Wetheriggs United
Senior Cup Final (The one that Ridley wanted) 22 April 07
After 10 years of success for the club there was one trophy that still eluded the current crop of players, the Senior Cup. We had not experienced much luck in previous seasons with defeats in semi finals (our only ever defeat by Carleton and a linesman allowing Kirkby Lonsdale to re-take 2 pens they had already missed) but after an indifferent season on the pitch for the first team and the disappointment of seeing both the Reserves and A team narrowly miss out in semi finals the club was totally focused on winning this trophy.
Having arranged a bus to travel to Kendal the team supported heavily by Reserve team players, A team players, committee members and some of the Wetheriggs old boys set off on their journey with only one thing in mind, victory. Everyone was aware of the importance of this trophy to the club and especially to the management team of Ridley and Norman who it was later revealed had decided back in August 06 that this season would be there last. Michelle Ridley claims that Andy did not sleep for a week in the lead up to this one. With this in mind the players were completely focused and up for this one.
Wetheriggs faced tough opposition in Milnthorpe Corinthians who had knocked us out the previous season and had an easy victory over Kirkby Lonsdale in the semi final. It did not go unnoticed during the warm up that they had some big guys in their line up. However, it was obvious in the tunnel before the game that the Riggs were supercharged and there was only going to be one result. Robertshaw (always a potential match winner) claimed two goals in the first half and superstar Currie scored a free kick early in the 2nd half. We were never going to let it slip from there although Jammy did his best to help Corinthians get back into the game but was saved by a cross bar and post. Currie lifted the trophy and the party started.
After a quick pint at Parkside the lads boarded the bus. Greeny had bought a crate of bud and after dishing out the beer for a £1 a bottle the Bud box became the "magic singing box". The box was passed around as we each started our own songs. Prokas seemed to come alive with his all time favourite "We won it 5 times in Istanbul". The memories of Viera and Cambridge United were a thing of the past as he celebrated the biggest footballing honour of his career with his mates. Crowd favourites seemed to be Robertshaws version of the Kaiser Chiefs "Shroomy, Shroomy, Shroomy, Shroomy" and a Stone Roses Classic "Ring a ding ding ding Di rings my bell". A Riggs celebration would not be the same without Greenys favourite "Carletons up but their going straight back down", a brave move with Poney sat in front of him but he saw the funny side. Big Kevs version of "I wanna be a combine harvest" was just pure aggression from the big man.
After a stop off at one of the top UK destinations, Shap, we headed back to our local drinking hole, The Castle. Bill filled the cup for us but this must of gone notice by our little winger Hutton who when passed the cup decided to launch in the air in celebration, soaking himself in the process and wasting £25 of our good money "Genius". After a good sing and dance at the castle we headed to the New Vic where the Oasis songs came on and the shirts came off. Uncle Den who is always generous filled the cup and got stung for £65. After the Vic, Andy Rids was good enough to take the cup back up to the castle for safe keeping, the rumours of it been seen at 1.30am in the Warehouse are untrue.
Nothing could top the New Vic and the rest of the night becomes a memory. The memory of 22nd April 2007 and the day we won the Senior Cup is one for the grand kids.
