Albatross on his experiences as an Exile

By Albatross
July 26 2002

In the first part of what may become a regular series, Albatross talks about his first match as an exiled Poolie. The year was 1991....

And so it begins.....

When you're an exile, there's one thing you look forward to in the summer: the Fixture List. All over the country Football Fans away from home pore over the list, working out the first game they can get to, hoping for a nearby Cup Draw, trying to work out how to plan trips around what's available. I've been doing this for the last seven seasons now, and also for three years away at Uni before that. Off and on, I've been an exile for more than ten years.

My first game as an exile was back at the end of 1991. It was the day after term had finished in Lancaster, and Pools were away to Preston. We were doing all right following promotion the previous season, David Johnson had arrived on loan from Sheffield Wednesday, and my parents and (at the time) little brother came over to collect me and my things. We then drove off down the M6 and arrived in Preston with plenty of time to spare.

This was the time of the Plastic Pitch at Deepdale, and Preston had been taking full advantage of it that season. Parked close to the ground we had a bit of friendly banter with a North End fan in the next car. "We've not been beaten at home this season," he told us. He didn't think much of our chances, although I was reasonably confident. "You won't get anything today - we scored five last week!" A quick scan of the programme later on revealed that Preston had indeed netted five - against Witton Albion in the FA Cup!

Alan Murray (remember him?) had obviously found a suitable surface to practice on though, as Pools handed out a lesson to Preston that day. 10 Minutes, 1 up, another on 20 minutes. Two more in the space of a couple of minutes just after half time. I remember one Poolie who had gone for a pie at the break reappearing to discover he'd missed two goals and we were now 4 up! All good goals as well - a curling shot from Johnson for the fourth still lives in my mind's eye. Preston did pull one back - a well taken goal as well - but it was Pools triumphant, the fans singing White Christmas and Jingle Bells as we celebrated our win. Strangely the Preston Fan we'd talked to before the match was gone by the time we reached the car....

Following Pools of course has been rarely as good as this - memories of some Poolie disasters next time.