No not a scared TLF.
This is all about, The Bricks.
And no, not a trip to Legoland.
We are talking a genuine football away day, involving a train a and a bus (the 107 from bus stop A at Elstree & Borehamwood Station for any bus timetable fans), AND in the company of Mr TLF. I know, Mr TLF on an awayday!? That’s got to be special.
We were off to Brickfield Lane, which as any fule kno is the home of Hadley FC. Well actually even the fule that is TLF didn’t kno that until we were invited there by matchday sponsor Davy Mac. And it was a special occasion, as Hadley’s FA Vase First Round Qualifying game against Hadleigh United (yep, it’s the homophone derby) was sponsored in the memory of Sarah Elizabeth Tomkinson, Davy’s wife.
Sarah died of Covid in April this year. And I think we all know that with lockdown and its accompanying restrictions the chance to mark someone’s death and celebrate someone’s life has been more than limited. So, this was a chance for Davy and friends to raise a glass and a smile and while it can’t make up for the loss, I like to think that all those in attendance did Sarah, and Davy, proud.
The sun shone (to the point where pasty white TLF wished she packed her sun cream) and the beers flowed (icy, cold bottles of Stella could make TLF a more regular visitor to this ground). There was much socially distanced bonhomie with old friends and new; the common language of football and ineptitude at the tennis ball game (closest to the centre spot wins) both proving to be high quality ice breakers. All this and the right result on the pitch too, with Hadley running out 2-0 winners, cheered on by a small but perfectly formed crowd, whose chant of, “there’s only one H in Hadley”, reminded me what I am missing about going to non-league football.
Davy wrote a witty and hear-warming tribute to Sarah in the programme, and I think the final sentence deserves repeating.
“Be not sad she is no more, rather, be happy she was.”
Here’s to them both.
Honorary Hadley Fox
Matchday essentials