Audlem FC Report

Sunday morning. Grey sky . Mild and calm . I state this as we have readers in the USA and the Antipodes .

My musings

Romanian trip . Caught a video of a Swedish motorcyclist riding through Germany, Hungary , Croatia and en route to Romania . Fascinating to be on the bike with him as he filmed all with his helmet camera . All on YouTube.

And it brought back a memory of a business trip I made in 1972 . With two colleagues , Harry Whitaker and Vaughan Lewis ( who sadly later became an alcoholic and died falling down the stairs of his house one morning -- Sad case leaving his lovely wife and little children )

To assess a fine gauge knitwear factory there.

Flew into Bucharest and at the police border we were required to list all the currency we had with us. Both Rumanian Lei and our sterling or US dollars . As we were required to declare how much we were taking home with us . A big black market on the Lei .

Off we trundled to our hotel. Fairly basic and utilitarian and the whole place quite grim. A poor looking country with Ceausescu ruling the roust along with his cruel wife . A real dictatorship where life was cheap and children treated appallingly . I wonder if you recall the report of the filthy conditions which housed young babies in such soiled cots in a disgusting orphanage .

On the night as we ventured out for some local dinner , we were approached by characters offering currency at very good rates to the dollar and like a fool I agreed to buy his roll of lei . Only to find, as they scampered away, that I had notes wrapped round wallpaper . Served me right.

Following day we had to travel to the business centre near the Carpathian Mountains.

We hired a car. Driving out of the capital city , I inadvertently went down a one way street and were stopped by a huge police man in a long double breasted coat- ankle length , in grey with red epaulets and a pistol in his belt . Big black fur hat. Very aggressive. Pleaded ignorance and "no speak the language." A 50 dollar bill enabled us to carry on , but I was very scared .

Made it to the place and to the large well equipped factory for 21 gauge knitwear with latest Japanese knitting machines . Looked positive . Sampled and mailed back for our Lab and quality control to test etc .

We booked into a mountain hotel up atop the Carpathian Mountains. Like a ski lodge. .Mountains rising to over 8000 feet but we were only about 1000 feet up .

Sadly only two rooms available , with one double bed in each . So we tossed coin as to who got what. Vaughan won so I was left to sleep with Harry . Who had a huge beer belly. And through the night he took all the bed clothes as I lay listening to the night life of nature -- and so cold. In the morning we saw beautiful big eagles riding the air currents, with haunting cries. Their feather tips of the wings feeling the air currents, like fingers .

An adventure not forgotten and yet more border stamps in my passport .I have a stack of old out of date such passports containing many such stamps .

But enough

The game

Once more we play at home . Versus Lions FC. Yet more strong opposition .

Ross comes here to collect the team sheets and key to the changing rooms.

Dan Rooney progressing well but off work for at least three weeks more with his broken arm in plaster . I hope he is not losing out money wise

1100

And away they go . Full of testosterone and lots of hope .

Play well in this first half and we look like scoring . And for sure, a duper assist by Ben Walker is met by Adam Caunt , who nets it very well. Can we hope ?

Half time and at 2-1 we can have a chance .

Second half and we set off . But class tells as we do not keep our shape , allowing the Lions to score anther three .

Game over at 5-1 .

Off all troop to the Bridge Inn and Sharon and Richard served tasty sausages and chips !

Next game not yet given to us but my guess is that we will be playing away .

Still stuck at home as I try to battle my way to fitness .

Ralph Warburton

Audlem Football Club