By Maverick
January 27 2003

I think I'm beginning to understand why many of you lot go to such extraordinary lengths to see Saints play on their travels. I had such a wonderful day, the banter, cameraderie, the result! It is indeed a rare day when Mav gets out of bed before MrsM but that how Saturday started. Appropriately attired in my faithfull black Cotton Traders shirt ("you can't wear your new one today, you've not seen them win in it") I picked up my bag of swag and we were off! There were so many little things that made the day so grand. Perhaps the first was the sight of the coaches as they slowly pulled up at FG. Uncle Keith, thank you.

So, onto the bus commandeered by the SSC and off to Bath. Education, education, education has been a mantra recited by some and it is true that we are all constantly learning. I, for example, didn't know that you are not allowed to drink on the SSC coach until we reached the first roundabout, which is errr...50 yards up the road! Time passes quickly in good company and I spent the journey down with a permanent smile on my face. Good jokes, bad jokes, witticisms and razor sharp asides all played their part.

Isn't Bath a beautiful city? Off the bus and decamped into the Huntsman for a couple of swift pints and then onto the game. I can't believe just how many familiar faces I saw. Not just COYS bods but others whom I never knew even supported the BG&G. Anyway, into the ground and we found out that my ticket was in another area to Beef and the boys so off I toddled in search of new companionship. I found a spot at the back of the teerace 6A and whilst I waited for battle to commence I tried to take everything in. Here I was, little old me, in hostile territory for the first time, the sun was shining, new aquaintances had already been struck (took about 30 seconds) and all I needed now was for the boys to do their stuff.

The game itself has been covered by others and I don't want to go over old ground, that's not the purpose of this post. Suffice to say, Wally's knock-on was blinkin' obvious, Ben did get downward pressure on the ball and Mr Lander was well, Mr Lander.

Which brings me on to a short tale of two supporters. To my right a chap who didn't one good word for Saints and who had my back up from the word go. To my left, a delightful lady who immediately warmed to me because I was finding positives in everything such was my mood. Guees which one I spent most of the game talking to. The game won, a kiss from the lady (a handshake from her husband!) and back to meet up with the boys.

Time for a little gripe (anyone still out there?, won't be long now, I promise). Why did the buses have to leave at 4.30. Just an extra half an hour in Bath would have made all the difference. Anyway I paid for my bus ticket so I'm allowed a little moan. Back on the bus (via Threshers) for the journey home, finally being dropped off at whatever o'clock in the heart of Jimmies End.

A couple of quick thank yous, then I'm done. To all on the SSC bus, to everybody I met in Bath, supporters of which ever colour, to the lady and her husband for their company during the match, to the guy in the Foundry who didn't get arsey when I knocked a full pint of Guinness down his back and finally to Beef for getting me home, tired as a newt.

It truly was, a Grand Day Out!