Ian Cripps (Leicestershire)
Born and bred in Derby ,Normanton, Chad, Mickleover ,then all over the shop, currently in North Leicestershire.
First saw the Rams in 1965 at home to Cardiff aged 7,courtesy of an Uncle. Stood in the Paddock on a box with a grey paper programme in my hand and instantly became hooked on the white shirts and black shorts. Hardly a classic, a one goal match ,but from that point on I pestered anyone and everyone I knew at every opportunity to take me .I was a real pain in the *rse, I knew it but passion was all !
My own father was heavily in to athletics, so I didn't get to go as much as I liked as he was often away. However, on the plus side he used to get his colleagues at Royce's to bring back programme's from other games they went to, so I built up a collection of programme's from places such as Crewe ,Cardiff,F*r*st and Leeds which at least became useful as swopsies for Derby aways.
So many memories from the glory years, the Chelsea evening cup match, the European games ,Roger (Davies) planting a punch in the back of the net, the record attendance v spurs. Evenings spent running 6 minute miles back to Mickleover to be home before the 10pm deadline my parents set on school nights. Saturdays spent patiently waiting for players autographs, both first team and reserves and queues for tickets when it always seemed to be raining or blowing a force nine gail.
My first job at eighteen allowed me to purchase a season ticket for the Popside in 1976 and apart from the Docherty years I've had one in various parts of the ground ever since.
Met my wife to be in 1982 while living and working in Peterborough. Lynne had never been to a football match before in her life ,so after a few carefully chosen games at London Road, her first match at a 'proper ground' had her hooked. We travelled home and away got married. Nothing not even Millwall or Italy or results put her off. She was often the one insisting we go.
Spent many happy years as a pair serving behind the bar at the Baseball Hotel on matchdays before it was flattened- A terrible waste of a beautiful old pub IMO.
A smashing five year old son Simon ,now curtails our away trips but we remain season ticket holders and enjoy our football. Simon is yet to get the bug but we live in hope. (He will make his sixth visit v WBA in the FA Cup Jan 2001)
Hopefully in years to come he will have his own story to tell......
c2001 Ian Cripps