100 Strangers : Round 4 : No. 351 : Dee, Raymond and June
I went to watch my team Bolton Wanderers play host to Cheltenham Town yesterday. As I walked around the stadium before the match I saw three people chatting to a group of police officers. I was struck by the fabulous red Cheltenham scarves they were all wearing so I went up to them and spoke to June. I told June I loved their scarves and asked if I could take a photo. Meet (left to right), Dee, Raymond and June.
I asked June how long she had been supporting Cheltenham.
“Since I was 15 and I’m now 73”
“Wow, 73, that’s impressive”
Dee interrupted, “I’m 80 and I’ve been going since I was 15, we are sisters, this is Raymond, he’s deaf and dumb”
I nod and mouth “hello” to Raymond
“Is Raymond your husband?”
“No he’s my next door neighbour”
“73 and 80 that’s a big age gap?”
“It is” said June “we had 8 sisters in our family”
“8 !!”
“Yes 8 and we had 4 brothers too”
“That’s amazing” I said “how did your mother cope with 12 ?”
We then went on to have a nice chat about football, the game earlier in the season when we lost 2-1 , “we played you off the park” said June “you couldn’t cope with us”, the player we’d signed who was on loan at Cheltenham "Lulu he's a lovely lad".
The three of them watch Cheltenham home and away, travelling to away games on the supporters coaches.
“Does everyone at the club know you, do all the fans know you?”
“Yes I think so” said June, we watched them when they were in the Southern League
I wished them all a good game, we bumped fists, Raymond gave me a smile as I bumped his fist.
June then went back to chat to the Police Officers, laughing about the encounter she’d had with me and then offered them some sweets from a tupperware box (they looked like chocolate eclairs). I smiled and said “cheers” to the officers. Fabulous story don’t you think?
For the record Bolton won 1-0 with a late winner. The Cheltenham fans were sat in the upper tier of the south stand. It is really high up, with lots of steps to climb to reach your seat, I hope they used the lifts.
Great capture. And such an amazing story - sorry about Raymond. The red scarfs hadd lots of colour to the image. Been quite some time since you mentioned Bolton - still in 2nd Division? Glad for you they won.
I could tell they were sisters! Devoted fans & how lovely they were both each side of Raymond looking after him. Fancy watching a football match in complete silence when it’s such a noisy game! Good win to Bolton & a lovely photo.
@happypat thanks Pat, good spot by you re' the sisters , it's a lovely story for sure , I'm expect Raymond still go's through the ups and downs and mixed emotions of a football supporter :)
Sorry for the spelling - hopefully corrected now
@marlboromaam cheers Mags, I think you are right
@tralo291018 thanks Tracey
@brigette Brigette thank you so much, my conversations may not be word perfect but they accurately record how the meet went :)
fans!