So, I had an early start this season at the end of June with Fulham's game against the minnows of Runavik but had not managed to fit anything in until last weekend. I had also decided that it having celebrated the arrival of daughter number 2 almost 2 weeks earlier that it was time for my eldest daughter's first match. Now 3 1/3 is a bit too young for league football so Orient was out but I reckoned on the more sparsely populated surroundings of Barkingside vs Southend Manor being a little more conducive to the her attention span. This was especially important as she hadn't actually expressed any interest in football itself; just going to the football with me. So armed with a bag full of goodies, a picture book and a doll I put the buggy into action and set off.
The one thing that I wasn't expecting on arrival was 2 policeman in the car park making sure that all was tranquil at Oakside. It seems that Essex Senior League football was now a major event in the aftermath of the riots. In the end 4 coppers stood on the terrace enjoying the football (admittedly I think all 4 were special constables but it was still an amusing sight.)
