The roar of the greasepaint

Tuesday and it was on board a Naarich bound Stadler Bi-mode Basil, QR code E match ticket on my phone at the ready. A swift pint in the Glasshouse and then we were striding down Prince of Wales Road in a sea of yellow and green, once home to all man and woman and inbetweeners could want from the night time economy, now just dusty empty shells in the main. Covid has shafted most of the night clubs and eateries. 

Up the concrete steps and first sight of  a fantastic pre season billiard table sward for the first time for two long years, glistening under the lights. 10,000 in as well. Soak it all up.

Had forgotten the uneasy miasma of Lynx, burgers and stale Carling breath but not the buzz of it all. Coming home indeed even as a neutral. In truth League One visitors  Gillingham FC were no match for a slick passing Norwich City, even without 7 first team players available through Covid. 5-0 was flattering for Gillingham,  you could see their keeper  almost praying to be subbed by the second half and 4 had gone in.

It really was classy stuff, and though he's a lightweight small girls blouse Toddy Cantwell was a good  wavy Alice-banded locks head and shoulders above anyone else on the pitch in terms of movement, touch and passing.  Check out his bicycle kick shot come assist.  Different gravy as they say. Will be a surprise if he's still with City by deadline day even with the  Canaries being for this season Top Tier Premier Leaguer's. Money is on him going to Villa to join ex Canary  Buendia, especially if short socks Grealish leaves Villa Park. And I wonder how soon he learns VAR is not always a friend of the boy who cried wolf. Speaking of Grealish......

45 minutes to kill before the Vomit Comet last Basil home and I got right shafted in the Complete Angler. £5.80 for  a pint of Camden Hells.

No bugger was observing this on the train either.