Help the Hatters Update 33

Surely......you would think......at 05.45 on a Bank holiday Monday morning, the good citizens of the Borough of Stockport, and surrounding districts, would be cosily abed snuggled up to wife or girl/ boy friend or whatever.

 

The scene 05.45 outside Booth St looking towards Armoury roundabout.

But no.......come that time this Monday, I was not even close to being first on the scene at Booth Street....to be sure only Mike Hopper of the organisers was there( M.I.A.H, arriving via taxi at a slothful 05.48)

 

Early risers -Mike H and a man not in a hat!

but the highways were thoroughly blocked by an English Armada of cars that filled the length of Booth Street and Mercian Way from the car park to the Armoury round about! It was one of those days and, with the sun blazing forth mercilessly( it had to didn`t it as I had `layered up’ like one of Amundsen`s party off to the Pole),

 

Not a square inch to spare...........

and  with over 140 booters booked on it was all action for the team that turned out from 06.00 pretty much to the finish.

 

Gate Crew- Joan and Julie.

 I left at 12 ish and cannot remember things being so unremittingly busy, but Angela`s organisational genius held sway and backed by an almost flawless team performance, it all went off brilliantly- a massive credit to all involved!

David Wright mid shift!

For me the only disappointment was seeing County legend Barry Hartle ( 1967- 1970) arrive early doors , and for me to fail in my attempt thereafter to get a pic of the nippy left winger. Never mind....here`s one  kindly provided by Club Historian Ian Watts!

 

Barry Hartle.

“ When`s the next Car Boot then?” I hear you exclaim, and I reply” possibly June 22, but await confirmation of this”. You can keep abreast of information regarding this and other HtH matters via the website at http://helpthehatters.co.uk  or the Help the Hatters  Facebook page, and this writer will continue to pound your in tray with mail.  

 

WP 2 Team.......

The next day ( Tuesday 27th) saw the action switch to Edgeley Park where Help the Hatters Supporters Cooperative Board member  John Gaskin took charge as Working Party 2 took wing.

Attention focused initially on the Main ( Danny Bergara) Stand, where preparation began for the paint job that would hopefully start next Tuesday. Scrapers, wire brushes, brushes and of course a fulsome supply of bin-bags were   the tools of choice as the concourse was made ready for a spruce up. The Hoover came out as well to pick up the stuff mere mortals could not reach. Simultaneously John G and fellow Supporters Coop Board man Paul Charnock headed for the Railway End, which we did such an ace job on last pre-season. 

 

The Railway End.

This time it was n`t paint work but the terrace that was the focus  , and John and Paul were joined later by the rest of the team who set about clearing  rubbish , weeds etc in and around the seating area. Not an easy option at all!  

After a break for refreshments circa 20.00, Paul, Kip,& myself had to depart leaving Neil and Luke Chetham , John G, Julie C, David W finishing off on the Railway End terrace......Natalie T, Barbara and Fitzi dealing with other stuff.

 

Everything stops for tea..........

With a good few regulars on holiday, numbers were down( just 12 turned out),and we really do need supporters to turn out in numbers to ensure much needed tasks are sorted in the limited time available to us before football starts again. In  this respect it is highly possible that some Saturday Working Party sessions will take place , so keep an eye out for word from myself alerting you to these additional dates.

Finally......the paint for next Tuesday is sorted, but we are still trying to obtain blue paint . It needs to be Leyland Oxford Blue,and we also need None slip Grey paint, so if you are able to help  by donating any of this, please contact John Gaskin on john_gaskin@hotmail.com   

I.O County

Ian Brown