Memoirs Of A Programme Seller - Wednesday
About eight weeks ago, after sorting through the family finances, my wife and I realized that we had more going out than we had coming in. I know, this sounds like a bad loan advert screened halfway through Jeremy Kyle, but it's true. We'd already given up most of the things we considered treats. I'd stopped impulse buying CD's and taken my username off ebay, but still we couldn't figure out what to do. My wife then got a new job, which meant we'd be breaking even and maybe some months have a little to spend, but it still wasn't enough.
One of the problems was my insistence on buying tickets to watch Rotherham United. I couldn't afford a season ticket, so I'd buy tickets to watch approximately two games a month. A couple of weeks ago, there was an advert on the Rotherham United website, looking for programme sellers. Of course!!! It was like a light switched on in my head. I used to accompany my father when he sold programmes about 12 years ago. Legend also has it that my mother used to sell programmes when she was pregnant with me, so I suppose you could say, I'm following in family tradition.
I was soon on the phone and told I could start at the Sheffield Wednesday match. What a night to start. I went into the away end, and the banter with the fans was incredible. There was no nastiness whatsoever. Just friendly banter. I do wish though, that Wednesday fans would shut up about how they put money in a bucket to save our club. They never seem to tire of reminding me of that fact. I lost count of how many times I was told the programs were too expensive, to which I politely reminded the piggies that I was only selling and didn't set the price. However, I remembered that for some Wednesday fans, £2.50 is half a years savings.
After selling my programmes, I took my seat in The Tivoli two minutes after kickoff and soon joined in the anti-piggy songs. This being my first sighting of the new team, I was immediately impressed as the Millers looked up for this game and were soon on the attack. Cocko looked strong at the back and Sharps looked a different player with such a composed head beside him. I was disappointed Hursty started, as I thought he would be outclassed. My fears were confirmed as he couldn't keep up with the pace of anyone wearing blue and white stripes. Even the linesman gave him a run for his money. I thought that O'Grady and Derek Holmes played well. Holmes is just what the squad needs. He holds the ball up well and flicks it on for O'Grady.
At about the quarter of an hour mark, Wednesday nearly took the lead. Tudgay struck the post before nearly getting his head taken off by Cocko. This led to the eventual substitution before half time. O'Grady then had The Tivoli on their feet when he struck a curled shot from just inside the area against the crossbar. Wednesday were rattled and from this point on, we took the game by the scruff of the neck and bossed it.
We took the lead through a player that in my opinion, was anonymous until the goal. 33 minutes and a free kick out on the right was lofted in by Brogran. The ball fell to Derek Holmes who laid it off neatly for Harrison to smash the ball into the back of the Wednesday net. Harrison wheeled away and Rotherham United fans were on their feet, sensing another famous victory. The goal was made all the more sweeter by the fact that I was on TV, jumping out of my seat like someone had stuck a red hot poker up my bum.
A little while later, some nice work out on the left saw the ball zip in across the face of the Wednesday goal. Todd got on the end of it, and it looked like a certain goal. Grant, the piggy keeper, made a fantastic save, which undoubtedly filled the championship side with confidence. Sheffield Wednesday piled forward, capitalizing on mistakes we were making. Then, the dreaded half time mark was approaching. The exact time you don't want your side to concede a goal, which is exactly what we did. Whelan collected the ball twenty five yards out and hit a shot, which deflected into the bottom corner, past the reach of Warrington. One all, but the Tivoli got behind the lads to try and gee them on.
Half time came and went, a forgetful bunch of tunes played as I flicked through the matchday program. We were all hoping for better. Three minutes after the second half kicked off, Brogan came off injured with a hamstring problem. This did not bode well as thirty seconds later, Warrington had to pick the ball out of the net. Wade Small (who was their man of the match) had a shot from the edge of the area which was well saved by Warrington. He should have held onto it, but ex Miller, Burton, was there to prod home from two yards. The announcer did not sound too thrilled when he had to read out the name of the scorer either.
Six minutes later, the piggies went three one up. Small attempted a cross from the left which evaded Warrington and hit the back of the net. The Wednesday fans went wild, but we never gave up singing in The Tivoli. We were impressed with the first half performance, but the fitness of a championship side (albeit, bottom of the championship as of "going to press") was showing through. The Millers played the rest of the match chasing the ball as we kept giving it away. Warrington made a great save near the end against Leon Clarke who had broken free, before the referee blew the final whistle.
As I left, I mulled over what had been an eventful match. The piggy fans only seemed to sing when they were winning, whereas I was proud of our fans, showing appreciation for the lads giving a team two divisions above a run for their money. I made my way home, excited about the season ahead and, with good reason, for my team, the Mighty Millers! I also made a promise to myself that on Sunday, I was going to buy a pie.
Next time: Peterborough