It was expected. It arrived. Although, for a moment there after Demba Ba had given us a two goal lead, I didn't think it would arrive today.
The train journey was entertaining. West Ham taking over the carriage we were on, singing and drinking all the way there. Great banter, but would the team live up to that?
Sadly, no! A 3-2 defeat confirmed the inevitable. The good news - Grant was sacked before we reached Wigan station for the return journey. The bad news - Millwall had a great laugh at our expense with their plane banner stunt.
With hindsight, it was quite amusing. The timing was spot on. In a way they couldn't fail. It was arranged by their House of Fun forum and this is their story:
On 8th May around 6pm, potbelliedgladiator started a thread on the House of Fun forum
called “If I was a rich man” and said he’d hire a plane and banner to fly over Wigan.
A few hours and a few posts later, around 9pm, another member, Griffiths, suggested
the idea of 100 or so clubbing together £5 each. Those active on the thread started to discuss where to get it done from
and who was going to donate. Griffiths stuck up the airads.co.uk site, which is who we eventually used.
After
some discussions it was decided to try to get it arranged for West Ham’s last
game against Sunderland. A thread was started for people to pledge donations
too and discussions started over the banners wording. The credit for the
wording “Avram Grant – Millwall Legend” almost went to Dubai Hoffer but
he put “Avram Grant, Millwall FC Legend” - close but no cigar. SW90 got
even closer with “Agent Avram. Millwall Legend.” still not cigar worthy.
The
first to get it posted on HoF was elmo at exactly 12:00 midnight,
for which he shall forever be known as Cinderella.
On Monday
morning a member, who will remain anonymous, pledged £100 with more from a
friend, his friend swiftly pledged another £100 and by Monday lunchtime the
thread for pledges and the original thread were closed and hidden from view.
The event would now be “The Thing” with capital letters.
A
company were contacted on Monday evening for a fly past of Upton Park, they
would let us know price and if it’s possible due to it being over London.
Monday
evening went, as did all of Tuesday…
Airads
were contacted on Wednesday and we were told “Fly over Upton Park? That’s not
gonna happen due to central London controlled airspace!”
“Okeys,
would you be able to do it at Wigan, this weekend, with the short notice and
all?”
“Yes,
we can, what time you want it for?”
“17:30”
“OK,
we’ll get payment sorted.”
Because
admin had grown up things, like dealing with work, to sort out, another
member, Welling, stepped in to book it for us. Payments were made. Clocks
were set ticking. Nerves began to fray.
The
Thing has been set in motion, but has to be kept as under wraps as we can. Cue
10,000 posts about The Thing and “What’s The Thing”, fuck me did the last part
of the week drag by.
Saturday
comes, loads on HoF as every result went how we wanted them to, game on.
Sunday
comes, pilot informs us “It’s 50/50 if I can do it coz of shit weather”. Bollocks!
Game
kicks off, Vermin have a two goal lead. The time is 16:31, I get this text from
one of the coach drivers: “Better hold off on that plane, Wigan are handing it
to them”. Fuckbollocks!
Now
I’m stuck here, watching the Vermin pull Wigan apart on some mental internet
feed. SSN is on the TV, Five Live on the DAB, beers are unopened, the Vermin
are getting off the hook, again!
Wigan
score: Oi! Oi!, This could be game on.
No
word from the pilot yet, is he going for it? Will we look like dicks if he does it
and Vermin win? HoF is going ape “Whats happening”? I have no idea!
17:29
or there about, Wigan fucking equalised, FUCKING HELL, the beer instantly gets
opened for a toast to the Vermin, go to drink beer, plane appears on computer
monitor, Five Live mention something I didn’t hear because of the “Fucking
hell, the plane's there!”
HoF goes nuts! My entire
household goes nuts (except the kids and Gooner wife – just me then)!
17:34
another text from our friendly coach driver “Fucking going nuts here. The planes
going over n over n over. Wigan. Singing Millwall Millwall”
Next
bits a blur but a MOV file was uploaded. Wigan take the lead, more shouting and
swearing, more madness on the interwebs.
Game
ends, time to laugh at the Vermin online. Sky Sports start to mention it on the
news, then cut to some fellah at Upton Park talking about the plane stunt, they
showed a video of it.
Mrs TEA
now takes an interest “They showed it on the telly, I’ll admit now, it is
pretty damn funny.” (close enough)
Much
rewinding of the VirginMedia box follows with much laughter, the “We took
10,000 up there.” fellah pops up, more VirginMedia rewinding. Go to bed,
pissed, about 1am, grinning like a nonce on a merry-go-round.
Monday,
wake up, still grinning and off to work. Pull into Clackett Lane to use the
facilities. Checked HoF is running OK and see if anything much has
happened; fuck me the world went mad, overnight it’s all over the place. Had to
believe that it had gone viral and spread all over the world. Struck me later
that it’s a bit weird that everyone is mentioning the timing and how did we
pull that off? We had a plan and stuck to it, call it whatever, but lady luck
smiled at us with her ‘wall shirt on that day.
NOLU,
except it seems they all did for a day or so.
‘Wall everywhere would like
to thank everyone who donated, those who knew and kept shtoom, the HoF team for organising it, but especially Avram
Grant, you sir are a legend.
