The Diary

20 March 2004: Gone With The Wind!

Yep, it?s me ? and somewhat earlier than planned, which, given my normal production time, is something of an understatement for me. You?re quite right, there should have been a game involving us at The Britannia Stadium today. Postponed on safety grounds, it was, and given the fact the winds were gusting around 80 - 90 mph out there at the time, I reckon the ref called it dead right. In actual fact, my other half?s just told me the ref was interviewed on WM just now, and that was one of the reasons for the postponement cited ? my estimate of the wind speed above was absolutely spot-on.

According to WM, the ref also said the problem was exacerbated considerably by the fact that The Britannia is stuck right on top of an enormous hill that overlooks the Potteries conurbation. That I can readily confirm, it really is open to the elements out there. Not only that, apparently, when both managers came onto the pitch to see for themselves, even our leader had difficulty standing up. Both gaffers were in total agreement about the decision to call it off, though; to carry on would have been ludicrous.

As soon as we arrived in the car park, we knew there was going to be an element of doubt about whether the game would take place at all ? when The Fart went to open The Dickmobile?s rear door, the sheer velocity of the wind whipped the damn thing right out of his hands, with him a close second! Needless to say, I had problems also. And, as we made the gentle ascent towards the stadium proper, the wind was gusting fit to bust; I?ll cheerfully admit to you lot out there, I?m no lightweight myself, and I was having difficulty standing up, so heaven alone knows how the featherweight/beanpole tendency coped. Not only that, the gale was picking up loads of loose objects and throwing them all over the place, cans, hoardings, the works, and to my mind, someone ? anyone ? outside the ground was in grave danger of cutting or injuring themselves quite badly.

When the announcement was made, several Baggie people expressed grave doubts to me as to whether the weather conditions were sufficiently severe to warrant a postponement. Let me put it this way: the police reckoned there were safety considerations at stake, and I can genuinely believe it. Also the ref was in total agreement ? see above. Sure, had the game gone ahead, and something blown down from one or more of the stands ? quite possible, as Stoke?s ground has open corners, they?re not filled in as per our own place, which was yet another reason cited by the ref for the postponement ? then the lawyers would have found themselves a real nice little earner there. Another consideration, if the game had taken place and we?d lost by a flukey goal or two, then what? We?d have heard the howls of indignant rage from our followers all the way down the M6 and right back to The Hawthorns. The wind would have reduced the whole thing to a complete farce ? anyone remember Swindon, a few seasons back? Same deal, a howling gale, but with added rain plus freezing temperatures. Despite the awful conditions, the game went ahead ? and it was, literally, a joke. 2-2 was the final score, which didn?t do us any justice at all. Oh, and quite a few Baggies were treated for hypothermia that day ? Town had an away end completely open to the elements.

I?m given to understand that some people, self-employed people (and some of the employed, who had to give up a day?s leave), lost an awful lot in terms of earnings by having to make a wasted journey to Stoke, and I do sympathise; games are rarely called off at this stage of the season (unless you?re talking Albion-Sheffield United, of course!), but having listened to Radio Five on the way back ? on the M6, several lorries had overturned, such was the wind speed this afternoon - it seems that the conditions have affected quite a few other crucial games for us. Although these have gone ahead, from what I?ve heard about them, the whole thing has been reduced to a lottery. Sure, I want to see us go up, and in fine style, too, but I don?t want it to be because of the vagaries of the weather system currently affecting this country. Conversely, I don?t want to see us blow a possible three-pointer because of freaky weather, either. At least the postponement leaves us on level pegging with Norwich in terms of games played ? hopefully, we can sort Palace out at our place next Saturday, and with any luck, Norwich/Sunderland/West Ham will have caught a crab.

This will be my last posting until Friday night ? we?re off down to our holiday home a day earlier, now. We had planned to go there tomorrow, but the postponement made us change our plans very swiftly indeed. Back next Friday night, with all the usual stuff. Until then, don?t blow away.

 - Glynis Wright

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