It is a well known fact that Boundary Park is the coldest ground in the country so before the fixtures come out you are hoping it will be in either September or April, but no February it was. Cheers fixture computer!
My only previous visit had also been in February, 1993 on that occasion for a Premier League match between Oldham and Arsenal, and it was one of the coldest games I have ever been to. Thankfully it was nowhere near as cold this time but it was wet. Very, very wet!
After parking the car in the bumpiest and most puddle-ridden road in the whole of Lancashire, my faithful assistant Emerson and I made our way to the box office to collect my press pass. Well when I say box office it was actually just a security guard with a clipboard, but lets not split hairs!
As it turned out the press box was at the back of the main stand and had a distinct lack of power points. Luckily I had charged my laptop the previous night so it was not a major problem but the good news was I sitting next to Radio Stu, who was broadcasting the match for Daggers Player. This guy is a legend around the Essex media scene so it was a pleasure to watch him work...
After obtaining the password for the wi-fi connection I set my laptop to the BBC Sport site to watch the Premier League scores come through and Emerson, of course, had half an eye on the Arsenal match at Newcastle.
With our start delayed for reasons unknown we were kept amused by the score from St. James' Park. While their was still no sign of the teams here Arsenal were already 2-0 up so our day had already improved significantly. Now if only could the Daggers do something similar...
The first half was not the most exciting affair but the Daggers defended superbly and even came close to the opening goal when a fine volley from Nuresy was somehow kept out by their keeper, who I was later informed was on loan from Manchester United.
The excitement at St. James' Park though was reaching unprecedented levels with Arsenal now 4-0 up. And to think I turned down tickets for that to be here...
The second half got off to the worst possible start for us with Oldham taking the lead with a well worked goal just five minutes in and Robbo then came into his own with a series of saves to keep us in it. With all this going on I was unable to keep track of the scores on my computer screen but it soon became clear that amazing things were happening all over the country.
As Newcastle began the mother of all comebacks the goals were flying in left, right and centre elsewhere with eight at Everton, seven at Wigan and four at Villa Park, but the only one I was interested in was the one headed in by Romain Vincelot that brought us level seventeen minutes from time.
I now fancied us to go on and win it but after the late dismissal of Gainey we had to settle for just a point, a great result all the same.
Next was the usual round of post match interviews, the best part of the job for me. First up was John Still and he was in a buoyant mood. No matter how many times we go through this I still cannot get over the look on Emerson's face when he comes face to face with the people he admires the most and John always shakes his hand and says hello to him now.
After recording the wise words of the boss it was down to the changing room area to grab a word or two with some of the players. We really wanted Romain and Scott Doe but as they were in the shower we managed to get Damian Scannell instead.
He was buzzing from the result and his own performance, saying how he hoped to get a run in the side now he was fully fit and that he was convinced we will stay up.
Then, despite feeling down about his red card, Gainey came out for a chat. He was full of praise for the lads and said how much competition we had for midfield places now, which was great for the club. He also said he was unsure as to why he been shown red but seemed in good spirits none-the-less.
John was still hanging around so we stayed for a bit and had a conversation about a young player he has discovered playing for a local side near Heathrow. He was very excited about him although he would not divulge any further information...but remember where you heard it first!
Emerson was now getting cocky and as the players emerged from the changing room he was saying hello to every one of them as though they were all his mates! Very funny to see...
Eventually we left the ground and saw Robbo next to the team coach sending texts on his mobile, probably about how well he had played! Emerson was very excited and wanted a photo with the great man, who of course was only too happy to oblige. Another great memento for him in a season he will never forget. Emerson that is not Robbo...although having said that!
Emerson with the legend that is Robbo
Before the drive home we decided to stop off at McDonalds where we discovered that Manchester United were losing at Wolves. After the shock of Arsenal's capitulation this certainly helped cheer us up and listening to the second half on the radio on the way home made a great finish to another great day following the Daggers.
So glamorous it may not be but bloody good fun it is....
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