The Players and the clubshop

AFTER THE Bristol City game, just outside the Players Lounge, hay you need to have a ticket to go to the Players Lounge, which I do not have! I manage to take picture with nearly all the squad in a smart suit, one by one: Rossi Jarvis, Simon Lappin which I tell him he answer my question about the adidas boot in the programme, Darel Russell, Darren Huckerby and of course he remember me, John 'I have the 3XL shorts' Hartson, David Strihavka, Lee Croft, Jamie Cureton, Micky Spillane and Chris Martin.

I also gonna to tell 'Curo' it's not my first time to see him beacuse in my first trip, just after the Centenary game, I have met him in the Gunn Club and we have a chat. Darren is in a rush and always want to sign autographs for the kids so I cannot speak more with him, but I miss the photo time with David Marshall, Jon Otsemobor, captain Jason Shackell and Ian Murray, also Andrew Cave-Brown which I do not see him anywhere.

I would think it's about 5:30pm, when nearly every players leave the lounge, I see David Strihavka and John Hartson still in the lounge, and David Strihavka seems to be alone, so I open the lounge door, and get into the lounge without permission (as one of the fans tell me you won't need the ticket because the security already off to work!), and use my own English to talk to David.

We have a nearly 5 minutes chat and I think he understand what I say, because both of us English is not our mother language. I ask David how he feel about every game, how he think about the style of English football, do the lads teach him bad words (Haha! He reply people still question him about that!) and I also manage to tell him the fellow Norwich fans will have a 5-a-side game at the UEA on Sunday. He is interested and ask me what time and where we will play.

I also chat with 'Dave Striker' about his boot. I remember he wear the red color Nike boot when play against Queens Park Rangers. He remember that but he say his favourite is the white one. When I ask him does he get money from Nike? He say YES and he also tell me he can have choice to choose which color and which kind of material he want. He also say the contract he sign for Norwich City also included that money.

I ask David Strihavka would he consider to wear a yellow boot liked Lee Croft, because with our yellow socks? He say no, no! because he like the white color; but, when I ask him, the advertisement on the tele always say the boot help you to improve your own game, and when I ask him do the boot really help you in the game? The honest answer from Dave...haha! I will keep that secret because I am amazed to get the answer from a professional footballer! Answer on the postcard everyone. ;-)

I think I get on David Strihavka quite well, hopefully we will have more chat after that and I will have detailed report here.

I SPEAK to Sam Greenfield, from the sales department afterwards, and he say he will arrange me up to Colney on this Thursday, and will have lunch with Andrew Cave-Brown and all the players, it will be a great day for sure. Yeah you know I have lunch at Colney before but only with the staff, but with the player, it's the first time and I think I would show I am better than the professional footballer, when they only a plate of main course, I will have two plates!!!

After I leave the Gunn Club and I go to the Morrisons, the supermarket I mean and want to buy some soft drink, when I walk pass the ATM machine, I see Darren Huckerby and Adam Drury! They are getting some money from it. Adam is limping badly and he tell me he will have scan tomorrow with his right knee, which is painful when I see him walking. Best Wishes to Adam and hope he will be fine. Well I do not tell him he miss a good scoring chance just before he got injured.

On Sunday afternoon, of course we have the 5-a-side, not 7-a-side because we only have 11 players show up despite having 20 players to sign up! Nevermind, and we have an exciting encounter. It is 5 against 5 and plenty of goals flying in, myself who wear the number 16 home shirt, with the XXL shorts (oh I want the 3XL shorts!!!) in, have too many hoof balls from the back -- who is my style so I cannot change.

I should say some poor first touch cost me at least two golden chances to score my first goal in Norwich City! Later the game I even have a close range effort, one on one with the goalkeeper but I manager to hit the top of the cross bar! Some solid defending at the back from me but yeah, fun is more than the competitive in this game. Hay, finally I see a Norwich City win as the 'Norwich City home shirt team' win 10-9! Good game everyone!

After the game I go to Morrisons again, this time to buy some crisps and soft drink, this time I get to meet Darel Russell and his missus! He remember me about I am from Hong Kong and ask me will I go to London to look around? I say No and I would only stay in Norwich, maybe to see them training only! Rusty say come to Colney at 1pm tomorrow as they will have training! Oh! I understand the club won't allow fans to see the training but it's the player who get me in!

HONESTLY I would tell my deeply disappointment about the clubshop, not about the staffs because they are always first class to me especially Diane, but the size of the shirts absolutely frustrated me. Most of the t-shirt and polos, except the training wear are just tiny size in XXL! I cannot believe all XXL shirt are under 50 inches across the chest, which is unacceptable. I only 1 out of at least 30 shirts so the club will lose profits with that, if they are not going to improve this. I am very disappointed with that.

Other lines are still brilliant liked the pins and badges, of course some mugs too. I love the Mitre football and actually I get one size 2 and size 5, which is very nice in my eyes.

This Saturday's trip to the Hawthorns it's my third trip in 6 years, boring to be honest but I think I will find some new stock in their clubshop because they are change to Umbro, I would be pleased if they have the 3/4 pants in XXXL I needed. Mind you the Burnley clubshop, and the away stand are just awful! Both of them look liked still in 60's! Hay I have no borned yet!

I am sure within this week there will be more to happen, on and off the pitch! Oh at last, how can I forget to mention Gary Holt scored his first goal for Wycombe Wanderers on last Saturday! Good for you Gary!