Yesterday I was with my eldest lad home on leave and he purchased 2 tickets to take his old fella to watch our team the very essence of a father and son connection. Having just listened to England gain an unexpected win against India at Edgbaston we were in a buoyant mood as we called for a few pints in the Outpost, my youngest lad would have been there too but he's with his partner awaiting the arrival of our first Grandchild (A girl) so he can be forgiven his absence, indeed, she's due as I write this. We were sat in the West Stand bathed in wonderful sunshine as the teams emerged from the tunnel and we both commented on how fit our lads looked and so the season got underway. It became apparent from minute one that the pressing game was going to be employed to full effect, every player bar none worked and harried brilliantly and the new lad Dougall I have to say looks a real diamond and Potts and Mowatt look lean and eager to put past woes well and truly behind them. When we took the lead with a great strike we were chuffed to little mint balls that it was Thiam that shook the monkey off his back and then killed it stone dead with an equally good strike soon after. It would be easy to say Oxford were poor, but, I'd rather take the view that it was Barnsley that caught them cold and stunned them with an high energy, skilful and aggressive style if play, in truth Oxford were utterly outclassed in every department. The match was won but to place a shiny red cherry on our cake two more goals followed and deservedly so. When my Granddaughter is of an age to understand I shall tell her that on the weekend she was born her uncle and I sat in the sun and watched HER team win in style and let a gladness wash over us. Here's to Barnsley FC and Hattie Helen Smith (We have yet to meet) but I can't wait to see you .
Yes, great stuff. No time for doom mongering this season. As the lads said early on yesterday "Up the football league we go...."
