OUT OF AFRICA – AND ON TO WEMBLEY

28-05-2007

Thirty three thousand Baggies supporters will be heading to Wembley today to watch the Championship play-off final – including one fan who’s travelled 6,000 miles from South Africa for the game.

Nick Harries from Stafford has been following the Albion since 1966, and watched the FA Cup Final in 1968 – the club’s last major trophy.

Throughout the club’s glory years of the late 60’s and 70’s he was there standing on the left side of the Brummie Road – I know, because that’s where I met him.

During the dreary, unsuccessful seasons of the early 70’s and most of the 80’s and 90’s he was there as well, as the terraces gave way to seating. As he says: “I’ve been there through the good years, and there through the bad years.”

But a couple of years ago, his job as a heating engineer took him to Johannesburg, and for the first time in his adult life, he’s had to miss watching his beloved team on a weekly basis – although on his regular trips home, he’s made sure that he’s been there.

“I flew out in October on the morning when we beat Wolves 3-0, but I came back for the Coventry game when we won 5-0 so it’s not all bad. I went to Plymouth away as well, but I missed the 7-0 against Barnsley and both the play-off games”.

Once Wembley was on the horizon though, there was no question where he was going to be on this Bank Holiday weekend. Work – and the possibility of emigration to South Africa - could wait. He was heading back to Blighty.

Fortunately, Nick had taken the precaution of infecting his 17-year old son Nathan with the Baggies bug, and the lad ensured that his dad was sorted with a ticket for the final.

No doubt tomorrow there’ll be much talk (again) about how much money is on offer in the Premier League if Albion win; and about the pressure their manager Tony Mowbray will be under if they lose.

For me, though, days like this are about guys like Nick; regular blokes who just love their football, and who – unlike the players, coaches and increasingly the directors – will be there come what may.

Win or lose, he’ll have memories to treasure, and he’ll go to sleep tomorrow night dreaming of future glory for his team.

Now that’s what football’s about.