County v Cardiff (Pre-season)

An emotional day at Edgeley Park, as a bumper crowd gather to remember Danny Begara. Report by Caz

Looking left	Ahead	Right

As always, click on the pictures for bigger versions

Danny Bergara’s Blue and White Army 6 - Cardiff 4

I heard the news on the Thursday when Lancs sent me a text.  My heart sank. I was close to tears.  I immediately headed for Yellow Board and soon realised that I wasn’t the only person who was taking the news badly.  I don’t think I’ve ever been this upset over losing someone.  I’ve lost relatives, I lost my beloved bunny rabbit (RIP Bobby! :-)), but nothing affected me like this.  What that man did for this club can never be underestimated.  He put pride back in the shirt, caught the imagination of the Stockport public, numbers of people coming through the turnstiles more than doubled, he took us to Wembley 4 times….  It was an amazing period.  Atter years of Stockport County merely existing to bumble around the lower reaches of divison four and to be the butt of people’s jokes, the club actually came alive and started to make the headlines. You began to see kids wearing County shirts in Stockport precinct rather than those of the big clubs up the road.  He was a superb coach and manager, yet talked like Manuel from Fawlty Towers.  Make no mistake about it, the guy was bonkers.  But we loved him all the more for it.  I’m devastated.

So, as Saturday morning came around, I dug out my ridiculous white footie shirt from that era (the television interference one) and trudged to Edgeley.  It felt like we were going to a funeral - albeit in strange attire.  As we walked out of Stockport station I ground to a halt.  “That looks like Danny?!” I pointed out to Mart as I saw a blue face smiling back at me from the Bluebell.  Someone had clearly  been busy as there were stencilled Danny faces all over Edgeley.  Whoever that was, well done sir!  A nice touch. 

Danny signs appearing all over Stockport	What a shirt	Waiting for the tribute

Once we’d bought our tickets and got some cash out, it was off to the Florist to meet up with the gang.  En route we bumped into many County fans who’d also rifled through their wardrobe to dig out their old shirts.  It was a veritable fashion show – I even spotted one of the old Gordon Ford shirts!  Once in the Florist, it was time to gaffa tape on the black armbands as provided by Gordon.  He had black on one arm and blue and white on the other.  This man was prepared.

At 2:30 we supped up and headed for Edgeley.  It’s a standing joke that the Peels on Wheels never make kick off.  For away trips we are generally the first coach to leave Stockport, and the last fans through the turnstiles.  What can I say?  We are easily distracted.  But we weren’t going to miss this one.  It might be the only kick off we see all season, mind…

As it was unreserved seating, rather than sit in our usual seats, we headed to the back of lover tier two to get a good view of the Danny service and get some piccys.  At around ten to three all the club staff lined up along the touchline and Mark Maguire took to the mic to explain what was going to happen.  How on earth Mark managed to hold it together enough to actually speak I’ll never know.  I couldn’t have done it – I was already snivelling at this point!  Then over the tannoy they played Danny’s favourite song, “My Way.”  I swear there wasn’t a dry eye in the ground.  I’d completely lost it by now and was practically howling.  Luckily Mikey had come prepared and pulled out an entire kitchen roll from his pocket.  I took it gratefully.   I’d just about recovered my composure as the song finished.  The players from both teams came out to form a tunnel, and Jim and Dave Jones walked through followed by Danny’s grandkids.  Now I knew they were going to lay wreaths in front of the Cheadle End, I did not know it was going to be a huge one that spelled out “DANNY.”  Well that just set me off again.  They laid it down in the goal mouth facing the fans, and his two grand children laid a County scarf on either side.  Then it was time for the two minute “Danny Bergara’s Blue and White Army” chant (well, I say two minutes, it was more like twenty in the end.)  Dave and the kids faced the pitch as this took place.  Jim was facing us though and joined in the chanting.  The whole thing was amazing.  Bearing in mind this had to be organised at short notice, it was a fantastic tribute.  Just perfect.  Well done to all involved.

