A flag story from 15+ years ago.

A pal of mine, “K” went to Aston University. He was a decent hockey player, though more interested in the social aspects of the sport. His best pal at Uni was “R”, who is now a Captain of Industry, having risen to the heady heights of FD of a FTSE 100 Company.

One day Aston played Blossomfield HC. It was an away fixture. The Uni boys, in typical post match high spirits decide to relieve Blossomfield HC of their flag. It was huge, all of 5 feet high and 12 feet across, and getting it off the wall, and out of the clubhouse was proving to be a challenge.

“K” at an opportune moment, took the flag down from the wall folded it up and stuffed it up the jumper of his girlfriend. As they left the clubhouse, “K”’s girlfriend, now heavily “pregnant” with the flag had the door of the clubhouse opened by the President of Blossomfield HC who wished her well in her condition.

All three walked to the car park, into the Aston minibus and were driven off. They were the last ones to get on the bus, as the plan had been known by all the team.

Blossomfield HC soon discovered this act of larceny, and asked for the flag back. Of course, the theft was vehemently denied by Aston HC.

The flag was then used as a curtain in “K” and “R”’s digs and when they moved to London was on the wall in their house. Probably covering a huge damp patch as it was not the best place to live.

Ten years after the theft, the paths of the flag and Blossomfield finally crossed when the Hockey cup draw was made and our club were drawn to play Blossomfield at home.

After the game (which we lost badly) Blossomfield and their coach-load of supporters were in bar enjoying a few beers before the journey back when “K” saw the President of Blossomfield, the one who had held the door open for his “pregnant” girlfriend, who was now his wife, all those years ago.

“K” in a moment of remorse, fuelled by nearly a gallon of lager, confessed the theft to the very unimpressed Blossomfield President and promised to send the flag back.

He never did, and it is somewhere in the Harrow in a box gathering dust.

Posted By: KentonCanary, May 27, 19:42:17