Give Yootha chance

Saturday 11th February
Football League Championship
Hull City 3 Bristol City 0

As part of his excellent “Does This Make Sense?” blog, Matthew Rudd recently made reference to the 1970s sitcom ‘Man About The House’, from which came the spin-off ‘George & Mildred’ starring Brian Murphy and Yootha Joyce.

It's another nod towards the era that Dominic Sandbrook catches almost perfectly in his “State Of Emergency – Britain: The Way We Were 1971-74”, a book I’ve previously lauded.  And our seemingly endless fascination with all things 1970s was again evident in the topic of conversation that was taking place in Hull’s Pave Bar prior to the Tigers’ clash with Bristol City on Saturday.

More specifically, the topic over which the "City fans of several years standing" I was sitting with were working themselves into quite a lather concerned the attractions (or otherwise) of the youthful Ms Joyce.  The obvious relish with which they threw themselves into the subject had me wishing I’d got to the pub when they had – one pint of admittedly good Wold Gold wasn’t quite stimulating enough to paint the same pictures of feminine pulchritude that these chaps saw as the youthful future “Mildred Roper”.

I'd arrived in Pave - eventually - after negotiating a whole host of obstacles designed to prevent my attendance. Following the postponement of our League Cup tie against Southwell, the extremely generous @Tigerkj64 of City Twitterati fame had offered me use of an adult and U10’s season pass, due to illness in her family.

Without boring you with the details, other family considerations meant I was first in, then out, then in again, then out again before, at half-past-eleven that morning, back in...again.

Thus armed with a winter-warmer flask of sloe gin and with transport provided by Mrs Slush, I found myself sat in the cosy confines of Pave discussing Seventies TV with the aforementioned Kate and some very honourable members of what could once be termed City’s “long-suffering support”. 
For a minute it reminded me of the old Boothferry Park pre-match sessions in The Griffin.  But we've all come a long way since then.  Especially City.

Just prior to Christmas 2010 I took the Elder Slushette to the 2-0 home win over today’s opponents. It was possibly the coldest I’ve ever been in the stadium (although the 0-1 defeat at the hands of Aston Villa in the Premier League runs it very close). Today promised to match it hence it was little surprise when Emma opted to go shopping with her mum rather than take up Tiger Kate’s spare pass.

This was my first game spent in the South Stand since the last England U21s international at the venue; and the first time I’d watched City from that end since the 3-1 win over Watford in the ultimately successful Championship run-in of 2007/08.

At least Kate’s seats, well towards the back, meant I finally got chance to have a view on the recent comments surrounding the state of the KC pitch. And by gad it didn’t look great.

Before the game both sides observed a minute’s silence in memory of the 74 people who lost their lives in the riot at the recent Egyptian League clash between Al-Masry and Al-Ahly, the latter a team with whom City owner Assem Allam has traditional links. While fully understanding the reasons for wanting to show their support,  I’m with the Amber Nectar chaps in also thinking something similar should have occurred following the recent deaths of ex-City skipper Paul Feasey and former chairman Bob Chapman.  Those in charge obviously disagreed.

Unsurprisingly the turn out from Brizzle came nowhere near the very creditable 800+ that Donny had brought the previous midweek. Reports were that the Robins had sold 149 advance tickets and as such they looked somewhat lost without any City support to accompany them in the North Stand. Given their team’s away record, those having made the trip deserve utmost respect. However, after only quarter of an hour, they were probably wishing they’d stayed at home.

By then goals from skipper Jack Hobbs (really?) from a corner (really??) and – who else – Robbie Koren had put Nick Barmby’s “yoothful” (sorry!) City side well and truly in the driving seat. And by the break it should have been more. Brizzle were poor, although they did come close to halving the deficit when Adomah rattled the bar and James Chester cleared Wood's follow-up off the line.

If I had any complaints about the first half, they would be: (1) the number of chances missed that would have put the game beyond doubt by the break; and (2) the lack of noise from the East Stand.

