We've Done It

I've little to add other than to say it was an excellent and enjoyable evening. Full credit to the organisers and I hope they regarded it as the success we felt it to be. I only wish a few more people attended events of this type but - if there's another one and you decide to attend - please make sure you save me a ticket.

The four players concerned were articulate, enthusiastic and extremely pleasant to boot. Each gave the impression they wanted to be there and their character and personality shone through the evening. And, yes, Nico is a fine exponent of East Midlands humour whilst there's something about Toddy which has "Made in Swansea" stamped all over him (or, to be more precise, "Product of Penlan").

Quite rightly, the questions kept to last season and matters directly relating to the personalities in question (for instance, Jon asked Toddy about his brother’s boxing career and quizzed Sillsy about the “Boy Does Nothing” lyrics). One moment to remember for me was when Chris Hargreaves paused before answering a question about his memories of Don O’Riordan at Grimsby. He’d clearly had mixed memories of the wizened old Don O’ – there were fifteen years between them – but there was a lot of respect and liking as well as some surprise that Don’s managerial career hadn’t lasted longer.

I’m glad I made the point about the four's collective importance to the club over the last two seasons but, as soon as I opened my mouth, I was suddenly full of dread there may have been other players in the room who I neglected to mention. In my book Lee Mansell – already at the club when the others arrived – would be the name to complete the list of core playing personalities over the two years out of the Football League. Mind you, his foibles earnt him enough mentions from the evening's panellists anyway.

Ah well, we must move on - and rightly so - but we'll look back in years to come as we always do.