Havant & Waterlooville (2007-08)

[TLW]

SLEEPING WITH THE ENEMY

Stu Montagu asking the questions

We live in troubling times, and in times of trouble all people look for something to cling to, something to guide them to better times and reassure them that everything is going to be okay, and so, back from the infotainment wilderness, leaping into action, is the Eddie Murphy of footballing features amongst a vast, dull sea of Martin Lawrences: Sleeping with the enemy. Accept no substitutes.

Sleeping with the enemy has gone non-league in preparation for the up-coming FA Cup tie with giant-killers extroadinaire: Havant and Waterlooville. To give us a bit of an insight into what we might expect Sleeping with the enemy contacted club programme editor, supporters' association treasurer, former fanzine editor and officially Havant's busiest man, Simon Lynch.

So strap yourself in as we take a tour through psychopathic toddlers, flying binmen and Showaddywaddy tunes.

So, take us through your emotions from your games in the last round and your feelings on getting Liverpool in the draw?

I remember feeling as nervous as anything in our first match against Swansea, but bizarrely when they scored I felt more relaxed – don’t ask me why, but I knew it would be the catalyst for us to go on the attack. After the sending offs I knew the goal would come and so it did in the 87th minute, just like the previous round.

The second match was weird – a packed house for the first time ever, and at 7:30 there was five of us that were literally stuck in the club shop – there were too many people outside for us to get out! So we watched the first hour in the shop through the windows, which turned out to be one of the best views in the house.

One word sums up my emotions from that round: pride.

My feelings on getting Liverpool are probably like 99% of all football fans – absolute elation. To be able to visit Anfield following the Hawks is a dream come true. I have a good record at Anfield – unbeaten in one visit, when I watched Coventry City get a goalless draw in the 88-89 season!

Have Coventry ever been exiting, apart from possible Peter Ndlovu’s brief appearance? How have you been doing in the league this season?

If I were to give our league form a school report it’d be a C+ - could do better. Home form has been decent, but away we’ve been poor. Tell me how the same team can draw 1-1 at Swansea in the FA Cup but lose 4-1 away at Bishop’s Stortford?

All that said we’ve got plenty of games in hand and are still in with a shout of the play-offs, so all’s not lost yet.

Up and down then. Who do you think are going to be the most important players for Havant, if you are to give a good account, and who will be the weak links?

Our most important players are without doubt the spine of the team, plus a young winger. From Kevin Scriven in goal, Neil Sharp at centre back, Jamie Collins in midfield and Rocky Baptiste up front we have a strong and inspirational middle to the team. Finally a mention must go to Alfie Potter, our loan signing from Peterborough. I’m not going to make any magic related jokes to go with the name – the trickery of his feet says it all.

Do you think I’ll give away our weak links?!? It’s probably our injuries to key players. At our level with a fully fit squad on paper there are no weak links – it’s just when we’re on grass they appear!

So grass could be your downfall; interesting. If we were throwing a pound on a Havant player to be first scorer, who is going to be the best value?

I suppose the obvious answer would be Rocky Baptiste, but I’d plump for Richard Pacquette. I’ve been telling people all season if you play him right up top he’ll get you twenty five goals for the season and be top scorer, so I’m going to stick by him n this game.

That’s a great name for a player: Rocky Baptiste. Apart from Gerrard and Torres, the obvious two candidates, which of the Liverpool players do you think could be the match-winners for Liverpool?

I’ve always thought Jermaine Pennant to be a decent winger, and one of the best crossers in the Premiership. I’ve also always been a fan of Peter Crouch – a man with a first touch on the deck that’s very underrated.

Give us an outsider’s view on what’s been going on with our new owners and Benitez, or do you not really care?

I think he’s been treated poorly. One Champions League win, another final and an FA Cup tells a pretty strong story. I also find him good value at press conferences etc, and like the style of football he employs.

I think most would agree with you that he’s been treated poorly. Are there any your players that you think would be comfortable at higher levels, which ones and how much higher do you think they could rise?

Alfie Potter is definitely too good for our level, whilst Kevin Scriven and Jamie Collins will undoubtedly progress. There are others that could progress if they focus on their game, an example being Richard Pacquette – great potential and still relatively young.

What would you say were the best things, and the worst things about following a non-league club?

The best thing is the attachment to the club, and the feeling that you’re part of it and not just another number on the attendance. A non-league fan can build up a tremendous rapport with the players.

The worst thing – some of the grounds you have to visit. Ours is pretty good for our level, but there are some that leave a lot to be desired.

I can imagine. Where do you see the club in ten years from now and how do you see the revenue from the tie influencing the club’s future?

Revenue from this round of the cup will change our future dramatically. If used well we could win the Blue Square South by 20 points next season, and it can be the springboard for an assault on the Blue Square National.

In ten years I’d like to see us established in the football league.

Sounds like a pretty realistic expectation. What’s your favourite Havant & Waterlooville chant?

It’s not really a chant, but it has to be ‘Under The Moon Of Love’ our anthem nicked of Showaddywaddy, which stems from a micky-taking of a linesman with a quiff several seasons ago!

For proper chants, a stirring rendition of ‘Come On You Hawks’ goes down well; if we get a corner, we’ll duly oblige.

The first one sounds pretty funny. Any other supporters in particular impress you with their wit, enthusiasm and interesting chants recently; and what’s the funniest song you’ve heard?

We had the Bishop’s Stortford fans taunting us prior to our Swansea replay by singing ‘You’ll never play at Anfield’ – oh how wrong they were, and it makes me chuckle to think of it now.

Who are the fans that you have most disliked over the past year and why?

To be honest we don’t get involved with what we refer to as ‘anti-fan-ism’ – we just like to behind our team. And at our level the banter is fairly good natured, due to the lack of segregation and the close proximity of each set of fans.

Who is the Havant player most liked for things other than his ability such as his attitude, his love for the club, psychotic tendencies etc?

‘Psycho’ Gregory is well liked – great sense on humour. His 18 month old son is following in his footsteps, quite literally! A few months ago he toddled up to me and kicked me in the ankles for no reason!!

Jamie Collins really struck a chord with what he said the other day – ‘If someone offered me a million quid not to lead the team out at Anfield I’d turn it down flat’. The young lad keeps going up in my expectations.

That’s a really great quote. Which of the players do you think are most likely to be patronised by John Motson on Football Focus because he has an amusing “real” job?

It’s got to be Tony ‘The Flying Binman’ Taggart – everyone else has done it, so Motty may as well have his turn. That’s if the BBC are interested in us of course – so far in this run they’ve pretty much ignored us!


Count your blessings; hearing nothing from Motson doesn’t sound too bad. And finally; what is your prediction for the game?

Oh, blimey, I don’t know. I’d be happy to avoid a cricket score. But then again I’ve thought that in each of the last rounds that have been three away games, and look what we’ve done.

Indeed. Thanks for your time Simon.

The official Havant & Waterlooville website can be found here: hawks.net