The Crusher Tribute Act

Stars on Sunday

A Tribute Act to my mate Crusher from the Bloke Behind Me

 

Sisaket United 2 Chanthaburi 1

Thai League 2

Sunday 8th December 2024

Attendance: 1,311

Tell Me Why, I Don't Like December

December has always been a strange month for me. I have never really enjoyed Christmas, and all the fuss connected to it, which at times in my adult life affected me mentally. I’ve no idea why. Perhaps spending so many years as a single person or the emotion involved, along with drinking too much, possibly lowered my resolve. 

It has admittedly become easier since 2021 through my move to Thailand, being in a relationship, and being in a place where it’s not heavily celebrated.

A few days before Santa was getting ready to dish out gifts in 2020, it was the height of lockdown during Covid and a miserable time without seeing friends, with pubs shut down and no sport to attend. 

Losing My Dear Friend, Crusher

I had bought lots of food and beer and returned to my home of the time in Northwest London, and started drinking when I received the awful news that my good friend Crusher had passed away. I drank an awful lot that night.

David Johnson, to give Crusher his Christened name, and I had become friends in the early part of the 1987-88 football season. I had been aware of him at Scarborough matches, this big bloke, a couple of years older than me, who appeared to be permanently angry during a game. 

By then, I had begun to work as a Postman with Crusher’s dad, George. He was another of whom the term “does not suffer fools gladly” was invented. Like his son, he was extremely honest and loyal.

Sunday League teammates

How We Became Friends

I initially invited Crusher to join us in a car to a midweek away game at Hereford, and a friendship was born. We had plenty in common, be it beer, pubs, playing local football, or going to Scarborough FC, as well as cricket. Our views on life were around the same, as well as our political beliefs. 

We ended up going all over together, supporting Boro and England, at football and cricket. We also visited Europe and Australia, and became teammates and drinking partners for British Gas FC, while frequenting the town's pubs together. 

I'm sad that, like my parents, Crusher didn't get the chance to see me enjoying life overseas as a married man, especially after all the support he gave me.

From Crusher With Love

The Big Fella

Those who never met him are much the poorer. He was there to listen, remaining calm, offering a solution, but only if asked, and generally being a rock. He loved laughing and living life and was immensely popular, being able to tell great stories. 

If he had a pint, a newspaper, predominantly to do the puzzles, and some music, he was happy, particularly sitting at the bar in The Cask pub. It says it all that old mates run an annual coach to a Scarborough Athletic away game each season in tribute and to remember him.

Players and Officials Beware!

It was in the Cask establishment that many a quiet couple got to hear Crusher if they happened to be sitting anywhere near a TV when Liverpool, his other love, were playing. His range of profanities towards the referee and several opposition players was as good as any I’ve yet to hear and formed entertainment of its own. It was repeated watching Scarborough from the terraces. 

The match officials certainly knew he was in attendance. Certain opponents got extra special treatment. I’m not sure what Russ Wilcox ever did wrong when he wore various opponents' shirts against us, but I swear his first move after running onto the pitch was to look across and listen for the first bit of feedback from the big man, which would continue for the following ninety minutes.

Among his classics was the beauty delivered to Paolo Maldini. “You’re only in the team because your dad is the manager”. Any Aussie cricketer, particularly Ricky Ponting, except for anyone playing as an overseas signing for Yorkshire, received special attention. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a happier man when we celebrated an Ashes win together on his birthday at Sydney Cricket Ground.

Thai Fan Culture

I didn’t think I would ever meet anyone more ratty during a game who supported a team while I lived in Thailand. There is a large lady who shouts incessantly at Port FC in the top corner of B Zone. I wouldn’t dare be home late if I lived with her, but she encourages. I think. And of course, some lead the orchestrated cheering while using a megaphone. 

Astonishingly, clubs can be fined for audible chanting or accusing the officials or administrators of cheating in Thailand. Good luck ever introducing that elsewhere.

Relaxing at the Football

I’m different to most fans in Thailand. While I cheer for Port FC when in Bangkok and Sisaket United when at home in Northeast Thailand, I attend any game I can and don’t get upset by the results. 

To me, the match is to be enjoyed as a part of my weekly day out. I generally find those ex-pats who get too involved become frustrated, somehow expecting the same experience and levels of organisation and structure as when watching football in their Western home country. That will never happen.

I find it far more fun to go along, have a few beers, have a cheer and then go home and look forward to the next game. I love it, and it plays a big part in my life. On Sunday, 8th December 2024, I met someone probably more animated than Crusher. It might yet even change the way I support Sisaket United.

A Matchday with Family and Friends

Like anywhere, it is usually better when attending something with friends. Ben from Denmark, along with Noi, who lives in Bangkok as well as my wife Taew, were with me on the final day of what had been a heavy month of socialising in many different locations around the country.

 The match at Sri Lamduan Stadium against Chanthaburi was the ideal opportunity to round things off with a hotel stay in town, with the game sandwiched between a late lunch, lots of beers and then a pub at full-time. Perfect.

