robinsonsgrin
Well-known member
Tomorrow i say farewell to a lovely man who was taken from the football family at the age of 44. This man had the extreme misfortune to meet up with me in our 20s after knowing each other in our teens. He was then brainwashed into the loves and ways of the Albion. Our first date - yup, some crappy lower league fixture in Jan 96.... But to his credit, he adopted the boys as his own despite being a Sunderland fan at heart. Thinking back over the years we were together I recall the tedium of the 1995/6 season and literally sitting on the terrace steps of the North Stand with him as no one else was there to watch the dross. The protests, the abandoned match v York City, the ARCHER OUT campaign - which we also took to the Worthing Bears basketball too. The Donny match - the tears, the elation and of course, Hereford away. A few trips to Gillingham and then home to WIthdean. Season ticket holders in the South Stand F Block, Row S... next to the Vicar, not far from Lush. Swindon, Cardiff...promotions... escape from relegation. We saw it all together. Even when we split up, our friendship remained...and football still ensued, culminating in the away trip to the Stadium of Light. He was soooo chuffed to finally be there and they bloody well won and chips and curry sauce was dead cheap.
Life moved on and thankfully he met and married a lovely lady; it was a privilege to be at his wedding. I am pleased to say that he did achieve the Amex experience once, last season, versus Sunderland of course!
And so, a wonderful life ended, but so many memories left behind. In his coffin is the Sunderland teddy I bought him that day at the Stadium of Light, a little bit of the football life that was so prominent for so many years. Private goodbyes have been said, many tears shed, but tomorrow I shall wear the Albion and say my final farewell to a best mate and say a 'sorry' for dragging him through the seagull torture! So, if you are having a glass of something later, join with me in raising a glass to Tim Grinstead. RIP Timmy x
Life moved on and thankfully he met and married a lovely lady; it was a privilege to be at his wedding. I am pleased to say that he did achieve the Amex experience once, last season, versus Sunderland of course!
And so, a wonderful life ended, but so many memories left behind. In his coffin is the Sunderland teddy I bought him that day at the Stadium of Light, a little bit of the football life that was so prominent for so many years. Private goodbyes have been said, many tears shed, but tomorrow I shall wear the Albion and say my final farewell to a best mate and say a 'sorry' for dragging him through the seagull torture! So, if you are having a glass of something later, join with me in raising a glass to Tim Grinstead. RIP Timmy x
RIP Timmy x
