EFL Championship - SAFC Blog

The First Time Ever I Saw Your Ground: (part 1) Cardiff City’s Ninian Park

January 11, 2018 by Colin Randall

John McCormick writes: I made it down to Cardiff in 1971 or 2, via the Heads of the Valleys Road, one or more pubs in Aberdare and Tonypandy’s Pandy Inn, but in February 1972, where Pete resumes his travelogue, I was half-way through my undergraduate career and finding respite from academic life (mine involved the use of sterile mating in insect control) in five-a-side during the week and the pubs and depths of Yorkshire at the weekends*. Going to this game never entered my head. Luckily, it entered Pete Sixsmith‘s and he now begins a two-part edition of his outstanding series, The First Time Ever I Saw Your Ground

Wolves, Derby, Cardiff and Bristol leave room for only Villa and Leeds (but Middlesbrough might yet sneak in)

January 5, 2018January 5, 2018 by Colin Randall

Pete Sixsmith has already produced a “first time” post for ‘Boro away so I’m using his usual spot to bring you an update on the progress of the clubs our pre-season poll predicted would be the top six. (Over 8,000 votes were cast. If you’re new to the series or wish to catch up you might try some of the links at the bottom of the page).

The clubs were:

Middlesbrough,
Aston Villa,
Fulham,
Sheff Wed,
Leeds,
Sunderland

Sixer’s sevens. Sunderland 0 Barnsley 1. Get your wallet out, Ellis

January 1, 2018 by Colin Randall

John McCormick writes: with about ten minutes to go I was just about to write a headline in when Pete Sixsmith sent a seven-word text. Did it make me change what I was going to put? Not at all.

You can read what Pete wrote below and I bet you agree with both him and myself.

The First Time Ever I Saw Your Team: Barnsley

January 2, 2018December 31, 2017 by Colin Randall

John McCormick writes: Pete Sixsmith takes me into new territory with this trip down memory lane. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Barnsley play, neither at home nor away. There’s no reason for that, apart from the fact that I was seven or eight the first time they came to Roker, and had been living away from the area for a good few years the next time they turned up. And now, here they are again and I’m still not there …

Sixer’s Nottingham Soapbox: Forest hit the wood, Sunderland hit the target

December 31, 2017December 31, 2017 by Colin Randall

Sunderland finished a dismal 2017 with an away win. Pete Sixsmith was there to see it and he finishes the year with yet another fine report.

Well, not quite, because later today there’ll be another of his “first time I ever..” series. It should appear just about when you’re returning from the pub and you’ll have time to read it while warming up the valves before tuning into Andy Stewart and the White Heather Club.

But first, here’s the aforementioned match report:

Hutch’s One-word ratings from Nottingham Forest v Sunderland

December 31, 2017December 30, 2017 by Colin Randall

John McCormick writes: Rob Hutchison did his one-words verdicts, passed them to Olivia, who forwarded them to M Salut, who put them into an email in the hope that someone would be able to get them up before tomorrow, which will be very busy. And I just happened to pick up the e-mail.

Teamwork, eh. It’s not just SAFC that can do it

Sixer’s sevens: Nottingham Forest and another clean sheet

December 30, 2017 by Colin Randall

Pete Sixsmith, back on duty, must have spent a good five minutes applauding. I can’t think of any other reason why his seven word summary took so long to arrive. It’s worth waiting for, however, as it contains a message of hope:

The First Time Ever I Saw Your Ground: Nottingham Forest and the City Ground

January 2, 2018December 29, 2017 by Colin Randall

John McCormick writes: I’ve sort of begun a tradition within this series, of adding material, especially video, that Pete Sixsmith hasn’t come up with himself, although he has provided some great photos. I was setting this one up in advance, hoping as I did so that Pete would include something I could use to keep the tradition going. It’s Nottingham Forest this time, so can you guess what I put at the end in anticipation?

Pete delivered perfectly, but he also provided the opportunity for a mid-piece piece as well. And the beauty of it is that neither diverts from another fascinating reminiscence:

Nottingham Forest Who are You?: ‘if you drop, it’ll be good for you…’

December 28, 2017December 28, 2017 by Colin Randall

John McCormick writes: a midwinter journey to one of the proper clubs. Founded 1865, occupying the same ground during three different centuries, and they had the sense to take on the best manager we never had. And then it all went wrong.

But it looks like it’s going right again as we welcome Forest season ticket holder Dan Watts, founder of Talk Forest TV and spotted for us by our own Pete Sixsmith, to give us the lowdown …

The First Time Ever I Saw Your Ground: Sheffield United.

December 26, 2017December 25, 2017 by Colin Randall

John McCormick writes: on Saturday Ed posted on his facebook page that it had been 378 days since he’d seen us win and then headed off to the SOL. Now you know who to blame.

But you can’t fault his loyalty. Stony broke, he and a mate once hitched down to Bramall Lane for an evening game. I’m not sure exactly when it was, or what the competition was but I think the weather was freezing and they were some of the very few who made the journey.

Pete Sixsmith had already been there, of course, and by an easier route: