The Championship
Friday 4 February 2022
SUFC 2021/22 Game #47
"How are you getting to Birmingham, Phil?"
I am often asked similar questions about travel options to Away games. Having served years on Shred's absolutely chaotic coach, I refer to the coach I sometimes travel on now as The Sensible Beer Bus. It has got many things going for it. But, there are some worrying signs that it's going to shit.
On the trip from Cherry Street to Birmingham, the following had happened before we got to Heeley Bottom.
One. Some lad has asked for the mic & issued a heartfelt apology for his behaviour at Preston. Apparently "that is not the man he is". I wasn't on that bus, so was none the wiser. Gentle questioning of my neighbour revealed that the incident in question could be summed up as - vomit.
Two. Now the announcement floodgates were open, the Coach Driver delivered the following three card trick re the Preston debacle. He had found two e-cigs and if the rightful owners did not claim them, he'd have to bin them.
Three. The Coach Driver had also found TWO separate, and different, lenses that had become detached from their fucking glasses frames.
Four. He's cagey on this one. He's also found "another item of a personal nature" that "the person will know they have lost". When we reached Arundel Gate at half midnight, he was finally able to reveal it was a wedding ring, and someone had claimed it.
Now, I love The Sensible Beer Bus to bits. But, they need to get on top of all this chaos. And quickly. The motto of the tale must surely be - never fucking go to Preston with them.
While I'm on the subject, today the Sensible Beer Bus had a Guest Beer Consultant. The usual head honcho pretends it's all democratic & consultative. But, actually, it's his roost & he rules it. Fiefdom. The requirements are simple enough. The Beer Stop must have a Wetherspoons and a range of other real ale pubs, preferably a Micropub, and maybe a Craft Beer Bar for good measure.
Even to this day, no one really knows why. But, the head honcho chose to seek advice from a Guest Beer Consultant for this trip. After the event, the choice of Beer Stop was given a resounding 8/10. Personally, I think that was very generous. Particularly given the fact that the first Micropub was shit & the Wetherspoons kitchen was fucked and they weren't serving food!!!!
The Beer Stop was Rowley Regis (Halesowen). And I was the Guest Beer Consultant. Rowley Regis was my choice. The Bus was not chaotic. No vomit. All glasses intact. No one having to do the monocle at the game. Remember all that the next time there is a vote for the committee.
I'm going to single out two places in Rowley Regis.
The Swan Inn
278 Long Ln, Halesowen B62 9JY
(I can't claim any credit, that one wasn't on my original list). An absolutely superb, main road, traditional boozer. Nicely busy. Pensioners. People on their way home from work. Locals. A phenomenal TEN on Cask.
North Cotswold Brewery, Green Man IPA, on Cask at 4%
The pump clip claimed Double Hopped. An excellent English style IPA. The Hop bitterness was a bit shy at first. But it filled in with some ginger. It was golden. And looked very thin. But it actually tasted lovely and full bodied. 3.75/5
We moved on to a place I've been before.
The Fixed Wheel Brewery Tap
Long Lane Trading Estate, 9, Long Ln, Blackheath B62 9LD
that's only open Friday Tea Time & Saturday. I'll be honest, it didn't look open as we lolloped across the industrial estate. We tentatively pushed the door. And as it gave way, we realised about half the coach had already plotted up. Five of their own on Cask (some at three English). Four of their own on Keg. Plus three guest Kegs. I went;
Fixed Wheel Brewery, Make Party Cryo Pop Hazy Pale on Keg at 5.1% - 3.75/5
Fixed Wheel Brewery, Blackheath Stout on Keg at 5% - 3.75/5
A great win that one. We're not going to dominate many games & be in them all the time. So we'll need to develop a comfortable win strategy if we're to get anywhere. This game wasn't even that. It was a battling come from behind. But, surely we were worth that win. We juggled our much of a muchness squad. Fleck, Berge & Ben Davies back in.
Loads of Blades I know feel we need Berge to have a consistent run to the end of the season. I often feel his gait & body position works against him. Because of his size, he somehow seems not to be putting much in, when he actually is. He sort of glides around. His pass made the first goal. He actually pushed it straight at me in the lower tier behind the goal. My initial reaction was - Shit Ball. But, Sharp decided to get on it to equalise.
In the ground, you're shut off from all the complications of was it offside, was there a reset. And, you concentrate on the skill that Bogle showed. Glorious.
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I have now Blogged from 1,055 games in 2,726 days
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