Thoughts of a lifelong fan: Watching the FA Cup has brought back some Crawley memories
Here in my flat wondering what to write when there has been no Crawley Town involvement this weekend and the only league two game played saw Gillingham draw with Colchester in a clash which sees the Gills go up to 6th place and the Essex side rise to 9th. They are twelve and eleven points above the Red Devils respectively, currently in 19th place on 17 points.
Coming up over the next month we play eight games, four at home and four away and now is the time for us to start getting some good results to match the good performances that we have seen intermittently so far this season.
Four wins at home would be great, coupled with an elusive away victory or two, three or even four as this old Red Devil can’t stand being just above the drop places.
Watching the FA Cup on the television, both yesterday and today, has brought up some memories of players who once wore the red of Crawley Town. Saturday saw Ashley Nadesan playing for Sutton United against Shrewsbury Town and, despite being on top for most of the game, they lost by two goals to one which leaves their Ladies side with the chance of going further than the Men's side in the FA Cup when they play Chatham Town at Gander Green Lane next Sunday kick off 230pm. I will not be wearing a Sutton scarf, despite my granddaughter playing for them, and will keep my vocal support to personal encouragement aimed at her. The one thing I know, is if the U’s get a penalty it will end up in the net!!!
As I’m writing this the Sunday FA Cup game is between Slough Town and Macclesfield with the Crawley Town connection being that Scott Davies is now the Slough Town player manager and, with Barnet coming up soon for Crawley Town, I am reminded of Scott’s goal for us at the old Underhill ground back in 2012 in the first game after Steve Evans had departed for Rotherham United. We won that day and ended up going on to clinch promotion at Accrington Stanley on the last day of the season. Half time 0-0.
Next Saturday sees the long-awaited game against Oldham Athletic which will see the launch of RED DEVILS’ DIARY, a match day publication produced by the fans for the fans and priced at just £2 for a 32 page programme will, I am sure, enhance the match day experience of all that support it by buying one. The team of supporters involved in producing it include myself, Steve Hedges, Ivan Noel, Kevin Neylon, Ian Mulcahy and Grant Mansfield with inputs from Steve Herbert and Alain Harper on away travel. We hope to have the ability to take card payments from day one, but if you could remember to bring some change just in case that would be really appreciated. During the game there will be a minute of applause in the 28th minute in memory of Ernie Cooksey who played for us in 2002/2003 before going to Oldham Athletic for the beginning of the next season. Ernie sadly died at the age of just 28, 17 years ago, just before the birth of his daughter. Please show your appreciation of Ernie during the 28th minute.
Jasper Sheik, ex-Red Devil, now at South Shields, and a hero in the FA Cup victory at Maidenhead last season, has recently undergone an operation on a shoulder injury, and I would like to wish him a speedy recovery and a return to action. Jo Jo Wollacott, who he replaced in goal at Maidenhead, could find himself facing Harry Kane next year in the States if he were to regain his Ghana place.
Final score from Slough, sees Macclesfield win 3-1 after extra time against Scott Davies’ Slough Town and as I finish this article to submit it, Boreham Wood, our conquerors from Round One are currently doing the same to Newport County as they did against us, winning two nil.
I hope to be able to write about two wins next week. Come on you RED DEVILS!!