Yes, I am sure you are all confused??? Dad and a football match…

Somehow in 2014 I persuaded Dad to watch West Ham play at home in a mid-week match, the game was less than inspiring and atmosphere flat as Boleyn only half full, with the game ending in 1-1 draw.

In those days Dad was able to have one or two drinks and we went after the game to the infamous ‘Boleyn Tavern’ just outside the ground where all the die-hard fans went.

To my surprise as we entered the pub fans stopped talking loudly and instead voices whispers, our path to the bar in a crowded pub opened up, and we were served straight away by a bar maid with a strange expression on her face.

As she put the pints on the bar she quietly and politely asked Dad if he was ken Bates, dad looked puzzled.

The penny dropped immediately for me, Ken Bates had just sold Chelsea Football Club for 10s of millions and the rumour was he was looking to buy another football club and then here in their pub was a man who looked exactly him!!!

I knew that half the pub would buy us a pint, but the other half would want to throw him out at best or punch him at worst…

So, I quickly reassured everyone that he was not Ken Bates, and then had to repeat the exercise with every new entrant.

I don’t think the barmaid was convinced as she gave us a big wink as we left.

Dad loved every minute of it and would have stayed longer if I didn’t insist on leaving.

That was our first football match together and our last….