I pull on corduroy trousers, fasten my waistcoat and wool cutaway jacket. The red silk lining is particularly comforting. My pocket watch is tucked in carefully and finish my football spectator’s outfit with a wool cap.
There is a bark behind me.
“As if I would go without you?”, I said to Swissy.
“Remember your scarf and gloves.”, called Emelia.
We head out into fresh autumn air and crunch through an orange and gold carpet of fallen leaves. I turn left on Moray Place and head down Regent Park Square, crossing Pollokshaws Road onto Queens Drive. The junction of Queens Drive and Albert Drive marks the western boundary of Crosshill. We walk along Albert Drive, crossing bustling Victoria Road onto Albert Road. Further crossings of Langside Road and Cathcart Road are completed to reach my destination: Albert Park.
We have created the Second Eleven, providing opportunity for our sixty-five strong membership, and are anxious they uphold Queens Park honour against Southern today.
Swissy sits like a sentinel, as we watch Queens score two fine goals to Southern’s blank. Southern players look mystified: “if this is the second team, what is the first team like?”
With that cheerful conclusion, I walk home with my thoughts turning to Kennington Oval. Scotland is playing England and I have a train to catch.
———————————- © Graeme Brown 2019 ————————————-
The Hampden Collection 