Is it really two years since our first broadcast ?
As one of the original team of commentators who had the priveldge of commentating on our 'debut' match, there have been numerous memorable and hilarious moments over the first two years.
I remember out first broadcast on a dark Tuesday at home to Forest Green. You think you are well prepared, and have done your research and then the oppostion walk out in Black & Green stripped shirts with Black numbers on the back which you have no chance of recognising. The match will be remembered for the totally unbiased and controlled description of Altrincham's winning goal by a certain Mr Flynn yelling 'IT'S GONE IN ? IT'S GONE IN !
Brian's enthusiasm for all things Alty did almost get us into a scrape with the geordie faithful at Blyth Spartans last season when a late and rather dubious penalty was awarded to Altrincham. Brian's comments that the referee's decision was fully justified were overheard by the supporters in the main stand and his over exhubertant description of Damien Reeves penalty conversion (yes those were the days when we could score from penalties!) did not go down too well. Fortunately his two henchman namely yours truly and Simon Ellis were able to avert a diplomatic incident !!
It soon became obvious that at away games you should NEVER assume anything ! Our hard worked press officer Mr Flynn is usually very thorough in his preparations in making arrangments for away matches. However our first away trip to Vauxhall Motors following relegation left us with an unsurmoutable problem. Having liased with the home club and requested permission to broadcast we all turned up at the appointed time only to find that in the immortal words of Apollo 13 - 'Houston We Have A Problem.' - No power supply in the press box !
The problem was compounded by the fact that Brian's laptop was not fully charged and was never going to last the full 90 minutes. A cunning plan was quickly hatched whereby we would broadcast until the charge finally ran out and Brian would then dash round to the secretary's office and stick his laptop on charge at half time.
The lap top died a death just before half time with the Robins leading 1-0. Brian's embarked on his mercy mission and arrived back from the secretary's office 10 minutes into the second half. Listeners were non plussed to find that in the unscheduled break in transmission the Robins had conceded two goals and were 1-2 down !
Technical issues at away matches can be numerous. Wi Fi reception etc can at times be non existent. We rely on feed back from the forum as to whether you can hear us. We once spent 45 minutes providing first half commentary at a pre season freindly at Nantwich Town only to find that no one had been able to hear us !!
One of the unique features of providing commentaries on Radio Robins is the instant and often amusuing feedback we get from the Fans Forum. Two cases in point were the time when broadcasting from Colwyn Bay. Halfway in to the first half we were interupted by lady selling tickets for the half time draw. Brian could be heard in the back ground making a purchase and immediatley some wag on the forum wished him luck in the half time draw ! The second amusing incident was whilst providing match comentary for a youth cup match at home to Darlington. Mention was made of the young Darlington No 11 and a post was made on the forum from his mother who had tuned in, asking us to tell him not to make a noise when he got back in later that evening (or more likely early morning) !
It is always a encouraging to know via the Fans Forum, that we are being listened to by a world wide audience.
Happy Birthday to Radio Robins, thank you to all our listeners and here's to the next two years.
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Happy Birthday!!!
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