February 26 2009

Selhurst Park

For maybe the third time in his decades-long support of CPFC, Jamesey declined to attend a game he could have gone to.

Evening games have never appealed to me particularly.

When I was still working it was always a rush to get to Selhurst and fit the time in for a couple of beers beforehand. Then there was the prospect of getting home late, feeling knackered and having to plan next day's work schedules.

Now, I am retired different reasons prevail and our Tuesday fixture with Birmingham City (Feb 24) held all the appeal of an over-60s sex romp with Ann Widdecombe and Esther Rantzen.

It wasn't financial because I am a season card holder. And, unlike the earlier weeks of 2009, it wasn't even particularly cold, although I think young, healthy human beings (probably the majority of HOL members) probably underestimate the discomfort of a chill winter's night effect on aged bones.

There was an extremely attractive football game on ITV, Inter-Milan v Man U, which offered skill, drama and an interesting personal issue between Ferguson and Mourinho.

And to be honest, I seem to have lost a lot of my usual enthusiasm in recent months. I understand that our performance against Brum was pretty acceptable but I have witnessed some pretty dire performances this season, particularly against Ipswich, Blackpool and Watford (FA Cup).

Maybe the combined effect of the above, plus a chairman who has lost interest and is desperate to unload the club, a manager who is talking about retirement in 2010, plus a selling policy for our best players, finally made me stay indoors.

No doubt my absent posterior was included in the seated tally of 12,800 claimed by the club. As we know, in reality the figure was probably 8000-8500. I was obviously not entirely in a minority in my decision to stay away.

However, I will be back at our next home game, come hell or high water, after this little lapse.

In conclusion, over the years I have received a lot of emails from members - some complimentary, some indifferent, some abusive. But my criticisms of our want-away chairman in my last column ("Simon - another wobbler" Feb 22) drew a response which really took the biscuit in crackpot self-delusion.

In his first broadside, this correspondent couldn't believe that I "would stoop to such a low level of judging SJ". He went on to ask "Why do so called fans like you take so much pleasure in discrediting him when he has done so much."

The correspondent also thought I should be ashamed of myself for writing stuff like this.

Well, everyone is entitled to their opinion.

More hysteria followed and I was told that if I wanted to be a journalist I should try writing about real life.

But the best smile came when this "passionate Eagles fan" recounted how he had sent his season ticket back after losing a home game during the Alan Smith era (2000-2001). He said he received a phone call from Simon Jordan and they spoke for an hour about SJ's vision of the club.

Anyone of us who have ever tried to contact Simon Jordan for any reason at all would find this truly miraculous!

Like many such people he then goes on to huff and puff about what a marvellous Palace fan he has been for 40 years, etc, etc, etc.

I think it was Dr Johnson who said "patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel" Likewise, blowing your own trumpet about what a wonderful Palace supporter you are must be the last refuge of an idiot.

Email Jamesey with your comments to jevans3704@aol.com

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