Amongst other things I’m a Wycombe Wanderers football fan. A league 2 club with no money but fans who totally believe in and support the manager and the squad week in and week out. And this weekend just gone was no exception with Wycombe Wanderers playing and drawing with Premiership Aston Villa in the FA Cup 3rd round! A great result for this small club and a windfall to boot. The replay at Villa Park is still to be announced but will be a fantastic re-match I’m sure.
So last week I was approached by the Marketing Manager at the club and asked if I would be willing to appear on the BBC One Show last night and be part of the FA Cup 4th round draw. Of course I was willing, and yesterday afternoon traveled up to BBC Broadcasting House to take part with 40 other football club fans. It was a great, if not freezing, evening with each of us having our moment of fame and publicity for our respective clubs.
When you do stuff like this, you meet some interesting people. Due to the sad news of David Bowie’s death from Cancer, the One Show programme had to be changed quite a bit and there was quite a bit more hanging around than anticipated. I was asked to stand with the Aston Villa fan, John, as we had to shake hands with our draw opponent (Man City) as the draw was announced. We chatted about the game and the reply next week, and also talked with some other fans from Chelsea, Carlisle, Northampton, Leeds and Everton. And it was the Everton fan, Speedo Mick, who interested me.
Speedo Mick is famous.
As I don’t really follow Premiership football I’d not come across him before, but fans clearly had. A really nice chap who wore a swimming cap and goggles which intrigued me. It turns out he attends every home and away Everton game just in his Speedos. Yes just in his Speedos (well and his socks and boots too). He went on tell me that he’s raised over £13,000 for Woodlands Hospice Charitable Trust by spending 90 minutes each week, in all weathers, at football matches wearing his Speedos. Mick also swam the English Channel raising more money for charity! I think what he does is amazing and certainly isn’t for the faint-hearted.
Speedo Mick, it was a pleasure to meet you and good luck with all your fund raising in 2016.
Deborah
Hi - I am Deborah, and was the founding director of talkhealth My blog is generally focused around my own personal story about weight loss, running, exercise and generally trying to get and stay fit, as well as what's been in the news that's topical. Any views expressed are my own.
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Fabulous to meet Deborah and the other fans at the draw, a good experience even in the freezing cold. John the Aston Villa fan.
on January 13, 2016 at 11:32 am John