I wasn’t really feeling getting up last Saturday. The bed was warm and the outside wasn’t but a day out with Andrew “Rollo” Rollason had been planned so it was up and about…eventually.

I met Rollo in 2008 when he arrived at SciChem. I was the first face he saw at the company as I was working Reception/Trade Counter then. I moved upstairs in 2011, he joined me in the Customer Service office in 2017 and we had some right laughs in there. One memory was when he walked up to my desk, said “alright you fat prick?” then followed this up with a routine work question.. I later confirmed that this was the favourite thing I’d been called in a long time.

Rollo left in 2021 but we’ve kept in touch and he rings me nearly every week and we have a good natter. We also regularly text and just call each other random names. Famous criminals, disgraced politicians and despot world leaders tend to be amongst our favourite choices when doing this.

Back in November I reviewed Tiffany’s in Willenhall. It was one of my favourite articles and if you missed it you can catch it here. Rollo knows the owner Ben but had never been in his cafe. I’d been raving to Rollo about it ever since. I often say I must go back at the end of reviews but with this place I proper meant it. Rollo showed an interest in coming to the Walsall v Tranmere match. This would involve drinking. Stomachs would need lining so to quote a 90’s song I said “what about breakfast at Tiffany’s?”

We arranged to meet in Tiffany‘s at 11, go into Walsall for beer then head to Bescot. It was only the Sunday before when I realised the match was kicking off at 12.30. Organised Evans strikes again. We arranged a 10 am meet instead.

The t-shirt ironing tune of choice today was Let Your Love Flow by Bellamy Brothers. Great song and it always reminds me of the Barclaycard advert when the bloke walks out of the office and jumps in a water slide which takes him home. Appreciate my imagination gets the better of me at times and that the NHS has no money but it would be class if one of these could be installed at the Manor. Finish at 4.30, jump in the water slide and head home, waving at all the nurses on the West Wing en route. O ar. Anyway the 529 was on time and I was soon at Tiffany’s.

Rollo was there already along with his friends John and Hedgey. John’s young son Fionn was also there. Those three lads along with owner Ben were all in the same year at St Thomas More School. I also attended that place but left 7 years before they started. As per usual it was left to me to bring the mood down a bit which I happily did by expressing how much I hated the place and some of the attendees.

Breakfast then. In the week Tiffany’s had announced a new breakfast sharer, which is mossiv. Comes with cheese on toast too which is just genius. I wasn’t having it though. As much as I like Rollo, I’m not sharing my breakfast with him. I love breakfast and wouldn’t share it with anyone. Actually scrub that, if Patsy Kensit ever stops over at my house I’ll think about it.

Like last time I had the choose 10 items breakfast, as did Rollo whilst the others went a bit more off the menu. Talking of the menu I got to peruse it this time as I sat next to the big one on the wall. They do a sandwich called “The Kitchen Sink” called so as billed as everything but the Kitchen sink between bread. I like it when places put some thought into their sammo names.

Conversation was good, background music was Radio 1 again, the standout highlight being Kelly Clarkson “My Life Would Suck Without You” and the breakfast was class. I toyed with the idea of starting a big food fight to try and get Rollo barred from the place by his mate but the food was that good it was only being thrown in one direction. Down my throat.

My mate Asps was meant to join us but instead made a late cameo appearance to collect takeaways for the family. He did announce that he wasn’t going to the match due to the cold and was watching it instead at The Met Bar in town. I briefly felt a tad jealous but this quickly passed.

Rollo ordered a Uber, I exchanged pleasantries with Ben on the way out and he comes across as a top bloke and I wish his cafe all the best. Rollo and I quickly made a pact to go back very soon.

We got to the Railway Club in Pleck. Long standing mates of mine Gaz and Daz were already in there. Gaz was in a very lively mood as is standard with him and he was on good form. They kept trying to involve Rollo in the football chat so he fessed up that he’s a West Brom fan which they were fine with.

My mate Ashley was in and he was on the Baby Guinness shots and it wasn’t yet midday. I was impressed. I agreed with him how good they are and he said he wished they were bigger. So there you go publicans. Make big size Adult Guinness a thing.

Rollo suggested a taxi to the ground and I was fine with this. We offered Gaz and Daz a lift and this caused a discussion between them as they didn’t agree. At one point they were just staring at each other. It felt like a Dragons Den style stand off between business partners. I asked if they wanted to go to the back wall to discuss it. They eventually turned the lift down. Outside Rollo commented that his new jacket made him look like the Michelin Man. I asked if he was off to award a star to a restaurant later.

We made kick off and took our place in the stand alongside Jayne Mason who I’d not seen since she got back off her Cricket watching jaunt. Good to see you Jayne. We went 2 nil up, Harry Williams made an incredible block with his face from a fierce drive. Mark behind me suggested we ought to check if the ball was okay. Seriously Williams would head away a Kitchen sink for the team if need be. I should have brought one from Tiffany’s to check this.

Rollo headed to the bar, Tranmere had a man sent off and took over the game for a while, pulling a goal back on the stroke of injury time.

They were showing the game in the bar. Jayne Harris still had a pint left so we joined her. When I got my round in I was shocked at the price. Nearly £16 for 2 pints. I queried this, most unlike me but was told it was correct. I went back to the table and Rollo said his round was only £11 something so encouraged by Jayne and him I reluctantly went back up and yes she had charged me for 3 pints. The supervisor said “we can’t give refunds. Just give him another pint.” God job I like a booze.

We scored another 3 and it was a superb game. This was a historic win as it set a record as the first time in our history that we have won 8 league games in a row. I’ll admit I shed a tear at full time because this team is just so damn good and we haven”t thrown money around like promotion winners of last season. This club has come so far in the last couple of season and we are long overdue some good times.

We headed to The Locker. Thankfully the lights were on this time and the dj was playing some excellent tunes. It was very busy and joyous. John Heighway was in with a Belgian bloke who he had met on one of his trips over there and had flown in to watch our game, on his birthday as well. I hope he enjoyed his first visit. He was back home to watch Anderlecht the next day.

After a couple of hours Rollo got a taxi, I think to meet Hedgey although I still suspect he was sneaking off to award a restaurant a star whilst still in character.

Laura and Pez gave me a lift to Katz which I was very grateful for. It was busy in there too with a big number of fellow Walsall fans. John had beaten me there, but without the Belgian. Kimbo and Mrs Kimbo were in too, and fair play to her as she is a Tanmere fan and was still sporting her scarf.

It was ace in Katz but as the clock struck 6.30 I decided I’d drank enough and headed home, stopping for a Danny’s Chicken to break up the stroll home. I was home listening to the Indie Might on Radio X by 7.10.

What a day. Great times. I saw lots of top people and a bit of history too. Full credit to the ground staff for getting the game on, and the players for a convincing win in tough conditions. I’m now not drinking or eating out until February so the blog is going on mini hiatus again but I’ll be back soon, and thanks as ever for reading.