Heroes & Villains > Holte Enders in the Sky

My Dad

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Andy Poole:
Passed away this morning aged 91.

He didn't even take me to my first game but after that 6 nil thrashing of Hull City on a Wednesday evening in 1974, that got me hooked, he took me to loads of games until about 1980 when I was allowed to go with mates.

I have 2 stand out memories, which show the man he was.

The home leg of the League Cup semi against Chester. We stood in the Holte, which was unusual as I always wanted to be in the Enclosure next to the tunnel. Anyway, I remember a young Chester fan being next to us, about my age, crying his eyes out at 2 nil down and my old man comforting him. When we got back to the car, he realised he'd lost his wallet. He had an Access card and he had to cancel it. It was being used around Merseyside for about a week afterwards!
He managed to get one ticket for the final. He and my mother drove me to Wembley and waited outside for me.

The other is Millwall. League Cup again. The quarter finals in December of '76. Sat as usual in the Enclosure, there were 3 Millwall blokes in front of us. They were continually swearing, so Dad asked them to stop as he had an 11 year old with him and didn't think I should hear such words. They told him to fuck off. Now my Dad wasn't hard but he was steely, he was ex Royal Navy and he knew what was right and what was wrong. So he banged the biggest one. One of the best punches I've seen. The bloke fell into the seats in front. The other two picked him up and moved away.

His last game was Forest away in the 80's I was in the stands and he had been invited into a box. On the way home he said that was the only way he would watch live football in future. He never got invited into a box again.

R.I.P Dad.

Colhint:
Sorry for your loss. He sounds like  he was a good un.

Zouch Villa:
My condolences Andy. Cherish the great memories, he sounds like he was a bit of a character and a great Dad. Rest in peace Poole senior.

Andy Poole:
I should add that after he banged the Millwall bloke, he told me that if I ever told my Mom he would never take me again.

TheTimVilla:
Sorry to read that. I wish I could think of something sensible to write that conveys my feelings.  RIP.

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