Parades and Local Radio: Southend Away

Saturday 15^th August

Home.

Coincidence eh? Serendipity?

Today we are celebrating the seventieth anniversary of VJ day. In London – and I have been absorbed in watching marvellous BBC TV coverage there is a flypast (Dakota transport plane, followed by a lump-in-the-throat Hawker Hurricane followed amazingly slowly by a Typhoon Eurofighter (magical contrasting silhouettes)).

A drum head service on Horse Guards parade and a final informal celebration to be held in Dean’s Yard (where I was last weekend – and which I mistakenly named Dean’s Court – apologies to all offended). I recognised so many points of interest as the cameras followed form the rigorous ceremonial to the wonderfully friendly march/ walk out of Horse Guards, down Whitehall, past the Cenotaph, Parliament Square, the frontage of the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey. Fitting too that so much is being made of Empire and Commonwealth troops and the magnificent part they played in the conflict and how much they too suffered in captivity: different cultures, different religions.

  

As British we are good at pomp and pageantry: it feels understated and ingrained and is the better for it; we have so much history after all – and should be proud of it.

But, while away that weekend I found a book I had been looking for (actually dropping big hints that it might make a good Christmas/birthday present – nothing doing): Unbroken, the story of U.S. airman Louie Zamperini who was imprisoned in Japanese POW camps. And, this weekend, the very day I finish reading it is VJ Day.

So, I missed the kick-off of the Saddlers game at faraway Southend, but checking with the radio (sometimes trite but usually good value BBC WM) at half time I find that Tom Bradshaw put us one nil up after seven minutes – and the goal horn has just sounded and Sam Mantom has got us a second.

It is quite thrilling: the new season after what seems like a long (very productive and relaxing) summer/close season. And the fact that Bradshaw is still popping the goals in. But also that we seem – as, to be fair had been promised by Ginger Mourinho (a.k.a. manager Dean Smith) – to be going forward even after going into a lead. This didn’t happen often last season. I like this attitude – a lot. It must make the games more exciting – and puts goals into the statistics in case needed for the end of the season. This is a good start!

I am still considering the service provided by this Saturday commentary/up-date tradition. It helps fans follow a team say, if money is tight, if attendance is impossible, if you are driving. Well worth it. We are not featured as the commentary game as often as I would like and I would like to know how the decisions are made as to which games/teams to prioritise.

League One this season consists of mainly Midlands teams: Walsall fans it appears have the fewest miles to drive to see every league game of the season. This is also interesting: money allowing of course.

Southend, promoted from League two at the end of last season cannot match – on the day – our efforts and we win two nil; this puts us fifth in the league (although there are – TV schedules demanding – teams with games in hand. But Bradshaw with four goals is substituted (hopefully not crocked) and Sawyers has already got two goals.

Meanwhile the sport with a different shaped ball (rugby union) is in the news: the World Cup finals will be played in England and Wales, kicking off in mid-September. The Webb-Ellis trophy meanwhile (he who introduced the whole rugby concept by – effectively – cheating during a football game) has been on public display around our nations. It is currently in Rugby where the whole thing started, allegedly back in 1832.