Do you Remember......

[Seven Tattoos]

Saturday 29th April 2000? Seven (love that number) years ago today? Three weeks after phucking it up against them in the Scottish Cup semi at Hampden we hosted the SSBs. A single goal by Kenny Miller (his last at Easter Road) in the first half was enough to ensure the three points remained in Leith. Those were actually our last points that season as we then lost 2-5 at Ibrox (Kenny Miller and Dirk Lehmann), 0-2 at Fir Park, 0-1 at Dens Park and 1-2 at the Twattery.

Incidentally, the following day travelled up to Stoke with the City for the now infamous game when the Soul Crew rioted and only extremely heavy policing stopped a certain bloodbath. Stoke were well up for it that day and had their friends from Dundee with them. I got talking with a casual in the bar (I had 7 pints before the game and was pretty pissed) who'd attended the Oldham-Hibs pre-season 'friendly' in 1988. The talk wasn't about the actual game. Another guy asked me if Hibs were stilling running with Oldham, I told him I honestly didn't know.

After the match, while we were trying to get to our buses (City lost 2-1, a result which virtually sealed their relegation fate), a bloke standing next to me shouted 'get into those English bastards' and the riot bizzy nearest to him smacked me with his shield. When I asked him why he did that to me, he said it was because of the abusive comment I'd made. I then asked him if that comment was made in a Scottish accent, like I have? He just shrugged. Good old coppers, hit first, worry about whether you've got the right person later. I have always been very quiet when I'm in the vicinity of OB. As a shaven headed, heavily tattooed football supporter - who's usually pissed - I'm only too aware that you don't have to do much to get lifted. They're wanting you to commit some kind of minor offence so that they can get do you.