Our guests had been to the home game with Khon Kaen the previous year, with my Danish pal being impressed with the vitriol shown towards the referee, with comments from the main stand suggesting that his wife was from the same city as the visitors. In Bachman-Turner Overdrive mode, “He Ain’t Seen Nothin’ Yet”.

Sitting with the Ultras

It was my suggestion that we watch from the uncovered far side, where the more vociferous fans assembled with no danger of rain on this occasion. It proved to be an inspired decision. We went upstairs after beers and snacks outside in the fan zone, enjoying the whole occasion as it should be.

I let Taew decide where to sit, and she came up trumps. The hosts went ahead within a minute when a long throw from skipper Pongsak Boontod was flicked on at the near post by Caíque Ribeiro and put away by top scorer Danilo. The big Brazilian was outstanding all evening while assisted by fellow countrymen Caique and Abner.

As ever, the Thais filled in, which often saw Danilo becoming exasperated by some of the poor game management and lack of skills around him from the natives. The tactics of coach Narongthanaphorn, who could be negative in the extreme, probably would not be a huge help.

Passion in Sisaket

Fans in Sisaket can be extremely passionate. It was noticeable that crowds would build throughout the game after they got away from work, with the volume increasing as beer was being consumed at regular intervals. It could go up on the dial if the opponents employed ways to frustrate or if the officials were deemed to be against the home team. Enter my new hero.

Within minutes, a Chanthaburi defender was not penalised, probably correctly. It led to some pushing and shoving between players on both sides, which ignited a tinderbox. The bloke behind me, probably in his thirties, was going berserk. He had a booming voice, which he used for the rest of the game with very few stops for breath as he abused anyone belonging to Chanthaburi as well as the match officials.

Next to him was a slender lady who never spoke a word. Was it a first date on which he was trying to impress, or perhaps she enjoyed it as much as the rest of us did? I was at a loss as to what he was shouting, but Taew’s facial expressions suggested there was lots of abuse with a hint of humour. What I’d have given to sit Crusher next to him.

The Away Team Strike Back

The away side scored a lovely goal to restore parity, which was finished by Tongan international Ata Inia. While the Wild Rabbits were not very good, they looked dangerous going forward, led by another Brazilian, Tiago Chulapa. All three away supporters in the distant zone seemed happy.

They had been charged double the money for the experience, one thing I dislike about Thai football. Crusher would have certainly had views about it, especially if he had been plonked in there.

Eleven Hours to an Away Game

You could have heard a pin drop. However, it was soon back to normal. I had noticed the previous week that Chanthaburi had lost a tempestuous battle away to league leaders Phrae United in which Irish defender Clyde O'Connell had been given his marching orders. 

That journey by road was eleven hours, compared to less than eight to Sisaket. And people wonder why clubs struggle financially. Not that the bloke behind me showed any sympathy for the travel or cost incurred. His abusive lexicon was continually impressive in a country famed for its hospitality.

Home Fans Influence the Referee

Just past the half-hour mark, Abner made the most of finding a way to tumble in the box as he ran into an opponent. Referee Nasri Tamat pointed to the spot, a decision undoubtedly swayed by crowd pressure. 

Quite reasonably, the visiting team players were extremely angry. Danilo kept his cool, stepped up and slotted the penalty past the generally dodgy goalkeeper Chaloempat Ploywanratta.

The second half followed the pattern of many Lamduan home games. Sisaket decided to try to hang on to their lead. It was a tactic they consistently used in the three seasons I had become a regular. The times that they are caught out, especially since being promoted to the second tier, are surely worthy of a change of thought. 

Unbelievably, in the closing stages, previously unambitious Thai home players turned adventurous, making shocking decisions. I was wondering whether Danilo or the bloke behind me would pop first.

Celebrating with My New Friend

I turned around when the full-time whistle was blown to shake hands. I would have asked him for a photo, but didn’t want him to think I was taking the piss. Many locals were laughing at their fellow fan and me, thanking him and vowing to meet the following week.

Uan, our one-legged driver, a story of his own, was waiting behind the main stand to drive us to Leo’s, a wonderful bar and restaurant to see out the rest of the night. They had an offer on Guinness of buy one and get one free, while Australian striploin steaks had a big reduction in price.

Meeting Another New Friend in the Pub

There was still time to make acquaintance with Per for the first time, a Norwegian who, it transpired, lived in town and was doing his pieces while cheering on Arsenal and seeing them have two goals chalked off through VAR on TV. He was unaware of Sisaket having a professional team, the news of which seemed to make his evening, as contact details were exchanged between us, hopefully, to introduce him to a life-changing experience.

A grand day out, with England starting it by winning the Test in New Zealand. It was full of fun, and laughter surrounded by great company as beer flowed in excellent venues, soaked up with delicious food, and a rare home win too. But most of all, the bloke behind me topped it off by doing his Crusher tribute act. I hope he was the same value in a bar and in life in general.

RIP Crusher. Happy Christmas, everyone.