Expense account misery

2008-02-11T23:18:00.000Z

Well, that's it. No return to Wembley, no staying in posh, overpriced hotels, no nice meals on expenses, no special supplements to write.
Yes, Truro City's 3-0 FA Vase home exit against Whitley Bay on Saturday has hit your humble reporter hard.
But at least I, like the players, sampled a great day at the home of football once in my career and that is more than most.
Saturday's fifth round defeat was as disappointing for its manner as much as the result. City were second best and now must move on with promotion and two cups still to play for.
There were a number of interested watchers on Saturday, including the players and coaching staff of the Cornish Pirates rugby team.
Were they there to get a feel of the ground where, if the rumours are correct, they could be playing their home matches next season?
Local MP Julia Goldsworthy was also at the game along with a host of other "VIPS" in a crowd of more than 1,500.
Meeting different characters is one of the perks of the job and I had the good fortune to spend a couple of hours in the company of Ricky George, who was covering the game for the Daily Telegraph.
He came down on the train from London in the morning and, as always, was immaculately dressed and was excellent company.
Those of a certain generation will remember George as the player who scored the goal which gave Hereford their famous 2-1 FA Cup win over Newcastle in 1972. Everyone, with a knowledge of football history, can surely recall the Ronnie Radford screamer which levelled the tie after Malcolm MacDonald had given the Magpies the lead, but George's extra time goal was the matchwinner.
He was also part owner of a Grand National winner (Earth Summit in 1998).
On his first visit to Cornwall to watch a match he was impressed with the club's facilities and what they are trying to achieve.
He also enjoyed the welcome from club officials and his free half time pasty went down a treat.
In his experience you get a warmer welcome at non-league grounds than you do from the bigger clubs.
He had little time for the proposal to play Premier League games abroad, believing clubs had lost contact with their roots.
The Whitley Bay supporters and officials also seemed to have a good time although the result obviously helped.
Manager Ian Chandler was extremely modest in victory and revealed he had brought along his 2002 Vase winners' medal (he scored the winner for Bay) to try and inspire his side and it obviously worked as they were well deserved winners on the day.
So no Wembley to look forward to, instead a few trips up the M5 and A303 as Truro's season enters the make or break stage.

On the Vase glory trail

2008-02-08T23:02:00.000Z

There are worst jobs than being paid to watch sport, that's for sure. And the arrival of Kevin Heaney as Truro City's chairman has made the job, if you can call it a job, even more fun.
Backed by the multi-millioniare, who dreams of taking the club into the Football League, the club are on course for a third successive promotion and becoming the first team from the county to play in the Southern League.
The property developer has certainly backed his words with cash - much to the annoyance of some football supporters in the county. Could that be jealousy that he chose Truro and not their clubs to invest his money?
He has brought quality players to Treyew Road and with plans for the squad to go full time next season, providing promotion is achieved, the future looks full of possibilities.
Promotion is the number one priority, but last season it was the FA Vase which really caught the imagination of the Cornish sporting public. Truro became the first side from the county to win the trophy on an unforgettable day at Wembley when they beat AFC Totton 3-1.
And the road to Wembley took me on a magical mystery tour of the country to places like Slimbridge (Gloucestershire), Whitehawk (Brighton) and Curzon Ashton (Manchester).
They were great days (or weekends) out, though the Whitehawk experience when the police had to be called when rivalry between the two sets of fans looked set to get out of hands, was something I could have done without.
But it was great to be able to go on the road to follow a winning team from Cornwall at last after so many years of disappointment. Surely we should all rejoice into Truro's success and not carp about it as some have done via websites.
And now this season the club are through to the last 16 and Wembley on May 11 is not too far away.
Can Truro go all the way again? Of course they can, but first Whitley Bay from the north east have to be overcome at Treyew Road on Saturday February 9, to book a place in the quarter finals.
And they have been boosted by the arrival of highly rated defender Tom Gardner from Tiverton.
If they don't back get to Wembley it certainly won't be for a lack of ambition and it won't be the last time surely that Mr Heaney will be opening his cheque book as he chases, what many see as his impossible dream.
But as he would say, if you give him the chance: "Never say never".

Rhod Mitchell

Expense account misery

On the Vase glory trail