After three years of deliberation Burnside finally took the plunge and purchased season tickets at West Bromwich Albion for the 2010/11 season. Why West Brom? – A desire to watch premiership football, the closest premier league ground to Bristol and the fact that the Legend David Burnside played for the Baggies between 1957 and 1962.
Good seats on the edge of the six yard box in the West Stand, car park across the road and good pasties in the ground all added up to an enjoyable experience off the pitch. Finding a pub and somewhere to eat local to the ground though proved an adventure.
For the first home game against Sunderland, on the advice of the local stewards we took an ‘excursion’ into the centre of West Brom in search of a pub serving food. Two miles and several layers of wet clothes later and we found a converted hotel. Absolutely packed to the rafters and little prospect of reaching the front of the queue for food! We were advised by the locals that this was not the closest to the ground – but was the best!
For the Spurs game we headed in the opposite direction. The pub was the size of a front room at home, with just enough room to house the queue to the bar. Once drinks were purchased we had to head outside to drink them, watched by the local constabulary from the comfort of their riot vans! No sign of any food though.
For the Birmingham game we tried the local golf club. Having got in safely we managed to upset the club captain by wearing the wrong attire! A quick coffee and cheese roll later we had to make a hasty exit before they closed the barriers – obviously to avoid an intake of thirsty baggies fans in search of a drink.
After giving up and making do with a pasty and coffee for the next few games we then stumbled across ‘The Vine’ – or as we now affectionately refer to ‘The Curry Pub’. What a dream – a few drinks and a curry before the game – marvellous! Poor old Stevie Burnside finds the curries a bit hot bless him, but at least he got to try a Goat Tikka Massala!
The final home game of the season against Everton could have proved a little tricky, with a 12.45 kick-off. However, a bit of strategic planning from the Burnside crew resulted in a drink before the game, chips for Uncle Len in the ground and then at the final whistle a stroll back to The Vine, a seat in front of the telly just in time for the F.A. Cup final and a curry to come – marvellous! One member of the party celebrated in style with a Goat Vindaloo and Green Chilli Nan !!
On the football side a good season for the Baggies. Some brilliant football under Di Matteo before Christmas but a very leaky defence led to his dismissal. Roy Hodgson arrived, put the emphasis on defence but they continued to score goals and ensured survival with three games to play.
Player of the season – Peter Odemwingie
Match of the season – West Ham – 3.0 up at half time, lucky to get a 3.3 draw
Goal of the season – James Morrison v Man United
Quote of the season – ‘If Carson (the keeper!) had scored then Dad that would have been his first goal of the season’
So an enjoyable season even though we had to learn the local lingo and tolerate a very knowledgeable 8 year old Brummie sitting behind us who drowned out the masses behind the goal – favourite phrase ‘ come on Wingie show us yer magic!’ – priceless!
Now we have been engrained in the local culture – well ‘The curry pub’ anyway we may even do it again next season.
Boing Boing!
