Do you remember the time as a child when you experienced the thrills of the funfair for the first time?

Bare with me this is some logic in the question, I do clearly, it was in the summer of 1984 a trip to Alton Towers.

I remember it as if it was yesterday, the buzz of anticipation in the car as we approached the main gates, I was nervous stomach was in knots, but not about the thought of going on the infamous Cork Screw roller coaster oh no that was for later for now it was the fear of getting caught!

'Shh be quiet' me mum's boyfriend said we are nearly there.... it was dark in the boot of the Ford Cortina Estate, and cramped considering my brother was in there with me!

The car stopped muffled voices in the background then we moved again that’s it we were clear we had done it saved ourselves about £15 in entrance fees RESULT!

The butterflies in my stomach gave way to an adrenalin rush of excitement about the day ahead, would I be brave enough to conquer the 'Black Hole' what about that Pirate ship that goes all the way over?

Fast forward 24 years and hear I am going through the same emotions of that day but I'm not going to Alton Towers oh no I'm going to watch West Brom!

My day starts no different to any other home match. At 11am Saturday 29th March 2008 I pick up me old man and we head south on the M6 (We live in Manchester) Stomach is in knots again! 'Got a bad feeling about today' I mumbled, 'Colchester foot of the table got spanked 5-0 by Norwich the week before it all sounds too easy' but this is Albion we are talking about.

I was worried we were going to get CAUGHT out, long balls into our box would be our undoing, oh and by the way if another person tells me that West Brom are the best footballing team in the division I swear I'm going to punch em!

If they had been sat next to me on that night at Preston where we gave two goals away from set pieces and then battered them for the majority of the 2nd half but still lost 2-1 or they had been with me at Barnsley (that ground still thinks its in 1984!) and see the way we were played off the park by a mediocre Barnsley side they wouldn't be so smug in telling me 'you are going up don't worry!'

No I was nervous alright, the similarities of my day at Alton Towers and how I'm feeling now comes flooding back to me.....

I remember waiting in the queue looking up at the bright yellow twisting track and hearing the roar and screams as the Cork Screw thundered past. I had past the point of no return, I couldn't turn back now, no way, the humiliation of walking past all those people queuing behind me I knew they would know I was bottling it anyway my brother, four years my senior, wouldn't let it happen he enjoyed seeing me suffer!…..

As we turn onto the Birmingham Road the nerves start I look at the Hawthorns standing proud in the distance it looks awesome the Baggies fans full of conversation as the file up towards the ground......

The queue is moving slowly and I know that I am minutes away from probably the most terrifying experience in my life my palms are sweaty I feel clammy I don't like this one bit! People pass us whom have just experienced the Cork Screw they are chatty full of conversation some look green!…..

2.55pm and we are in our seats I think there are more Colchester fans in the Directors Box than in the away end, my old man settles down and says to those around us 'Fasten your seat belts here we go another roller coaster ride at the Hawthorns!'.........

The time comes we are next on the Corkscrew I look at the faces of the people just about to embark on the 100ft climb before plummeting down at high speed as they hurtle towards the infamous loop to loop, they look nervous but excited! (The match kicks off at the Hawthorns)

I watch with wonder as the Roller Coaster Cars thunder gracefully round the track, 'it doesn't look too bad it seems fun (West Brom have started well neat passing moves Brunt should have scored within 30 seconds we are going to be OK what was I worrying about!)

Then the car comes screaming to a halt and the dazed riders step off and make their way out, the attendant beckons my brother and points to the two seats at the front! My legs all of sudden feel like lead as me brother shoves me towards the front! No I can't do it what am I doing here! (Colchester get a free kick on the edge of the area a set piece this is dangerous!)

Me brother laughing now bungles me into the seat really enjoying the look of sheer terror on my face, I feel sick we haven’t even gone anywhere yet what the hell is going on (The ball is whipped into our area, Kiely is no where, the defence is no where bang goal 1-0 down after 14 mins DISASTER!)

The safety bar comes down that’s it... I don't want to be here but I have no choice there is no way back, just got to remain calm now deep breath be brave! The car jerks forward and we start our ascent sweat is now rolling off my brow, fists clenched, (Colchester surge forward again put a ball into our area, this time Kiely comes rushing out gets some 'powder puff' punch on it and the ball falls at the feet of Elito who unleashed a ferocious shot that flies into the back of the net 2-0!)

The feeling of dread builds up as we near the top of climb the feeling of helplessness was over powering why oh why have I voluntarily put myself through this, this is not fun it’s bloody horrific! We turn the corner and the track just disappears in front of us.

Whooosh we are on our way screams ring out all around the wind blowing through my hair this is OK (In the 34th minute Hoefkens breaks through and threads the ball through to Phillips bang goal 2-1! that’s more like it)

We hurtle round the first corner wow this is great so far, my brother shows off by putting his hands in the air, mine are still firmly clenched! (Brunt is through! Whooosh he unleashes a powerful left footed shot that nestles into the bottom corner of the onion bag yeeeeeees 2-2!)

We continue zipping down the track, I start to feel a warm sickly feeling come over me, shouldn't have had that Wimpy Burger, Coke and Ice Cream before I got on I thought! Oh no I think I'm going to throw up how embarrassing (59 minutes gone, after dominating the 2nd half, Colchester get a set piece I cannot believe it as I see Lisbie knock the ball into the back of the net I feel sick we are losing 3-2!)

We turn one corner then another then it appears out of no where the loop to loop!!!! Adrenalin pumps round me ‘oh my god…oh my god’ I scream (4 minutes of injury time to play and Morrison powers a 20yard shot into the net yes 3-3 but a point is not great I think to myself!)

Everything goes upside down but I’m not sick, adrenalin pumping, I am screaming in ecstasy this is skill! I can’t believe it, as we come out of the loop, I notice I have my hands in the air woooooooooooooaarr I scream (It is like watching in slow motion Brunt majestically floats a cross towards Bednar who glances the ball into the back of the net yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees we have won can you believe it WE HAVE WON what a game!)

As the car screams to a halt I look at me brother his hair pushed back by the wind he looks at me and smiles we are both emotionally drained that was the ride of my life the fear the ecstasy has left me physically drained but we head to the back of the queue cos we know we just got to do it again! (Not much is said on the way home in the car me dad and I are both emotionally knackered but have the warm feeling of knowing we are another 3 points closer to possible promotion!).

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