Hi Mully,

I can understand your dad's anger. Did he ever speak to his brother again?

Where I grew up, 50,000 could only be dreamed of. My local team were Poole
Town of the Southern League, but I used to go to see the Cherries
(Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic Football Club as they were known then).
They had a great cup run in 56-57, beating Wolves 1-0, Spurs 3-1, and losing
out 2-1 to Man U, an offside goal and a penalty that never was (some things
never change for some teams :-)).

Bournemouth were famous as the last club ever to change divisions (up or
down), spoilt when they were relegated to the fourth division in 1975. But
Harry Redknapp restored our fortunes (sic!), including as I recall beating a
certain Manchester united in the 3rd round of teh FA Cup on 7th Jan 1984 :-)

We also had a big goalscorer that ended up with you, a certain Ted
MacDougall. Didn't Phil Boyer also end up at MU after Norwich and so on, or
was it the other way around.

I feel like Nick Hornsby, revelling in my support of the Gooners all through
the 70s and 80s when I lived in London (it is right, we took a pride in the
hate of the rest of the country), and having a love of my old hometown team.

Personally, I don't watch soccer much these days. I don't have Sky, and I am
not going to matches, so I just read about it. Shame but it isn't the game I
grew up with.

Anyway, it's nice to exchange pleasantries with the enemy :-).

Regards

Bob

"mully" wrote in message
...
Hi Bob

There is a long story to this tale that goes back to WW11 my father was a
city supporter but his brother was a red and after the war my father spent
7
years in and out of hospital with TB and it was my uncle who took me to my
first proper league match and of course it was to watch the reds - father
went mad and by the time he was fit enough to take me to a match which of
course was a city match it was to late I was a red and we won the cup in
1948
that did it - was a season ticket holder for many years - now to old and
grizzled to go - where have the days of one shilling and sixpence to stand
amongst 50,000 with 1 copper guarding the pitch gone - now it appears all
hate and fight - so I pay SKy now to entertain me.

Cheers ---------- Mully

"Bob Phillips" wrote:

Wasn't Frank Swift the goalkeeper for the real Manchester team? If he
was
your dad's best mate does that mean you come from Manchester? I thought
all
Mancunians supported City, and MU fans were all away :-)

Unfortunately, whilst our youngsters are getting better all the time,
both
us and MU will still have Chelsea to contend with.

Bob


"mully" wrote in message
...
Hi Bob

No however the great Frank Swift ( of the hands like shovels and
England
keeper ) was my fathers best mate and my godfather - I don't remember
him
carrying me on his shoulders - its probably my only claim to fame.

Cheers and all the best we'll show you next season - Even Wenger has
admitted for once that he saw everything and Rooney is the best
English
player he has ever seen - I had my doubts when we signed him - 11
times
this
season he's hit the post or bar - he will only get better, then we can
flog
Van the man for a decent centre forward. Wish we had Henry of all the
generations of players I've seen he's in the top 3.

Mully