Some celeb fans use football as a gimmick. You often see them as the camera pans around on MoTD. Who can forget Rocky at Everton, poor bloke had no idea what was going on, must've been all those bangs to the head.
Adrian, however is very different. He lives and breathes the Albion and isn't shy to tell the world, just like the rest of us. I must admit in the past I queried his loyalty, I once saw him in the Halfords and assumed, wrongly he was on a free press pass. I first saw the man's love for the club live on television when he was taking part in a kiss-athon on the One Show. A comical colleague decided to dress one of the girls in a Wolves shirt and Adrian was not impressed. It was national television so he had to laugh it off but you could see in his face, he wasn't a happy bunny. I turned to my wife, also dingley challenged and said 'there you are a real Baggie, imagine how I feel having to kiss a Dingle every night!' That didn't go down to well, I made my own tea that night!!!
Then to his book this Christmas. The complicated fella I am, I am a dyslexic History teacher, who has to spend hours a day reading and writing and so NEVER read for fun. This year for Christmas I got six big thick books. My friends and family really like me!!! I received two copies of Adrian's book (don’t worry Kev I didn’t give yours away!) which I planned to read during my Asian tour over Easter. I decided I would read the intro just to see what I thought and since then I have been hooked.
Adrian can write, I don't know why I am surprised after all he is a journalist and his characters well, surely they prove real life is more interesting than fiction. Regular users of the forum will know that I am a big Coventry Blaze fan too and have often in the past seen Vic and his family at the Sky Dome now thanks to Adrian I feel like I know them. I’ve probably seen Nathan and Sandra and the others at away games but when I go to Charlton on Saturday I will be looking that bit harder.
My wife is a cold hearted Dingle but the story of Adrian's journey to Worcester Infirmary even brought a tear to her eyes. And oh how I wish my mum was like the mum of the Asian family, fancy getting in trouble for not going to the match that’s my type of family.
I think I empathise with Adrian because of the wife situation. I get little sympathy at home when we lose, that’s being married to a Wolves fan and I’m often made to feel guilty when football takes over. The battle for what is more important is a hard one but is easily won as Adrian finds in the book with his Boxing Day trip.
His book is not full of glamorous name dropping. But there is name dropping of sorts. In short Adrian talks to the people we care about and think should be in the book like Dave Holloway and Sauce and his Black Country beer bus. He even makes it to the much fabled Albion pub in London a place I’ve heard much about but never made it to. I feel a pilgrimage coming on.
Adrian doesn’t claim to have made the club great or popular and he knows we wouldn't believe him if he did. Apparently his mate Frank is the optimistic one, to be fair though the Grim Reaper is more optimistic than Adrian. I'd love to know what he makes of our current side, I know he writes in the programme but a beer and a programme are the same price so no contest really.
Perhaps for the next book Adrian and Frank should write one together showing the complete opposite of the football fan experience, an interesting read I'm sure you will agree. Keep up the good work Adrian and sorry for ever doubting your commitment to the cause. Don't get too down though because remember it’s only a game.... only joking of course it’s not just a game its ALBION!!!!
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