Page 5 - Deal Round Up January 2021

The Three Horseshoes

A great, friendly, traditional pub in Great Mongeham where you
will find a warm welcome from
Landlords Rachel and Johnny.
01304 379216
All Sky Sports & BT Sports Shown
On Three HD Screens

BOOKINGS - Now Being Taken For 2021; GARDEN PARTIES - WEDDINGS -
BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS FOR ALL AGES - CHRISTENINGS - ANNIVERSARIES
- (A Small Deposit Secures)
The Above Includes; Free Use Of Garden Facilities.
(Bring Your Own Food Or We Can Supply)
Children Have Free Use Of;
BOUNCY CASTLE - SLIDES - SWINGS - TRAMPOLINE
BOOK EARLY TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT - PLEASE PHONE TO BOOK
Johnny & Rachel wish all their customers a safe and prosperous New Year

A conversation I had with a Step 3 manager the other day reminded
me of a very special relationship I struck up with a manager as a
young reporter, working on my local paper in Aldershot. George Borg
arrived at the Recreation Ground with a high profile and a no-non-
sense nature. If he wanted, he could have spat out a young whip-
persnapper like me. Instead, we became very close and, although he
doesn’t know it, it was he who lit the flame for my love affair with the
Non-League game.
On one occasion, I remember my back page lead story falling through, leaving me high and dry an
hour before deadline. In desperation, I gave George a call and explained my dilemma, asking him
if he could confirm any transfer speculation to help fill the void. What he gave me was a stronger
exclusive than I had originally which became a popular talking point on the terraces.
As in most walks of life, a working relationship requires an ‘I’ll-scratch-your-back-if-you-scratch-
mine’ thesis. George was a big advocate of this. I remember waiting outside the dressing room door
for the Shots boss among a posse of TV crews and national journalists following an FA Cup tie with
Brighton & Hove Albion in November 2000.
Accepting I would probably only get a fraction of his time, I did contemplate easing his burden by
slipping off and calling him later. Just as I did though one of the players came to the door and asked
specifically for myself and my counterpart from the Farnham Herald to come through and speak to
George in the managers’ room at the back. The face of the national guys was a picture as the two
of us hustled our way through the crowd but when we got to the manager’s changing area, there
he was sat on the bench with only a small hand towel to protect his modesty! It was probably the
strangest interview I had ever carried out!
To this day, I always keep an eye out on how George’s Braintree Town side fare come 5pm on a
Saturday. It’s a relationship which taught me so much and one I will always treasure.
It’s So Good To Be Back, Well Sort Of Back! By Sam Emery
AH it’s good to be back! Well, sort of back. If we are back. Covid-19 has brought many challenges
and keeping up with the latest government guidance is certainly one of them in this fast-moving

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