How long have you supported The Cherries?
For nearly 40 years. First game was a dire 0-0 against Tranmere. I was hooked.
How did you get involved with Vital and how did you come by your brill user name?!
Got involved with Vitals following the demise of Rivals RednBlack site.
Although both had run along side each other for a couple of years, Vitals was always looked upon as The Girl Guides; as all the posters seemed so nice and uncontroversial to us shouty opinionated loudmouths. So out of respect for their peace and quiet, we tended to stay away.
That changed overnight when Murdoch took over Rivals and ruined the thriving site that was RednBlack; a flood of shouty people arrived on Vitals promising to play nicely and stating that it was “only temporary, we`ll be gone in a few days, off to a new site”.
Alas that was 12 months ago.
I have no idea where the nice people went, but if you happen to be reading this, we`re sorry.
The username is a bit complex. It`s a sort of tongue in cheek ‘tribute` to our long dead Bournemouth and England mascot.
It stems from a running joke, unrepeatable I`m afraid, between a group of us who were kids in the sixties and went to football.
At close quarters Ken was a sad scary bloke in a threadbare costume who frightened children, these days he would probably be on a register and not allowed near young people.
A real Bournemouth Legend? Pah!
Head and Heart – how can you see Bournemouth doing?
Head says we might just avoid the drop, but will be back in administration in 18 months.
Heart says the next game is just the beginning, a game to look back on in 5 years and say “You remember that Rotherham game? Yeah, that 6-0 one. We haven`t looked back since then. You going to Real Madrid away leg?”
What is the best game you have seen involving Bournemouth?
There`s been victories where I`ve cried like a baby at the end, there`s been defeats where I`ve laughed so much that my sides hurt. It`s not really about winning or losing, its about memories.
Maybe it`s typified by our Playoff Final against Lincoln.
5-2 up with 5 minutes to go 38,000 people around me are going mental, and I`m still thinking “What if it goes to penalties?
Have you any memories of Millers games?
Left back we signed from Watford in 89-90.
47 unmemorable games. Waste of money and space.
Who do you think will be ‘up there’ in League Two at the end of the season?
No idea, too busy looking at the bottom three or four.
Could be anybody, it`s a poor league.
Best and worst grounds ever visited?
Grounds are just grounds.
The old Newport County ground was a pit, but had a certain charm whereas Old Trafford was magnificent but I`d never want to watch my team play somewhere that large there every week.
Ground I`d most like as a home ground would be Upton Park, with terracing put back.
Where do you see your club in the next twelve months?
I`d just like us to still be in existence.
What is the best thing and worst thing you have ever eaten at a football match?
Best?
Either the Balti pies at Walsall or home-made rolls that I`ve taken to Dean Court because the catering is an insult, I wouldn`t feed it to my lurcher. (Millers fans take note)
Worst?
See above.
Have you anything you would like to say about the Football League (that is printable!!!)
There`s times when I see how the Football League has changed, along with my ‘matchday experience` that I could cry.
I may be a miserable old bar steward but for us to cease to exist and reform as a Phoenix club in the Bob The Builder Southern Counties Sunday League Division Fourteen might not be such a bad idea.
Away to The Dog and Duck United with 500 travelling fans has an appeal that can`t be denied.
Many Thanks to Ken Bailey’s Ghost for taking time out to answer these questions – perhaps he could become the Cherries ghostwriter!!!
Enjoy the game on Saturday.
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