You could be right Nic, although my old man wasn't a Cockney, but, coming from Mitcham, he liked to think he was. If Uncle Ned rhymed with bed, that was good enough for him.

Dad and I watched games standing on the muddy slope of the Holmesdale Road end. He cheered and I rattled.

Some claim that rhyming slang is originally Irish.

Red and Blue Army!

As in Irish jig. Wig?

Thrupenny bits.

Plates (of meat) - feet
Pen (and ink) - stink
Daisies (daisy roots) - boots
Bread (and honey) - money
Frog (and toad) - road
Barnet (fair) - hair
Syrup (of figs) - wig
Boat (race) - face
Loaf (of bread) - Head
North (and south) - mouth
Rosie (Lee) - tea
Butchers (hook) - look
Weasel (and stoat) coat

The last on this list is possibly the 'weasel' in the old rhyme, although it is also thought to be interchangeable with 'whistle'. When something was pawned, it was called 'popped', and poorer people would 'pop' their less needed possessions frequently in times of need. A coat was not needed in the summer, and a suit wasn't needed much at all.

Systematically dragged down by the lawmakers

Yeah I know. I worked on a building site next to The Eagle. It was a coppers pub then, from Old Street nick. I doubt it still is though in these modern times.

We didn't drink there by the way, we used a pub down the road that had strippers. Those were the days....

Systematically dragged down by the lawmakers