Stiff upper lip time (From Times Series)

Stiff upper lip time

3:18pm Monday 22nd September 2008 in Blogs By Dennis Signy

There's not much to smile about at the moment with Barnet FC having lost six out of seven of their League 2 games this season and already having been eliminated from two Cup competitions.

One point from a possible 21 means stiff upper lip time. I've given up saying to opposition directors before the game: "May the better team win".

Mrs S, aware of the pain and suffering, has tried to alleviate the gloom. I told her this morning: "I need a Sun" ... meaning, of course, a copy of the daily newspaper that carries reports of Barnet games.

"I'm beyond that now", she responded. Adding, on seeing my baffled expression, "I'm past child-bearing age".

Normally my reply would be "I do the funnies round here" but I just essayed a weak smile and acknowledged her humour.

The one thing that perked me up on Saturday, before Bury scored two late goals to go top of the table, was a couple of young lads asking me for my autograph.

"You don't want mine", I replied, trying desperately at an out-of-character modesty.

"Yes they do", said the gent with them. "They read your piece every week".

Signy 1, Fellow Bloggers 0. I haven't been so chuffed since the Sunday Times headlined me as the Controversial Editor three decades ago for writing that anti-Semitism was more of a problem than colour in NW London.

That was a far better reaction to my signature than the one years ago when I was asked to sign as I went into the Tottenham Hotspur ground.

Thinking that my signature was required because I had just written one of my books on Spurs, I asked the name of my admirer.

"To Bob, best wishes from .... Dennis Signy", I then wrote with a flourish.

The recipient looked at the signature and scowled. "I thought you were Denis Compton", he said, before walking away obviously niggled at the waste of a page in his book.

Well, the Middlesex and England cricketer and Arsenal footballer and I both had dark hair (at the time) and both came from Hendon. You could always tells us apart, though,.... I had two 'n's in my Dennis!

Back to Barnet. The story goes that a wise man said: "Cheer up, it can only get worse". So we all cheered up ... and it did get worse.

It will be a long week before my Gang of Four travelling party hit the road for Cleethorpes this Saturday - that's where Grimsby Town play - for a tilt at a side we have never beaten. Mrs S came with us last season as it was an evening game on our wedding anniversary and the five of us enjoyed a romantic fish and chip supper.

I haven't discussed next year's anniversary treat with her yet but it will be a trip to Brentford. Keep it quiet. I know a nice caff there down by the A4.

My "lucky" cashmere jacket to ensure Barnet's success did not get us beyond the pre-season games in July and, when the chairman chastised me for smoking, I said that I would stop once the team won a game". Each week now I say: "This is my last cigarette". I refute the scandalous allegation that I've got a supply in until next May.

PS If Dr Gray at the Grovemead Health Centre is reading this, I am only kidding. It's gallows humour, Doc.