Hatters Worldwide S2- 4 Phil Nuttall ( Canada )

 

 

 

 

 

 

When hedgegrower appealed for contributions to this second series of Hatters Worldwide, it was deliberately aimed at ANYONE ANYWHERE who was a County supporter outside the UK.

It was thus a great pleasure to receive this latest offering so passionately put together by Cricket playing County supporter Phil Nuttall who writes again from the other Hastings…the one in Canada!

It is always a pleasure to hear from Phil , and you can catch up on his story from series 1 here:-

https://hedgegrower.blogspot.com/2021/01/hatters-worldwide-8-phil-nuttall-canada.html

Over to you Phil……

 

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A few notes and a few pictures of bygone days

August will push 60 years since first I wandered down the concrete paddock steps in front of the main stand .......I left UK in 1984 a direct result of Dame Thatcher and her madness...best decision as ever made....…

 

 

 

…….  -25 C was more attractive than more years of Maggie Thatcher.......in fact -25 is about as frosty as Thatcher was........my reason for leaving UK as I say!

 

My old programmes it seems have all but gone but I dug through a few that might have relevance.

The first from 1988 season and the opposition number 5 probably has more familiarity now ....this was a piss poor game ..but proved to be enlightened by a somewhat buxom Liverpudlian Girl whose mum had never washed her mouth with soap and wow she spewed some wicked venom to players and officials

I am sure there are a few veterans who can name the team Chally was playing for .

So, there are County, buried in mid table safety amidst a plethora of teams who have enjoyed Premiership success ...what I like about this is a team County did the double on sitting fourth from bottom and desperately needing points to avoid relegation......I am not sure Mr Stotts plan includes multiple championships on the bounce ...but wow!!!

 

Huddersfield town first game I think 2008 and promotion ...18000 people ………heck of a day out.....I remember being concerned who would score goals I was right

Programmes from places like Ilkeston and Macclesfield and Stalybridge Celtic ....Rochdale & Oldham...Blyth Spartans and Kings Lynn all bring back memories……

Covid actually made watching County easier when I found where to locate the upload feeds ...( before they get scrambled) and using a back door watched a lot of this past season or pieces of it as life would allow ...5 hours behind has its drawbacks .

Tough not to have a Gannon era....and perhaps one of defining moments as a sold out Edgeley on the last day of the season .....a rare celebrated 0-0 draw...I flew in on the red eye arriving at Manchester at about 7am ...rented a car and was in Stockport  by 11......managed to buy a ticket outside for about 2x face .....the adrenalin and emotion of waiting for results ....the life of a County fan was summed up that day.

Not travelled internationally since Covid …..
It’s almost getting barbaric ...and they charge me extra for being discourteous ..serving awful food and shoe horning into a seat made for a 9 year old with short legs....of course age doesn’t help, 7 hour flights are no longer possible without a well-trodden path to the comfort suite

For me 2023-24 was about folks like you and some of the others who have followed this team for 40,50,60 years to have a well-funded fun to watch stable team with  ownership, management, playing and support staff who all seem to want to be there....the quality of football was good ....and yes that’s maybe relative to some of what the last 60 years has served up

I have decided not to participate in the Yellowboard forum anymore- some great scribes and some maybe not so much ....especially the armchair quarter backs

Wanted to recognize the tremendous job you do in your reports, articles and obvious passion ...it really is a labour of love and without question your contributions are enormous and well-read and received all over the world

Right boys 4:across the back and no biting whilst the ref is looking
 

 

Summer has now arrived in central Canada ....this is our “ soccer season” an 83 year old Lionel Messi is setting the league on fire ...and in 2026 the World Cup is coming though I am not sure anyone here will be able to afford a ticket....they are spending $380 million to host 6 games in Canada

 

 Sun goes down over Hastings

Regrettably I think my  in-person visits are done I am exploring a new interest in Full Contact Lawn Bowling

Thanks for everything

Phil Nuttall
Hastings Hatter

 

In thanking Phil again for this his second superb contribution to the series, can hedgegrower wish Phil good health and happiness in the future watching County progess up that football pyramid!