Post by carthorse1 on Oct 2, 2008 11:30:36 GMT
It must have been around 2002 (?) on a swealtering hot day that the Outlaws coach carrying players and fans set off for Manchester to play the Storm.
It turned out to be one of those games where we gave our all, running about in the heat like idiots for a full 80 minutes but just weren’t able to do anything good. We got trounced something like 48-8. Chiv scored a try for us that I lay on a plate for him by running the dummy (but alas the little fat one got all the accolades as usual. In fact the onlooking Ray French was allegedly overheard commenting on how good the fat little 7 was). Ginner Tom was taken to hospital by ambulance with a real nasty gash on his head and (if they were playing) Leeroy probably turned an ankle and Crick probably popped a shoulder.
On top of all this we had to put up with the Manchester fans abuse; calling us ‘Union Barstewards’ and the like throughout the game.
It really was one of those days.
After the game there was just enough time to witness the Manchester players who were covered in swchartz sticker tattoos weeing on each other in the showers then it was off to the coach.
The coach did a small diversion on the way home to collect Ginger Tom from A&E. On the way Gav Baker held a sweepstake for the number of stitches Tom would have in his head. I forget who won or how many but I recall the thrill and abandon of gambling on your team mates terrible misfortune.
Little did we suspect that the ramifications of that day were to haunt us yet further.
It turned out that Ray French had himself had a torrid 80 minutes. The Frenchster had only chosen to stand next to Raff and Gayle Tristram for the game. Now we all know Raff is bad… but he doesn’t compare to Gayle. This girl was loud, very abusive and it was not unusual to hear the shrill cry of ‘Rip his F***in head off!’ 30 or 40 times in a game.
As a result of the filth coming from Gayle (and possibly Raff) Ray French felt compelled to rebuke our fans in his review of the game in the Rugby League Express the following week.
I recall he wrote something along the lines of, “Remember, we are trying to win friends not alienate them’.
Wise words Ray, wise words.
It turned out to be one of those games where we gave our all, running about in the heat like idiots for a full 80 minutes but just weren’t able to do anything good. We got trounced something like 48-8. Chiv scored a try for us that I lay on a plate for him by running the dummy (but alas the little fat one got all the accolades as usual. In fact the onlooking Ray French was allegedly overheard commenting on how good the fat little 7 was). Ginner Tom was taken to hospital by ambulance with a real nasty gash on his head and (if they were playing) Leeroy probably turned an ankle and Crick probably popped a shoulder.
On top of all this we had to put up with the Manchester fans abuse; calling us ‘Union Barstewards’ and the like throughout the game.
It really was one of those days.
After the game there was just enough time to witness the Manchester players who were covered in swchartz sticker tattoos weeing on each other in the showers then it was off to the coach.
The coach did a small diversion on the way home to collect Ginger Tom from A&E. On the way Gav Baker held a sweepstake for the number of stitches Tom would have in his head. I forget who won or how many but I recall the thrill and abandon of gambling on your team mates terrible misfortune.
Little did we suspect that the ramifications of that day were to haunt us yet further.
It turned out that Ray French had himself had a torrid 80 minutes. The Frenchster had only chosen to stand next to Raff and Gayle Tristram for the game. Now we all know Raff is bad… but he doesn’t compare to Gayle. This girl was loud, very abusive and it was not unusual to hear the shrill cry of ‘Rip his F***in head off!’ 30 or 40 times in a game.
As a result of the filth coming from Gayle (and possibly Raff) Ray French felt compelled to rebuke our fans in his review of the game in the Rugby League Express the following week.
I recall he wrote something along the lines of, “Remember, we are trying to win friends not alienate them’.
Wise words Ray, wise words.