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Thanks to my over-eager press officer Karl Robinson, you may know this already, but Tuesday was my last game covering #oufc – exactly 450 competitive 1st team matches since a grim 1-1 draw at home to Macclesfield in February 2012.
There’s lots of reasons why now is the right...
There’s lots of reasons why now is the right...
…time to go but it doesn’t make it any easier to sign off.
The last 8 and a half years have been a wonderful blur and it’s been a total privilege to live and breathe #oufc every day since and be able to tell you about it…
The last 8 and a half years have been a wonderful blur and it’s been a total privilege to live and breathe #oufc every day since and be able to tell you about it…
Thought hard about how to sign off and came up with this. Before you unfollow, here’s a self-indulgent A to Z of my time with #oufc...
A: Appleton, Michael.
In charge for the longest spell in my time covering #oufc.
A reporter’s dream to work with – got results, said interesting things and, most importantly, never read a word I wrote.
Not sure he was too impressed about doing a column for us, mind.
In charge for the longest spell in my time covering #oufc.
A reporter’s dream to work with – got results, said interesting things and, most importantly, never read a word I wrote.
Not sure he was too impressed about doing a column for us, mind.
B: (Press) boxes.
Varied. From Orient, where you’re so high the game looks like Sensible Soccer, to the greenhouse at Roots Hall, via the bizarre desks at the Valley.
You wouldn't believe how cramped some are – Griffin Park, Sixfields and (below) Shrewsbury, I’m looking at you.
Varied. From Orient, where you’re so high the game looks like Sensible Soccer, to the greenhouse at Roots Hall, via the bizarre desks at the Valley.
You wouldn't believe how cramped some are – Griffin Park, Sixfields and (below) Shrewsbury, I’m looking at you.
C: Carlisle United
It’s not often you relish the long trip to Cumbria, but April 2016 was an exception.
Promotion wasn't confirmed until a week later but it was effectively sealed on an unforgettable afternoon.
It also ensured we've not had to return, which has been most welcome
It’s not often you relish the long trip to Cumbria, but April 2016 was an exception.
Promotion wasn't confirmed until a week later but it was effectively sealed on an unforgettable afternoon.
It also ensured we've not had to return, which has been most welcome
D: Deadline days
The longest shifts, filled with fear about running out of material.
Occasionally dramatic – Marvin Johnson’s on-off-on move in Aug '16 – often less so (Oussama Zamouri, anyone?) Featuring the klaxon which isn’t a klaxon & 100s of gifs. We had some fun. Didn’t we?
The longest shifts, filled with fear about running out of material.
Occasionally dramatic – Marvin Johnson’s on-off-on move in Aug '16 – often less so (Oussama Zamouri, anyone?) Featuring the klaxon which isn’t a klaxon & 100s of gifs. We had some fun. Didn’t we?
E: Extra editions
The specials, especially those marking the 30th anniversary of the Milk Cup final win & #oufc's 125th birthday, were highlights.
All the extra work didn’t always pay off – we had one almost ready to go to mark James Constable becoming the club’s top-scorer...
The specials, especially those marking the 30th anniversary of the Milk Cup final win & #oufc's 125th birthday, were highlights.
All the extra work didn’t always pay off – we had one almost ready to go to mark James Constable becoming the club’s top-scorer...
F: Fleetwood
I just can't picture #oufc beating them – 12 winless games will do that to you.
We've seen the points lost in a variety of ways, none more painful than Conor McAleny’s gut-punch of a winner in '18.
I also can’t watch Captain Pugwash without coming out in a cold sweat
I just can't picture #oufc beating them – 12 winless games will do that to you.
We've seen the points lost in a variety of ways, none more painful than Conor McAleny’s gut-punch of a winner in '18.
I also can’t watch Captain Pugwash without coming out in a cold sweat
G: Gateshead
A waterlogged pitch for the FA Cup tie in 2013 meant a scramble to fill 3 pages - the back lead was written on the counter of a fish and chip shop in Wetherby.
Having to take a nap at Leicester Forest East coming back from the rearranged game was a low-point.
A waterlogged pitch for the FA Cup tie in 2013 meant a scramble to fill 3 pages - the back lead was written on the counter of a fish and chip shop in Wetherby.
Having to take a nap at Leicester Forest East coming back from the rearranged game was a low-point.
H: Holidays
Contrary to popular opinion, I didn't take many holidays. It’s just they seem to coincide with major events at #oufc.
Both takeovers in my time covering the club happened while I was overseas, as did the entirety of MApp’s long drawn-out exit, plus about 100 signings.
Contrary to popular opinion, I didn't take many holidays. It’s just they seem to coincide with major events at #oufc.
Both takeovers in my time covering the club happened while I was overseas, as did the entirety of MApp’s long drawn-out exit, plus about 100 signings.
I: Injury-time re-writes
Too many to count. Done happily when #oufc were the ones scoring late, not so much when they conceded crucial goals.
It’s a nightmare when both happen, as in the 2-2 draw with Bradford City three years ago.
See also: N and V
Too many to count. Done happily when #oufc were the ones scoring late, not so much when they conceded crucial goals.
It’s a nightmare when both happen, as in the 2-2 draw with Bradford City three years ago.
See also: N and V
J: Just in time
We have a later deadline than most, but there were some close calls when games went to extra time.
Technical issues are even more stressful. I still have nightmares about the time there was not a scrap of internet to be found in Cheltenham one Tuesday night.
We have a later deadline than most, but there were some close calls when games went to extra time.
Technical issues are even more stressful. I still have nightmares about the time there was not a scrap of internet to be found in Cheltenham one Tuesday night.