On the day that the Football Supporters Federation brought its Safe Standing Roadshow to the ground, there was no clearer reminder of what’s missing from the old Boothferry Park matchday experience than a full East Stand watching a City side totally dominating the opposition but barely able to raise more than the odd half-hearted “Barmby Army” chant in response.  Am I being harsh?

During the interval I tried contacting Stiffs skipper Rutter, basking in the comfort of a day out with the match sponsors. However, he was obviously too busy regaling former City defender Justin Whittle with his tales of derring-do up and down the fields of East Yorkshire to answer his phone.  Cuh!

Matty Fryatt has come in for criticism recently following a barren run in front of goal. Thus there was more than a hint of relief when the striker linked superbly with Koren to score the decisive third and kill things off in the second half. His celebration said it all.

The rest of the game was played out against a backdrop of calm satisfaction in the stands – there’d be no need for Saint Nick to complain about booing today.

At the final whistle, after bidding my new South Stand acquaintances farewell, I took the chilly walk back to St Stephen’s where Mrs Slush and the Elder Slushette awaited.  Totally ignorant of the Tigers’ win and a fourth consecutive clean sheet, they were instead delighted to tell me about their own success that afternoon - they'd seen the guinea pig cage they want.  Ahem.

“Shall we have take away tea to celebrate?” said Mrs Slush.

“Why not? And I’ll pay.” Well, if you can't splash the cash after a City win.

It had turned out to be cracking Saturday.  All that was left was to look up some old pics of Yootha; preferably pre-Mildred Roper of course…

Allams be praised!

Saturday 18th December - Hull City 2 Bristol City 0

Thank God for the undersoil heating at the KC Stadium (and lack of snow in Hull) last weekend.  While another programme of local football - and indeed a large chunk of the professional game  - fell foul of the seemingly never-ending 'cold snap', The Tigers managed to provide me with my first taste of live match action for over a month.

What's more, they not only also came up with a win but one that was achieved by a performance offering plenty of hope for the future.  And I don't just mean the two goals that finally kick-started Jay Simpson's Hull City career.

The days leading up to the game had finally seen completion of the Allams' takeover.  It was a deal that has reportedly cost the Hull-based Egyptian father & son duo an initial £40M - some £21M more than was originally envisaged.  Such was the state of the club's finances unearthed by the "Period of Due Diligence" that the vast majority of this sum will be used simply to clear the club of debt.  How the hell did it get so bad?  Perhaps we'll never know.

But while the murkier details of what went on under the previous regime will no doubt be a subject of much debate by people far better qualified than me, the vast majority of those at The Circle appeared more concerned with the present and future rather than the apparent misdemeanours of the past.  And for most, me included, the future would appear bright.  Sonic gold in fact!

Given that the last Saturday before Christmas is usually notorious for poor attendances and with few Bristolians having braved what must have been a daunting trip north from the snow-bound West Country, another crowd in excess of twenty thousand was very creditable.

Not that such a figure appeared likely when my chauffeur for the day - Tiger Chat maestro, one-time fanzine editor and current Eastenders programme design guru Andy Medcalf - parked up his 4x4 with some ease; the lack of cars allowing a thorough investigation of the potholed-ridden surface that is Walton Street car park.

"Apparently it's gonna cost four million to tarmac this", said fellow passenger Kev.

"Funny how you never notice it's this bad at (Hull) Fair", came my somewhat weak response (I always prefer to park at t'Boulevard).

Also accompaying me was The Elder Slushette, about to enjoy her third ever City match (and second of the season).  I was hoping she would complete a winning hat-trick given her "success" in the previous two - Stoke last season and the 2-0 win over Swansea on the opening day.

It was the final instalment in a busy day of activities for daughter and me, which had begun with an early trip to the hairdressers.  "Dad, Mum's going to hate that", the Elder Slushette had commented as the final touches were made to my return to a crew-cut look of old.  She was right.

