Page 211 - 368603 LP250721 AWY AWY AWY Book (238pp A5)
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                goals, and with McLaughlin in great form behind them I'm feeling confident about our defence for once. I'll be setting off to the game in an hour or so to meet three mates who I've known for over fifty years and we've had many ups and downs watching S.A.F.C. over that period but I think this afternoon is going to be an up and my match prediction is a 2-1 win, maybe after extra time.
I had several Guinnesses in the Victoria and Albert Bar at Marylebone Station, which was mainly occupied by friendly Charlton fans, one of whom was born next to the Grindon Mill but had a funny London-Sunderland accent. I don't know why he wasn't a Sunderland fan, though. Then we caught the train up to Wembley Stadium Station and managed to get a seat, which was surprising, before having a final slurp in the stadium. They certainly had all angles covered with a gin bar, a stout bar, a fish and chips bar and God knows what else bar. We got into our seats around 2.30 just in time to hear Bally give his pitch-side interview. The weather had turned gloomy and my mate said that it was more our kind of weather but it was dripping on us a bit. The starting line-up looked the same as the side that started against Portsmouth with McGeady, Gooch, Morgan, Grigg et al on the bench. I don't think I'd noticed the overhead camera zooting about all over the place at the Checkatrade Final but it was quite mesmerizing. As the national anthem was sung many in the crowd joined in but someone nearby just kept shouting,
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