful. Unless of course they played for Runcorn.

So anyway, thanks Glyn for sharing this and if you're seeking a gallery for nostalgic Poppies photography, I'd say now is a good time.       

The Doctor is OUT!

 

Dr Stephen O'Brien has been a calming, authoritive presence on Radio Northamton over the past year or more.

During the pandemic he has succinctly explained the ever-changing situation, and managed to allay many fears and dispell some of the more outlandish covidiot theories.

The good Doctor has become such a comforting fixture on Radio Northamton that his sage advice is often given on subjects beyond his qualified calling.

Joining in with the furore surrounding the supposed new European Super League Dr O'Brien was most forthright in his condemnation of the latest cash-grab by our leading clubs.  

He was sufficiently annoyed he threatened to dump his Liverpool season ticket in favour of attending even more Northampton Saints rugby, and Corby Town football games.  Leaving aside the hilarity of everyone losing their collective shit over the proposed Euro-League THAT WILL NEVER HAPPEN I wonder how long someone used to easy Premiership success would suffer the rugger-buggers at Franklin Gardens and frostbite at Steal Park.

Then, the good Doctor dropped his bombshell.  He admitted he was a Kettering boy and the Poppies were his "first love."  Perhaps, he mumbled, wreathed in embarassment, he should consider watching the Poppies.

YOU THINK?

Wow, just how many different clubs and even sports is this medico going to rack up?  He may have many laudable personal and professional qualities, but loyalty doesn't seem to be one of them.

Slim Pickings for Bloggers.....

Detail on a new advert hoarding at Latimer Park.

Please tell me we won't end up paying Chris Evans 
for image rights.

I told you it was slim pickings.......

FREEEEEEEEEAK!!!!

Is Ignorance bliss?

 The missus and I watched the Amazon Prime documentary about West Ham's last few months at the old Boleyn ground the other day.  It was quite well made and they spoke to people from all echelons at the club.  From Chairman David Sullivan in his hideously over-the-top bad taste mansion, all the way down to the man who sold dangerously spicy rib-meat baps out of a dodgy looking hole in the wall yards from the entrance to the stadium.  

The documentary also spoke at length to the guy who produced their version of Patgod. Well, it would have been their version of Patgod had we still printed hard copies,  were happy to sell it in the street, and took to tattooing the fanzine's name across our necks!

Anyway, the documentary revolved around the last few games at Upton Park and the relocation to the Olympic Stadium and the countdown to the move.  We both pondered whether this would be more or less painful than what happened to us?

None of us knew that when we won the last game of the 2010-11 season against Southport and relegated them (10 years ago this month!) that this would be our last match at Rockingham Road.  Within weeks Southport had been reprieved, Diamonds had been wound-up and Ladak was being conned into taking on the white elephant of Non Park.

We've since experienced an insane decade of court cases, multiple relegations and promotions and trying to create a workable stadium from the least hospitable quadrangle of grass in the country.

But, looking back, was it better to have been ripped from Rockingham Road without realising what was happening?  Or would we have liked an orderly transition period where we could have said goodbye to the old girl?

I still don't know the answer, although I did roll my eyes somewhat at unhappy Hammers fans bemoaning being practically given a spanking new 60,000 capacity ground just down the road.  It obviously wasn't quite as plush as Non Park, but you can't have everything can you?

I do know that if I'd known we were due to leave Rockingham Road I would have snapped a few more photographs of her in her pomp.  Sure, like everyone else I have a fair few images, but I regret not taking a shed load more.  This is why I'm a sucker for images like the ones below when they appear on places like Facebook.  Jamie Loveday posted them, from big post WW2 FA Cup games.  You can just about make out you are looking at Rockingham Road but just look at those images!  Thousands of locals filling the ground.  Flat caps and filterless fags abound.  Absolutely brilliant!