The last time I had had such a "close shave", it was a decade ago before heading off to see England's cricketers endure hard times in warmer climes.  And the latest incarnation had just about completed a second successive day of woe in the Third Ashes Test as we moved to the opticians, where I couldn't help but admire my eldest's crafty attempts to cheat her eye test.  After this it was off to drop her at the weekly Dance Class at the local leisure centre, which finally allowed me time to grab a welcome coffee and sausage sarnie in the excellent Castle Cafe.  
Those who know me will be aware that my praise for anything connected with the town of Withernsea is not given lightly, so when I describe this place as a little diamond you'll guess how much I like it!  And when the aforementioned Mr Medcalf contacted me to say he was now running an hour late due to Kev's "plumbing issues", I was allowed to sample it's delights again, this time in tandem with Elder Slushette on conclusion of her latest attempt to become the next Darcey Bussell.

Suitably fortified and wrapped up against the sub-zero temperatures, we arrived at the KC about an hour before kick-off.  The original plan, to make a bid for Pave Bar, had been thwarted by the aforementioned reasons beyond our control, although given the damage that some wonderful pints of Hambleton Stud and Brooklyn Beer had inflicted on me in the same venue only two nights before (works' bash), I can't say I was too disappointed to miss out!
Tickets collected and a nice new hat purchased for one's daughter from the club shop, we were up among the gods (well the media hacks!) at the back of West Stand Upper just in time for the first chords of "Tigers, Tigers Burning Bright..." and the eventual emergence of the teams.

The weather could hardly have been in starker contrast to the warm spring sunshine  which had accompanied that never-to-be-forgotten May afternoon at Wembley in 2008, the last time these two teams met.  Still, just in case the vising Wurzels had forgotten it, the E1 choir were only too kenn to remind them of that particular occasion.  I actually found these taunts a touch uncomfortable.  One of the things that had struck me at the Play-Off Final was the fantastic manner in which most Bristol fans had taken defeat; in many ways it appeared to forge a new bond between supporters of both clubs.  It would have been nice to have reflected that rather than continue to gloat - if only to have shown some appreciation for the sterling efforts our visitors had made in making what must have been a hellish trip up here.  Perhaps I'm going soft!   
The ensuing ninety minutes has already been extensively reported and blogged about.  Suffice to say a goal in each half from Jay Simpson proved the difference, although Man Utd loanee Cameron Stewart and homegrown youngster Jamie Devitt both passed up the chance to add to the tally.  Meanwhile, defensively a superb last-ditch clearance by Anthony Gerrard typified another no-nonsense display and a tenth clean sheet.  Overall, it was the best I've seen the Tigers play without a certain Mr Bullard in the side and it probably ranked alongside the Derby game in terms of enjoyment.
Aside from the obvious bonus of Jay getting rid of his unnecessary "Homer" tag with two instinctive finishes, the main plus-points for me were the performances of  Gerrard and central defensive partner Zayatte, the leadership of Ashbee (again!) and the flair of young Stewart, whose pace and willingness to run at defenders caused the visitors problems all afternoon.  It is something that was sadly lacking from the City side on the occasion of my last visit.  Meanwhile, if you're looking for omens for a brighter second half to the season, it's perhaps worth recalling that a loan player from the same parent club as Stewart played a significant part the last time these two teams met...and look where he helped get us!
Given that my aforementioned last game at the KC was the Sheffield United defeat, the atmosphere inside the ground couldn't fail to have been better, although in truth it wasn't quite the "cauldron of noise" urged for beforehand as a way of showing the Allams the depth of people's appreciation.
Still, at least the crowd came to life at half-time, when welcoming Stuart Elliott back on to the pitch for the first time since the Ulsterman's scoring feats helped City to back-to-back promotions.  Currently in Hull training to be a pastor, his reception almost matched that given the Tigers' other "saviours" prior to kick-off.

All-in-all, the welcomes afforded the Allams, Elliott and the first of hopefully many goals in amber & black for the boy Simpson helped augment a new feel-good factor sweeping around the Circle.  Not to mention helping me overcome the disappointment of yet another barren weekend on the grassroots front.  
Long may it continue, especially as next Tuesday, Elder Slushette and I will be looking to clinch her a third 2-0 win!