Yesterday was the first day of the football season so it was an early rise again for a trip to Morecambe. I really couldn’t afford to go so massive thanks to my amazing friends and Niece Swill, Sarah, Kev, Morti, Mase, Beth, Josh, Amber, Alan and Mark who secretly had a whip round to pay for my match ticket, travel, hotel and refreshments. Much love and thanks to you all.

Kev picked me up and we hit the M6. First discussion was the likelihood of Storm Antoni affecting us. My made Comedy had already posted that it was hitting them on holiday in Wales. I’d checked the BBC Weather site for Morecambe and it had advised 0% chance of rain all night, until 6am when it jumped to 80% staying like that all day until 5pm when it dropped to 79%. I commented on looking forward to that 1% drop on the walk back to the pubs.

My bladder was in a good mood for once so it was some way up the M6 before we stopped which was at Charnock Richard. I still wasn’t exactly bursting upon getting there which was a good as I struggled to find the loos, traipsing mournfully through restaurants and doing u-turns before eventually finding them. My visit was peaceful unlike Kev’s. His cubicle door wouldn’t lock so had 4 men try and join him in there plus his sat nav was still active on his phone so he was getting instructions mid flow. Good job this wasn’t me as if I’d had someone saying turn left/right whilst peeing, the bloke at the next urinal would have had wet shoes. They had new Dyson hand driers which was very exciting, they look like handle bars. Not as good as the Airblade that you stick your hands in. Sorry James.

We departed as Radio X played “You Gotta Fight For Your Right To Party”. What a great song to depart a service station car park too. We wondered whether Charnock Richard was an actual place or named after a local legend. Kev liked the idea that that they were two blokes. “Love, I’m just off to the pub to meet Charnock and Richard.”

We got to Morecambe and on getting out of the car a local pub started blasting out Bring Me Sunshine. What a way to announce our arrival. We couldn’t check into the hotel until after the game so we had no choice but to go to the pub and The Kings Arms looked lively so we dived in there.

Marvellous Matt Stacky was in there and I’d barely got through the door and he was shouting “Evooooooo”. It’s always good to get the first “Evooooo” of the season in early doors so nice box ticked.

The pub was already doing a brisk trade, so brisk that I was put off from having a go at the balance a 20p coin on the lemon game on the bar. Soon there was a full on sing song going on and it was ace. Matty Lunt who was leading most f these then pointed at me and gave it the “Evo give us a song, Evo Evo give us a song”. I hadn’t had my vocal warm up though so politely declined. A short while later the young son of the delightful Shelley Large started a song. I was very impressed but also a bit jealous.

We’d dodged the torrential rain on the walk from car to pub yet within 20 minutes people were walking in soaked though. We somehow missed it again when moving onto Harrys Bar. This was a bit more sedate and provided good conversation time. I also took full advantage of the shop next door. Well you have to buy a stick of rock when at the seaside don’t you?

There were no taxi’s so we had to walk to the ground which was a jaunt. I thought I’d got my steps in for the day hunting for the toilets at the station of Mr Charnock and Mr Richard, but no. There was more. As I approached the turnstile people were being frisked. wondered if he would feel the stick of rock in my pocket. If he did, he didn’t comment.

Anyway the match was a bit poo. We went behind but equalised before half time. I’ve seen lots of Walsall goals but also missed plenty. This was the first one I’ve seen with a stick of rock in my gob.

Half time was really good chatting to lots of people. We really are a tight knit fan base. We don’t have massive crowds, Walsall FC have a strict quality over quantity policy when it comes to supporters and I’m chuffed to know so many of them.

Second half was much better but we managed to throw it away in true Walsall FC style. We headed back, the chances of rain at 5pm had thankfully receded by 79% and we checked into the Auckland Hotel. This is a modern but traditional feeling hotel. You don’t have to put a card in a slot to turn the lights on which is nice. The shower comes with a reflective knob which allows you to see yourself when sitting on the toilet. I like to think this is a key criteria for some when searching for somewhere to crash.

I made a coffee and checked the footie scrores including The F A Cup and there was exciting news. Not only is Charnock Richard an actual place but their team played in said competition beating Squires Gate 7-0. Walsall FC announce Charnock Richard (a) in the first round, especially as I now know where the toilets are at the services.

I met the lads in The Old Bank but before I’d got served Jay announced we were moving on and headed round the corner to Palatine. This is a great bar, the upstairs Manhunter Restaurant raised my interest. A very ignorant woman barged into me whist on her way for a piss and despite us being served I had to wait for my beer as the barmaid explained the good places to go in town.

It was a good vibe in here, there was a singer on although Rob was out performing him with his new Danny Johnson song. We were joined by more Saddlers like Derek and Thompo and it was a great couple of hours.

As we left I announced to Kev that I was going to grab a Chinese and go back to the hotel. He opted to join me which was good because as we walked in it became apparent that it was a restaurant not not a take away but before I knew it Kev was sat down asking for a menu. “Oh, were staying then?”. The waitress found us a nice table for two at the back. Kev commented “this suddenly fees like a date”. “Mate, I’ve not had a date in 10 years so I’m fine with that”. He even stuck a flower behind his ear for added effect.

The food came really quickly. Kev asked for a crash course in using chop sticks. I wasn’t that interested to be fair. I’d rather learn how to use drum sticks than the chop variety, but after finishing my divine curry which was rammed full of chicken I had a little go with the sticks. First attempt failed. 2nd go I got a chunk of rice in my mouth, 3rd attempt I got the rice up close before it all fell away. Those toy grabbing machines on the front would have nodded in appreciation at that.

We departed and were followed out by 3 blokes who we got chatting too. A Morecambe fan who admitted they didn’t deserve the win, a fellow Saddler and a bloke from Luton who supports them, MK and Man United. This blew mine and Kev’s minds. How can you support Luton, MK and Man U? I don’t get the whole second team thing, let alone 3rd teams. I find supporting 1 team is more than enough.

The Morecambe fan tried to get us to join them for more supping but we politely declined. We headed back and I was soon in my room listening to Nick Abbot on LBC and reflecting on a wonderful day.

Apologies for ending on a slightly maudlin tone but last month was the 10th anniversary of the death of my mom and one of my memories of her was her posing by the Eric Morcambe statue and I wanted to recreate this. It wen well to be fair and on the various social media platforms I saw many other Saddlers also doing this.