First home game of the season. Always a time of great excitement. Following two great away wins I was really up for this one.

It was Jack & Ada’s for brekkie. Not been for a while but it gave me chance to check out what must be the world’s slowest demolition project, nearby. Inside owner Paul and his son Sam were looking resplendent in matching Walsall away shirts from 1995.

There were already a few fellow Saddlers in, including John and Kimbo. John departed to do his Swifty duties so I replaced him at Kimbo’s table. Only the second time that I’ve sat in the lower tier in there.

Food came quickly and was great. I doused it in black pepper to boost my metabolism. I try to eat sensibly during the week but Saturday is “inject the calories into me” day. Kimbo was going pub after this, I was going Mozzas. My pre match has certainly changed and not for the better. They didn’t have the wholemeal wraps that I’d gone in for.

I got in the ground about a minute before kick off but that was far too early to go in the stand. I headed into the Bescot Bar, wished one of the barmaids “happy new season” then much to my surprise and delight the coffee machine was both working and still £1.50 a go. Inflation may have reached other parts of the ground but not this bit.

At half time I saw Josh and he mentioned a spare seat by him. Now Josh and I met through Walsall FC in 2010 and became bezzie mates but we really don’t do Walsall FC together. I’ve been with him at 3 away games and have never sat by him at home.

I accepted his offer and told my Niece Amber that I was going up. “What? Already?” It’s the earliest I’ve gone up for the second half in years. She’s only 33 so not really had the chance to experience me leaving the bar before her.

Match was 0-0. Decent point. My only grumble was we turned attack in defence quite quickly a couple of times but I like this team a lot. Jed Ward is class. Cheers to Pez for sorting me a ticket.

Post match and it was up to The Railway Club in Pleck to raise a glass for the recently deceased Belgian Saddler Neil Adams.

Asps, a long standing friend of Belge had played a blinder in putting it together and getting Neil’s family to the game, some from Belgium.

There was a great turn out. Saw folks I hadn’t seen in years and had some great catch ups.

Asps provided a great anecdote filled speech and then Neil’s daughters did some very moving tributes. So emotional.

I have some fantastic memories of Belge, probably topped when we were best men at Mark Cassell’s wedding. That day and the stag do that proceeded it saw Belge in his element.

Asps had sorted some amazing cobs and I watched with pride as Josh removed the tomato from his. He has inspired me in so many ways, and it was good to see him  doing something straight out of my manual.

I had a great chat with Kev Paddock who shouldn’t have even been in the country. He should have been in Las Vegas but a combination of illness and injury to him and his partner Rico had ruled that out. He gave a shrug and said “Pleck or Vegas eh?” I said it sounded like an album title and asked if I could nick it.

So cheers to Mark Andy Phil Claire Nicky Jonah Elliot Mark Vicky, Tomo Sue Matt Charlotte Jayne Ryan Granty Paul Simon Leon Bodger and everyone else that I saw. I’m bound to have missed someone.

Big shout out to Ollie and Jane behind the bar along with the two other ladies serving drinks. They did a great job. The Railway Club is open before all home games and is fully decked out in wall to wall Walsall FC paraphernalia including a calendar with Aden Flint as Mr August. It’s well worth a visit.

Josh and I departed. I wanted to retick off the old Bar NV as it has another new name. Despite my best efforts I didn’t manage to tick it off as Room 112. They were somewhat relaxed with their approach to trading and I only saw it open once, marching in to find a private party in full flow.

Josh said it had been open the night before with disco lights in full flow. We strolled along Wednesbury Road – dodging a prostitute on the early shift and got there to find it closed.

Josh had received a call from his wife Lyndsey offering a Chinese if he he got home before 8, paid for by his youngest daughter. He had to pay after 8 so he decided to get the bus and take up his daughters offer.

I strolled into town and stopped on a bench for a social media break. Whilst there a kid came along gleefully kicking a box all the way down Bradford Street then two others were setting about each other with those foam scaffolding protectors. And that poll said Walsall is a miserable unfriendly town? It’s just fun fun fun like the Red Dawrf theme. At this point I should mention that I am very unfriendly. I didn’t take part in the survey. I’d have dragged the score down, had I spoken to them obviously.

I was heading to Katz as I hadn’t seen Jase and Mel for a few weeks, grabbed some pound notes and walked the long way around.

I’m very easily startled but not easily surprised. I was about to be the latter. At the bottom of Leicester Street a horse came casually around the corner and stopped outside the Wetherspoons. It had showed about the same level of urgency as the horses that I tend to back in The Grand National, but I understood this. Last orders was still hours away. Perhaps it wanted a whisky and a er steeplechaser. Sorry, it took me half an hour to think of that pun so had to use it.

I heard an “Evo” but I was still in shock at the horse so didn’t quite respond immediately but then looked around to see Mase, Sean, Chris, Panda and Jack.

“Are you coming to the Tap And Tanner?” I was asked, possibly by Mase.
“There’s a horse” is all I could respond. “What?” I reiterated it and they were all shocked too. But yes, I agreed to The Tap.

As I entered I saw Sarah Allen on her way out and gave her a peck on the check but instead of the usual greeting, all I could utter was “There’s a horse down there”. Not sure she believed me, and why would she? I was pleased she turned round to look.

I don’t go in The Tap much nowadays – no real reason but not been in since St George’s Day so was up for it. I was served straight away which was ace. Service has been really bad at times in the past and as I walked outside I remembered the time I bumped into Kev Paddock and Dan Gilbert in there and offered to buy a round. Kev produced a £20 note and said he’d sort the round if I fetched them. He actually thought I’d run off with his money with how long it took me to get served that time.

Outside, Sean and Jack had this blue drink which looked as wrong as it did intriguing. I meant to ask what it was but I was still thinking about the horse. Mase commented that drinking that would be like sucking on a toilet block.

Panda asked if I’d just got in town like they had. I replied I was going Katz but I came this way (a) in case I saw a horse and (b) in case I bumped into folk, both boxes ticked.

Odd incident of the day came shortly afterwards. A lad who had already come over to convey that he was in an advanced state of refreshment wandered over to me again and asked if I could do him a favour which I agreed to.

“Could you check if my mate has a little dick?” Said mate was advancing towards me with hands on his belt buckle and a grin on his face. It didn’t happen and we laughed it off. Panda was “you don’t half attract them.” I certainly seem to.

The group broke up shortly afterwards and I headed to Katz, noting that the horse had gone. It was probably making its way upstairs in Wetherspoons for a piss.

In Katz, Joe advised that they had alcohol free Cobra in so I had to give that a whirl.

A band were set up outside and as much as I wanted to stay, I was envious of Josh’s Chinese and getting peckish so I drained the Cobra – which was decent and headed next door to Lucky Star.

There was a very friendly welcome. The usual lady, who arrived here on a Bosman from Lee Garden on Stafford Street wasn’t on. I wondered if she’d got another move during the Summer transfer window. She must have a good agent.

With sweet and sour crispy king prawn balls in hand I wished the nice lady goodnight and wondered home.

Great day, decent point for the Saddlers and Belge got the send off he deserved.

Stop press.

As I strolled through Walsall last night 29/08/26, what did I see ? The R1 Bar (Old Bailey) has a new sign. Room 112 has moved then? Hope I get to tick it off in it’s new home. It could have already reopened for all I know but just adopting the opening hours of its time on Bradfordt Street.