"Carshalton
Athletic P Guernsey P
The
day started well with the Llama Express bang on time and speeding
towards Clapham Junction to collect GFC's only celebrity fan, 70s
throwback Dirk Diggler. Nobody expected Dirk to make this trip but,
at great expense to himself, he cancelled the housewives special
shoot that had been arranged for months at the last minute so he
could get his GFC fix.
On
the way one or two mutterings came through the ether about a broken
aeroplane but not a dickie bird of an announcement from the club so
the Llama Express continued to thunder through past North West
London's finest landmarks. Then just as we were pulling into platform
17 at Clapham Junction GFC's super efficient communications team
stopped taking selfies for a moment and broke the news. The rumours
were indeed true, there was to be no match.
A
quick call to the Mark 2 Llama Express, on a stopover at St Pancras
whilst the passengers took a much needed refreshment break (as one of
them had travelled from Birmingham for the match) and a decision was
made. We would continue on to Carshalton. Not before a brief
diversion to the Falcon at the junction with Lavender Hill, however,
where a distraught Diggler was revived with a soothing pint of Bath
Ales Forest Hare. Very pleasant it was too.
Then
a short train ride to Carshalton where we were due to meet up with
the Mark 2 contingent. On alighting at Carshalton just before Noon we
happened upon Septuagenarian GFC fan Chesham Jean, who'd set off from
home at 8.30 to make the 12.45 kick off. Jean was visibly shocked
when the Diggler broke the news about the match to her which made
Dirk himself distraught once more.
So
we headed off to the Windsor Castle for a soothing pint of Ringwood's
Forty Niner (Guinness for Jean) to calm the moustachioed one's
fraught nerves. Not long to wait until the Mark 2 Express disgorged
it's passengers and we all settled down for a pint of Hopback's Summer Lightning (it was good).
Meanwhile
we'd learnt of Leicestershire Ash having trucked through the night to
reach the Midlands where he was just about to get on a train when he
heard the news. He decided not to use his £76 rail ticket, choosing
to take the odd restorative or two in his local. Dorset Tony didn't
hear the news until he was about 8 miles short of Carshalton, so he
turned around and trundled back to the land of the Knob. Still it
meant a few hours off the cider which can only be a good thing once
in a while.
Leaving
Windsor Castle we entered the Racehorse where we all enjoyed a Dizzy
Blonde (the Robinsons variety I hasten to add). I should probably
also add that Jean went skipping back to the station after leaving
the Windsor Castle. Amazing what Guinness can do to a 75 year old.
Sadly
the route back to the station meant we had to pass the Hope. Run by
the same chap that has the Traf in Merton and for some reason we
couldn't walk on by. Two in there, taken in the garden out back
enjoying a lovely bit of Autumn sun. Firstly Hopcraft's Citraic. Read the
description on the pump clip and you think 'tropical fruit? Takes me
back to vodka and Umbongo by the neck at the Cow's Horn all those
years ago'. But no, one of the finest beers I've had in a long time.
We
finished the afternoon with a pint of High Wire pale ale from the
Magic Rock Brewery. One of the finest beers I've had in a long time.
So
no football, which was a bit annoying at first to be honest, but a
good day out nonetheless."
Looking back it was a bit of a quiet one compared to some we've had, like Spalding eh Bob....
