Wasted journeys

[lakedistrictclaret]

Twice in a few weeks in 78-79 I went down to London on the train ( Crystal Palace and West Ham, I think ) to find on arrival at Euston that our game had been postponed.

On each occasion though I found a First Division alternative to go to, Arsenal v Nottingham Forest and Tottenham v Norwich.

[Hipper]

We went on the train with Beeky and even made it to the ground. There was a gate open so we wandered in and walked on the (perfectly playable, in my opinion as a 13-year old) pitch. While we were stood there cursing, some bloke came over shouting at us to get off the pitch. "Who are you?" asked Beeky "i'm the referee" came the ill-advised reply. Beeky let him have it, both barrels, it was hilarious.

I know I have posted this tale before on here but it always makes me smile, even more so since his sad passing.

I also remember getting home and FA Cup games were on MOTD. I'm pretty sure West Brom were on, getting beat by a non-league side and the pitch was an absolute quagmire, much worse than Exeter had been.

Lincoln away, must be 1981/1982, March midweek match. It was bitterly cold and some of us London Clarets arrived a bit early. We saw the ref outside the ground and someone asked if the game was still on. He said he was going to check out the pitch and why don't we come with him! He pronounced the pitch playable and just before we left him one of our number offered him a fiver to swing the game! He laughed and off he went. It ended 1-1.

[joey13]

Norwich home game about 12 years ago , called off on the day waterlogged pitch , not great when you’ve traveled from Jersey

[Goodclaret]

We went on the train with Beeky and even made it to the ground. There was a gate open so we wandered in and walked on the (perfectly playable, in my opinion as a 13-year old) pitch. While we were stood there cursing, some bloke came over shouting at us to get off the pitch. "Who are you?" asked Beeky "i'm the referee" came the ill-advised reply. Beeky let him have it, both barrels, it was hilarious.

I know I have posted this tale before on here but it always makes me smile, even more so since his sad passing.

I also remember getting home and FA Cup games were on MOTD. I'm pretty sure West Brom were on, getting beat by a non-league side and the pitch was an absolute quagmire, much worse than Exeter had been.

Awwwww, bless Beeky. What a guy. He made the away trips so entertaining; a real character. Happy memories.

[timshorts]

We went on the train with Beeky and even made it to the ground. There was a gate open so we wandered in and walked on the (perfectly playable, in my opinion as a 13-year old) pitch. While we were stood there cursing, some bloke came over shouting at us to get off the pitch. "Who are you?" asked Beeky "i'm the referee" came the ill-advised reply. Beeky let him have it, both barrels, it was hilarious.

Did something similar at Wells City. There was absolutely nothing wrong with that fing pitch having walked all over it. I ended up killing time in the nutjobelysium that is Glastonbury when it doesn't have a festival on.

Boxing day games at non league level get called off with the slightest hint of drizzle.

[IanMcL]

A less famous, perhaps infamous, member of the London Clarets told us in his early days he went to see Tottenham against Burnley somewhere near Tottenham Court Road tube station (which is in the West End of London).

Ha that reminded me that the first time we played Maidstone.... I went to Maidstone.

It was then 100mph, all the way to Dartford. Parked right outside the ground bang on 3pm. Ran in and saw it all...even the 1 mobile toilet cubicle!

[superdimitri]

My Dad, a friend and traveled to the famous 2-3 game at Chelsea but my Dad forgot the tickets. We couldn't find somewhere showing the game but we saw the score and couldn't believe it. Of all visits to Chelsea we had to miss that one!