Knock Knock

Who’s there?
Knocky.
Knocky who?
Peter Knock. Programme seller of this parish.
Knocky, as he seems to be known to everyone, sells programmes at the Clarence Road entrance to the ground. A one time season ticket holder at Chelsea (he still keeps an eye on the scores but doesn’t miss it), he has been coming to watch St Albans since 1988. He has done all sorts of jobs at the club as a volunteer but programme seller is his regular role. And don’t worry if he doesn’t extract £2 from you when you enter the ground, he will become a walking salesman during the match giving you a further opportunity to conduct the transaction.

Consistency is key for this gentleman; 39 years working at St Albans City Hospital and in the last 13 seasons he hasn’t missed a St Albans game. Home OR Away. He likes the camaraderie of SACFC and the non-league in general, the relaxed approach which means you can grab a beer in the home team’s clubhouse, no matter who you support. But he is keen to emphasise that programme selling duties mean that is a treat for away games only. And do you know how he gets to those away games? The chairman gives him a lift. I wonder how often chairman and programme seller do the away travel together in the upper leagues? Knockout.

Get your programmes here!

It has been an eventful week for the Fox and Saints (sounds like a pub. If it was it would only sell Amstel, white burgundy, Old Hooky, Ruddles, bacon fries and cheese).
There was a 6-1 FA Cup romp against Enfield Town at the weekend.

The Fox went home to Lesta for the first time since embarking on all this. To cap it all, TATTPIB were out on the pitch, playing at home when I stepped off the train. Slightly weird (and the first time in 21 years I have ever been in that situation) but a momentary distraction.

The other half and I exchanged contracts on a house in St Albans, so fingers crossed I will soon be a genuine local fan.

Last night the mighty Saints fell to a first home defeat of the season. Plenty of points to debate. Was Ryan Wharton’ second yellow card deserved? (Er. Looked like he led with the arm to me. Sorry Ryan.) Were we denied a stone wall penalty in the first half? YES. But the biggest issue – did my abandonment of the pre-match bacon fries routine cause this? I had a winning formula, only to be distracted; my head turned by another form of pre-match deep fried loveliness. I know what I have to do on Saturday.

Match stats:
St Albans 0 Cambridge City 1
Attendance 327
Raffle Tickets purchased 10 Prizes won 0
Losing Golden Goal ticket purchased 1
Bacon Fries consumed 0
Item purchased from Andy’s snack van 1 (see below)
Lager consumed A modest half (well it was a school night).

TILT
We don’t have goal line technology in the Calor Southern Leagues. But you probably knew that right. If we did then Cambridge would have won 2-0.
TLF

Haute cusine from Andy’s snack van