Several match reports for Horc!!

Can I please have at least 4 points!!!!???

Supporting Wigan and Priorities.

I’ve always thought supporting Wigan was nothing more than a reflection on aspects of life. A kinda composite or concentration of what really goes on. I’m sorry I wasn’t at the West Brom game.

The other Thursday was a day from hell and I felt quite traumatised by it, I never actually went to the 9 – 1 drubbing but I didn’t feel great either during it, or after it. We’d spent too many hours hanging around in the equivalent of A & E and I was beginning to suspect my poorly 95-year-old Dad was starting to flounder a bit like everyone but Paul Scharner. Rotten.

At 09.30 the poorly old codger left home to go 15 miles for a cxr. We got home at 16.10. He was wiped out and I was slowly thinking if he isn’t poorly now, he son will be. It had nothing on standing in the icy cold waiting for FA Cup tickets, but despite wrapping up well that morning hypothermia felt imminent.

He had a short but acceptable wait in x ray. The good radiographer – or VAR noticed ‘something’, so referred it to the Ref around the corner. It was an excellent and fair decision. He got there for a 12.00 kick off. We sat and sat, and with the same frustration of not knowing why the train was delayed for the game, I went to the train manager and asked if he knew what was going on. The nurse told me” We see people in the order they arrive”. So, I went back. The 35-year-old next to us got called in and came back 15 minutes later on crutches. Nothing as bad as either Dave’s broken leg, Ben Watson’s or Shaun McDonald’s. I went back and asked again, this time I was told “I will ask”. Then a lad with a sling on went in. My poor Dad, I kid you not was on the verge of collapse and was whiter than the paint the groundsman uses to paint the lines. We put his feet up and tried to lie him down, but he wouldn’t have it. “Dad” I said “There is a trolley around there, I’ll go and get it for you”, but the stoical old sod wouldn’t have it.

I so much wish it was closer to kick off but the wait seemed eternal.

Out came the Ref having looked at VAR and started to chat to one of the ball boys. I remember Callum dancing his way around Man City and so put all my best precision Callum moves together and nutmegged the ref. Hassling her like Morsy does with every decision I sold a dummy with a Victor Moses step over. “Are we next”. “No, it’s this person”. Morsy hassle morsy hassle I asked her to recheck VAR or I would speak to Sepp Blatter. That put the fear of Brenda in her, but I had to tell the ref that that I would first speak to him. Craig being the good lad he is, allowed it to happen and we were off. At blinkin last. Probably about 14.00. Kick off delayed hours.

Watching WAFC play football is so much like a good hospital waiting room where the triage system is kept fluid all the time. It was against Man city where we had to defend for ages and then suddenly, the priorities changed, and yesssss Wigan 1, West Brom 0. Now back to defend.

I’ve already spoken to PALS and told them to keep an eye open for my letter, to which I will be expecting more than a standard placatory letter of apology “which you guys are very well versed in writing”. It’s a shame so many of my letters never get replied to. But its life: most people ignore me, even Ben Watson, Roberto, Max and Jordi. I got Perkin’s signature, I was elated. I went around the corner to get a prescription.

The West Brom game was a hard game, it seemed to take an age, but we got there. The end result was a real FGF, or Feel Good Factor, and like walking back over the bridge at the canal there was a feeling of delight that we were on our way home with my Dad despite the last 15 minutes of the obligatory ‘NBT’, Nail Biting Time. He’s still wonderfully alive but there is still a lot of the season to go.

There are more games to go this season and I hope he gets good results from further away games at Middlesborough and Furness General Hospital. Frusemide was prescribed, and one thing is certain at a Wigan game is that I never need any help from a diuretic. Cardiology echo has been arranged and when that first goal went in v Crewe my heart rate went through the roof of the Ice Cream Van Stand. Codeine to try to help him with the cough and recover my head from the pre-match hydration.

Home at 16.10. If I was tired —– he must have been beyond wiped out. Blinkin’ ‘ec, it was an exhausting game. In the evening he sat looking so ‘alone’, forlorn, and sad. It was heart breaking to be relegated from the Prem after 8 years and winning the FA Cup. It just about tore me apart.

The positive is that the GP we saw was excellent and scored an easy 9.5/10. And for once, Andrew Mariner the ref had a good game. The Dr was very caring and very respectful to an old man; she had a lovely style. She loses .5 as the Ref simply can’t get it right all of the time despite VAR, Rooney should have been sent off for clouting McCarthy in the mush.

As I said, he was knackered. Watching wigan can be so exhausting. I got up this morning and he was making his porridge with his string vest on. “Dad, you’ve still got your ecg tabs on”!!!!! “Oh yes, I couldn’t be bothered to have a bath last night”!! I know the feeling!

But today he is maintaining a regular circuit of a snooze in his chair, an amble for a wee in midfield, a check of his computer and VAR, and another snooze in defence. He is chatty, but Burnlike slow and a bit ponderous. But improving slowly and regaining match fitness, I think. Comparing Wigan to Leeds last week when Josh was through, yes, watching Wigan is a reflection on life – Wigan must be less ponderous and slow. The speed at which those 5 defenders closed in on him – well, who needs Usain Bolt?