Cup Final Day 2005 - Arsenal v Man Utd

Arsenal win on penalties following a Paul Scholes miss!

As an Everton supporter, I couldn't care less! It has been bad enough since the European Cup Final on 25th May when Liverpool outdid Lazarus for the comeback of all time. Not a good time to be an Evertonian in the Red City at the moment chaps!

Anyway, enough of that and down to the business of reporting the O.H. Reunion on Saturday 21st May 2005.

As in 2002, I arranged to meet Bryn Gear in Harlow (he still won't attend the reunion) and spent a very pleasant few hours with him. Roger Beck joined us and we went for an Indian meal in the Raj something or other in the High St. Very nice too. Roger then went off to see his sister in Woodford, or is it Chigwell?

Bryn and I then repaired to the Green Man to "half watch" the Cup final (more of that in a moment) and have a natter.

The weather didn't know what to do with itself - Sunshine, pouring rain and blustery winds. At one point the rain came gushing in through the open window at the Green Man and soaked the pair of us.

Not surprisingly, the pub was packed with Arsenal supporters and, surprisingly, a few Man Utd supporters, so whilst both teams traditionally play in red, the air was rather blue! The first half appeared to be rather boring and Bryn and I didn't pay a lot of attention to it as we were deep in to All Our Yesterdays and were soon joined by the ubiquitous Mr Alexander (always to be located near alcohol!).

This year, I acted with great restraint and stuck to Diet Coke in the afternoon. Last year I vaguely remember being 3 sheets to the wind by the time I arrived at St John's!

The second half started and the noise in the bar was beginning to interfere with our conversation when suddenly the Big Screen went blank apart from a sign that said "No Satellite Signal Being Received" - or words to that effect. Well, the air suddenly became even Bluer than before. "You want to pay your effing Sky bill mate!" "Get up on the effing roof and fix that dish!" etc. etc.

Occasionally, the picture would reappear to a massive cheer "Yesssssss!" from the ensemble, only to disappear 10 or 20 seconds later to a resounding "Nooooooo!" This provided us with some mild amusement for half an hour, and then it became irritating. Several supporters drifted out, cursing at the landlord, barman, barmaid and whoever else they could blame for ruining their FA Cup Final.

At about 86 minutes into the game the picture was restored and the fans that remained were just as noisy and the rest of the game, extra time, penalties etc was watched. By this time, Bryn had said his goodbyes and Phil Alexander and I had returned to our rooms to watch the rest of the game uninterrupted on our TV's.

Roger duly returned from visiting his sister Sally, (he had been to collect his Old Boy's tie, which he had left last year!)- Was that the last time you saw your sister Roger?

Foolishly, upon discovering that I had a twin bedded room I told Roger he could stay in my room rather than drag his sister all the way from Chigwell/Woodford to drive him back to stay at hers. (My wife tells me I snore, does yours tell you Roger? If not - you do!)

So Roger arrives (in a whirlwind as usual). "Damn, blast, bugger!" "What's the matter Roger?" "I have left my navy blue trousers at home!" He moans. "Have you got another pair?" "Yes but they are only a 34" waist." That has got to be the definition of optimism!! Did you see the size of him? Luckily he was rooming with someone as fat, if not fatter than him.

"You better borrow these then." I said, handing him my brand new dark blue trousers that I had worn for the first time that day. "They are a 42" waist and they are quite loose on me so I am sure they will do." "But I have only got a brown belt!" wailed Roger. "Well don't wear a belt then." I replied. Seemed logical to me. Roger tried to keep the pants on, but they were loose on him as well. Short of him keeping his hands in his pockets and playing billiards all night, he was going to have a problem keeping the trousers up! Eventually, he decided that a brown belt was better than no belt at all, although Phil Alexander kindly offered to loan him his black belt!

Finally, having got Roger dressed, we had a drink in the bar of the Green Man having greeted Roger Brickwood, then off to St John's via the off licence of course to load up with wine Vodka etc etc.

There seemed to be more people there than usual and we later learned that 2005 was the second highest attendance achieved with 49 people present, which is very encouraging. The school closed its doors in 1965 and there were approx 200 boys there, with let us say an average age of 13, allowing for the different years. The average age of those boys would now be 53, so hopefully, if we attract some more attendees from the school of 1965, there will be several more years of reunions for Harlow College yet!!

In fact there were seven 1st timers there this time. The brothers Kevin & John Sears (59-65), Melvyn Cousins (58-63), John Dyer (48-52), Ian Gow (43-47), Andrew Hogarth (61-65) and Peter Boggis (46-50). Interestingly, John Sears was the last head boy for Harlow College in 1965. I understand both he and his brother Kevin made their careers in the police force and I am not sure whether one or both of them have now retired. Kevin I always remember as a tremendous footballer and we were in the 1st XI together, he was a defender (right half) and I was right wing/inside right depending on whether or not Ron Holland was playing, when he would take the right wing and I would take inside right.

As ever Roger, Tony and Michael did a sterling job of organising and running the Reunion with the added benefit of a PA system organised by one of the Old Boys, sorry I can't remember your name!! I would also like to echo Richard Baldry's vote of thanks to Colin Porcher for organising the funeral of Old Harlovian, Robin Le Male-Fawcett (55-61), who was very much missed.

The deaths of four other Old Harlovians was also reported, that of Peter Crussell (40-46), Ray Bailes (44-50), John Graham (36-44) and Michael Renshaw (55-59). A toast was made to absent friends and also a special toast to K L Dames.

The meeting went smoothly with the unanimous re-election of the Committee and on behalf of all the Old Harlovians thank you all for your hard work in putting together a great evening of nostalgia and friendship.

The evening passed all too quickly. Chris McCready was very much missed (my family size gin & tonic partner) and we trust your house move went off without a hitch Chris.

The stalwarts, (Messrs. Alexander, Beck, Brickwood and yours truly), staggered back to the Green Man and had a few more nightcaps and off to bed at some ungodly hour. Fat heads and full English Breakfasts were the order of the day on Sunday and by noon we were on our respective journeys home.

Hey ho, another year until we can do it all again!!

See you then!