K: Kemar Roofe
#oufc have had some fantastic players in the time I covered them, but none better than Kemar Roofe.
There wasn’t much excitement about a loan signing who hadn’t impressed at Colchester, but it didn’t take long for him to turn it around.
What. A. Player.
#oufc have had some fantastic players in the time I covered them, but none better than Kemar Roofe.
There wasn’t much excitement about a loan signing who hadn’t impressed at Colchester, but it didn’t take long for him to turn it around.
What. A. Player.
L: Locked in
As often the last one to leave, getting trapped in empty grounds was an occupational hazard.
I once considered sleeping in the South Stand Upper before breaking my way out. The ever-sympathetic @Chris_Williams_ got a page out of it in the following week’s programme.
As often the last one to leave, getting trapped in empty grounds was an occupational hazard.
I once considered sleeping in the South Stand Upper before breaking my way out. The ever-sympathetic @Chris_Williams_ got a page out of it in the following week’s programme.
M: Middlesbrough minutes
The most exhilarating spell across the 450 games was the two minutes at the Riverside where United went from 2-0 down to draw level, in front of a huge travelling #oufc army.
The most exhilarating spell across the 450 games was the two minutes at the Riverside where United went from 2-0 down to draw level, in front of a huge travelling #oufc army.
N: Notts County
I’ve only been to Meadow Lane once – and part of me never wants to go back, because the 4-2 win there in January 2016 was so good it surely couldn’t be topped.
After unbelievably going behind against the run of play, the U’s made a statement. They were going up.
I’ve only been to Meadow Lane once – and part of me never wants to go back, because the 4-2 win there in January 2016 was so good it surely couldn’t be topped.
After unbelievably going behind against the run of play, the U’s made a statement. They were going up.
O: Overseas
Among the best moments came while o̶n̶ ̶h̶o̶l̶i̶d̶a̶y̶ working on #oufc’s tours.
From New Hampshire to Ibrox, via Austria, Spain, Portugal and Ireland, it was a hell of a ride.
My main duty was to make sure @Chris_Williams_ remembered to bring a hat. He never did.
Among the best moments came while o̶n̶ ̶h̶o̶l̶i̶d̶a̶y̶ working on #oufc’s tours.
From New Hampshire to Ibrox, via Austria, Spain, Portugal and Ireland, it was a hell of a ride.
My main duty was to make sure @Chris_Williams_ remembered to bring a hat. He never did.
P: Promotion
Any season which ends with a party on the pitch will go down in history – 2015/16, take a bow.
Probably best not to mention how close the class of 2019/20 came at Wembley in July. It's too soon.
Any season which ends with a party on the pitch will go down in history – 2015/16, take a bow.
Probably best not to mention how close the class of 2019/20 came at Wembley in July. It's too soon.
Q: Quiet summers
The gap between seasons was always the trickiest time of the year, especially when #oufc went weeks without signing anyone.
When they did, it was invariably half an hour after I had left for the airport.
See also: H
The gap between seasons was always the trickiest time of the year, especially when #oufc went weeks without signing anyone.
When they did, it was invariably half an hour after I had left for the airport.
See also: H
R: Ratings
Never understood why some took them so seriously when, especially midweek, they were put together in 30 secs.
Jake Wright was forever moaning about “crap marks”, unless he had got at least a 7.
And, yes Jerome, Simon Eastwood should've got a 10 vs Newcastle in '17.
Never understood why some took them so seriously when, especially midweek, they were put together in 30 secs.
Jake Wright was forever moaning about “crap marks”, unless he had got at least a 7.
And, yes Jerome, Simon Eastwood should've got a 10 vs Newcastle in '17.
S: Shooting
Many moments could have been from a cheese dream, but the day spent trailing Pep Clotet’s squad around an army barracks was among the most surreal.
Ricardinho with a rifle. You can't call that a day's work.
The outcome from the bonding trip? A 2-1 defeat to Walsall.
Many moments could have been from a cheese dream, but the day spent trailing Pep Clotet’s squad around an army barracks was among the most surreal.
Ricardinho with a rifle. You can't call that a day's work.
The outcome from the bonding trip? A 2-1 defeat to Walsall.
T: Traffic
The location of motorway closures coming back on a Tuesday night felt uncannily like the Highways Agency was run by a Swindon fan.
The M6 at any hour can also do one.
The location of motorway closures coming back on a Tuesday night felt uncannily like the Highways Agency was run by a Swindon fan.
The M6 at any hour can also do one.
U: Unresolved
While almost everything has changed at #oufc in the past eight and a half years, the biggest obstacle – the stadium – remains.
There have been a few false dawns and plenty of talk about progress, but nothing tangible to show for it.
While almost everything has changed at #oufc in the past eight and a half years, the biggest obstacle – the stadium – remains.
There have been a few false dawns and plenty of talk about progress, but nothing tangible to show for it.
V: The Valley
February 3, 2018. What a game, what a finish.
February 3, 2018. What a game, what a finish.
W: Wembley
Three trips, three very different worries about how we were going to fill the following day's paper.
Three trips, three very different worries about how we were going to fill the following day's paper.
X: Xemi
Not spoiled for choice here.
Xemi was a very nice guy, but *probably* shouldn’t have started ahead of Ryan Ledson at home to Wigan Athletic.
Not spoiled for choice here.
Xemi was a very nice guy, but *probably* shouldn’t have started ahead of Ryan Ledson at home to Wigan Athletic.
Y: You lot
Thanks for keeping me in a job by reading the stories over the years.
The feedback has been ‘mostly’ constructive.
Thanks for keeping me in a job by reading the stories over the years.
The feedback has been ‘mostly’ constructive.