I also feel I should mention the Cardiff fans at this point.  I thought they were out of this world.  There was complete silence throughout My Way and they even joined in with the Danny Bergara chant.  Now I realise that the fans who turned up on Saturday are genuine football lovers and maybe a little bit mad?! I mean, I consider myself pretty hardcore when it comes to following the County – Tuesday night trips to Colchester and the like are no problem, but even I wouldn’t have trekked all the way to Cardiff for a pre season friendly.  It’s a fair old journey!  You save your money for the season don’t you?  But the 100 or so hardcore fanatics that did turn up were an absolute credit to their football club.  Thank you so much for that.  It was noticed and appreciated.

Jim and Dave	Jim and Dave, Mark and Norman	Applause

Once the two minutes were up the ref blew his whistle and the players took to the pitch.   A few deep breaths and some mopping up of tears and it was time sit down and enjoy the match.  I turned to look at the bloke next to me and he’d obviously been crying too.  Poor guy.  He was probably alright until he sat next to me.  It you were struggling to hold it together then I was the worst person to sit next to.  Sorry mate.

This was my first match of the season (I missed the Hull game and elected to stay at home and read Harry Potter instead!) so this was my first chance to see some of our new players.  Also, this match should be a good test of how we are progressing, as Cardiff are a good side.  Hopefully we would put on a good performance.  However, we were behind after about 15 minutes as Gavin Rae side footed the ball past newbie Chris Adamson.  Oy!  That wasn’t in the script! I was quite put out.  Then the cheeky blighters went and scored again soon after.  This was not on at all.  I feared a landslide.  Don’t get me wrong, County had played some tidy football up until this point, but Cardiff just looked that bit sharper.

The game continued but there wasn’t much to write home about.  The Cheadle End were still chanting for Danny and there was some football going on.  I wasn’t really bothered by now.  I was expecting defeat, but it didn’t matter as I was only here for Danny today anyway.  And then something truly bizarre occurred.  Inexplicably, Gavin Rae randomly decided to head the ball over his own keeper.  2-1. Now I’m not a religious person, and maybe I’m being a sentimental old fool, but I swear Danny had a hand in that!  It was just too surreal.  You could almost hear him, getting irate, muttering on about how we were choking on the mints, or not killing the bull, and on his day of all days!  And he hadn’t finished as three minutes later we were treated to another own goal, this time from Darren Purse.  We were back on level terms. Cardiff 2, Danny 2.

CE Applause	Tributes	Match action

This seemed to spur us on as County realised how frail the Cardiff defence were.  Jason Taylor put us ahead with a fantastic volley.  It was easily the best goal of the game, and I wonder if we’ll see anything to match it all season?  I didn’t even know he could do that!  David Poole put us further ahead a couple of minutes later.  There was time for Cardiff to pull one back just before the half time whistle and the players left the pitch to rapturous applause and another version of “Danny Bergara’s Blue and White Army”  Phew!  This afternoon really was something of a roller coaster ride.  It was worth the 7 quid to get in just to see the Danny tribute but this match was a goal fest!

There was no chance of County hanging onto their lead in the second half as the game continued where it left off.  It was action packed and it wasn’t long before County added to their scoreline.  Proudlock’s cross was heading out for a corner so the Cardiff defender knocked it back into play….. straight to the feet of Liam Dickinson who happily slotted it into the back of the net.  How we chuckled!  There was time for another goal this time from the unrecognisable Pilkington and another consolation for Cardiff before the final whistle.

Cheadle End FT	Sunday Autographs	Sunday II

As the team left the pitch, the Blue Army were on their feet applauding and again singing “Danny Bergara’s Blue and White Army”, a chant that was to be heard throughout the pubs in Edgeley that night as we had a drink or two in memory of the great man.  It was a special day and it was a privilege to have been a part of it.

Goodbye Danny.  Gone, but NEVER forgotten. RIP

Caz