Football but not as we know it.

I have been desperately trying to rid myself of Pro Football this year. I gave up my season ticket at Shrewsbury to concentrate of Proper Football but life isn't always that easy. A visit from an old RAF mate led me to The ‘Medder’ to see his team Portsmouth. Not a bad game and it was nice to meet up with some of the friends I have shared my football with over the last few years, but I wasn't tempted to return to the fold. Then a week later someone insisted that I went to his house to watch a team called Chelsea on TV. I didn't particularly enjoy this one, since I rarely do enjoy games when sat on an armchair in the warm, but Shrewsbury didn't disgrace themselves.
 And then the Bombshell. Mick suggested that in the absence of any local Proper sides remaining in the FA Cup we would ‘treat’ ourselves to watch Walsall Vs Shrewsbury.
 



 So off we went to Walsall where the promise of free car parking proved to be somewhere between misleading and a downright lie. It cost £4.
 It’s a good job we went because the local Walsall supporters decided to give it a miss. A mere 3,546 supporters for what is almost a local derby. Whereas it is a crowd number that Proper Football clubs can only dream of, it is a poor turnout for a Pro game.
 The Shrews were quickly into their stride and took an early lead and were playing much the better football but fine moves count for nowt and it was Bradshaw, the ex Shrewsbury player, and seemingly only attacking threat that Walsall had, that brought the sides level with his first real chance.
 The Referee, for reasons best known to himself then decided to collect as many Shrewsbury names as he could  and managed to give out four yellow cards, whereas any misdemeanors by their opposition were treated less harshly. But it hardly affected the game.
 Shrewsbury took the lead again but it was that man Bradshaw who leveled again with only his second chance of the game in the final minute after a free kick from the fifth yellow card.

 Apart from falling foul of Walsall’s strange  road directions or our failure to navigate properly [we got lost again] we wound our way home satisfied with our afternoon’s viewing.
 Classic it wasn't. Cup tie it was.

 Mick hasn't mentioned anything silly like going to the replay so I am off to study the fixture lists for a Proper Football game on Saturday.

Admittance               £10    [Concession]    
Crowd                       3,546 [of which 1,217 were away supporters]
Glossy Programme   £3
Coffee                       £2
Officials                   Strange