And it never was, coming as it did, second-hand from Mitcham Stadium, the brainchild of entrepreneur Sydney Parkes who built it in 1935, hosting among other things, rugby league, baseball and greyhound racing and, although the latter is disputed, the gable was built to be in line with the finish line.
Mitcham Stadium closed in 1955 and the stand was bought by Leyton Orient who gave it a new lease of life at Brisbane Road in 1958.
There’s much more of this story here and here, but in the meantime, our brand new video premieres next week, and you can find that here:
Waitrose Woman loves Meal Deal Man But she’s doesn’t understand How he’s just getting by
Waitrose Woman loves Meal Deal Man But she doesn’t understand And she’s forgetting why
Waitrose Woman works in the city Loves low taxes and the NHS Waitrose Woman lives in Surrey Has two kids and a dog called Bess Waitrose woman likes Radio 4 She doesn’t really feel the culture war She feels very sorry for the kids of the poor She buys their dusters at the door She knows that she’s okay She knows that she’s okay
Meal Deal Man lives in the city He’s already eaten his one-a-day Meal Deal Man works for a living But he’s going to the food bank today Meal Deal Man gets his benefits paid He lies in the bed they say he made His shirt is clean but his collar is frayed He used to vote but just feels betrayed He knows he’s not okay He knows he’s not okay
Meal Deal Man drinks a Wetherspoons coffee It’s not very nice but the pub is warm Meal Deal Man knows there’s heat in the bookies And they’ll leave him alone to study the form Meal Deal Man’s card gets declined Meal Deal Man knows life’s unkind Meal Deal Man’s been left behind Even though he’s always tried He knows he’s not okay He knows he’s not okay
Waitrose Woman likes a glass of wine A ripe avocado and wholemeal bread Waitrose Woman loves her warm kitchen And cool sheets when she slips into bed Waitrose Woman knows we’re all the same She feels very sorry for the sick and the lame She thinks that poverty is a shame But hard work is the name of the game She knows that she’s okay She knows that she’s okay
Waitrose Woman loves Meal Deal Man But she’s doesn’t understand How he’s just getting by
Waitrose Woman loves Meal Deal Man But she doesn’t understand And she’s forgetting why She’s forgetting why She’s forgetting why She’s forgetting why
The River is inspired by and a tribute to Pauline Town.
Pauline is the beating heart of We Shall Overcome. Every day, her tireless work feeds over one hundred people, homeless and rough sleeping, and she has helped over a thousand people into safe, secure, permanent accommodation.
At the heart of everything that she does is a raw kindness and down-to-earth humanity: a practical socialism that doesn’t judge but raises a fist of anger at the cruelty of the system while extending the helping hand of solidarity.
If Pauline is the beating heart of We Shall Overcome, then it’s spiritual headquarters is her pub, The Station in Ashton-under-Lyne. Over the course of the pandemic, it has become a community hub and place of safety and refuge.
The Station is re-opening as a pub in May 2022 and costs need to be covered alongside the fundraising for food and shelter, so go and have a pint if you can and chuck a few quid in this digital bucket to help our hero keep doing everything that she does to support people living at the roughest edges of Tory austerity.
You can support Pauline in keeping The Station going here.
Will he resign? Will he be forced out? Will the 1922 Committee get their 54 letters? (Just how archaic is this process?) Or will we have to build a statue of him and throw it in the Thames? Who knows? But in the meantime, a little gentle encouragement Protest Family-style, or the theme tune to a celebration. Let’s see…
We thought thatDear Mr. Johnson might make a late run at it, or even The Day They Cancelled Christmas, but the winner is the ode to the playthings of the super-rich, inspired, at least in part, by Jeff Bezos’ thanks to the shoppers and workers at Amazon for paying for his nearly-into-space jaunt. The surprise entry at number 2 is, we think, down to people searching for positive stories about anti-vaxxer Cassie; an algorithm win for us then. Good to see people still remembering our mate Chris too.
It seems that Orient fans are still obsessed with the owner who nearly killed the club, or maybe they’re just fans of lists of managers and Christmas harmonies. Nice to see that Brisbane Road continues to have a loyal following (as does Sean Thornton) and good showings from the three Lockdown Singles Club releases.
Songs from The debased street music of the vulgar proved popular along with live favourite God Save the Queen’s Speech. Interesting to see both versions of Where Tina Goes in the list; we always said it would be a hit.
Professor Chris in a darkened room With his message of doom, his message of gloom Says get your booster and get it soon That’s his message to you
Professor Chris on podium two Says don’t breathe on folks that you don’t have to And try not to let them breathe on you That’s his message to you
But now they’re looking at you like the monkeys in the zoo do The naked ape that hasn’t got a clue Throwing chimps’ tea parties and denying them too Now it’s time for you
(So) Bye bye, farewell, fuck off Bye bye, farewell, fuck off Bye bye, farewell, and then fuck off from there as well Bye bye, farewell, fuck off (You insufferable toff)
The football fans know it, the darts fans know it If there’s a party, you’re gonna throw it If there’s bad seed, you’re gonna sow it It’s time for you to go
(It’s) Bye bye, farewell, fuck off Bye bye, farewell, fuck off Bye bye, farewell, and then fuck off from there as well Bye bye, farewell, fuck off (You insufferable toff)
Bye bye, farewell, it’s time you blew And take Jacob Rees-Mogg along with you And Iain Duncan Smith and the ERG crew In fact anyone identified as blue It’s time for you
‘Cos they’re looking at you like the monkeys in the zoo do The naked apes that haven’t got a clue Throwing chimps tea parties and denying them too Now it’s time for you
(It’s) Bye bye, farewell, fuck off Bye bye, farewell, fuck off Bye bye, farewell, and then fuck off from there as well Bye bye, farewell, fuck off (You insufferable toff) Bye bye, farewell, fuck off
Did you ever while away a childhood hour Imagining your very own superpower? But never able to scratch that itch ‘Cos superpower’s reserved for the super-rich
Batman’s a toff, the stuff he’s got Bet he don’t pay tax on half that lot But if the city upped the ante And binned the vigilante They could fund the GCPD Properly (Commissioner Gordon would be proud)
Superheroes, supervillains, they’re just products of the system Superheroes, supervillains, they’re just products of the system
Ironman’s a toff, the stuff he’s got Bet he don’t pay tax on half that lot ‘Cos Stark Industries’ A monopoly With sights on the whole defence Industry (He’s got a military industrial complex)
Superheroes, supervillains, they’re just products of the system Superheroes, supervillains, they’re just products of the system
Andrew’s a toff, the stuff he’s got Livin’ off tax paid by you lot Touches who he wants With impunity ‘Cos his superpower’s unaccountability (On account of his mum being Queen)
Superheroes, supervillains, they’re just products of the system Superheroes, supervillains, they’re just products of the system
Our superpower’s sharing, our superpower’s caring Our superpower’s looking out for one another Our superpower’s sharing, our superpower’s caring Our superpower’s looking out for one another
Jacob’s a toff, the stuff he’s got Bet he don’t pay tax on half that lot His hedge fund’s laughin’ While other folk are starvin’ His superpower’s alarming, while his wealth he’s guarding (He just doesn’t see poor people)
Superheroes, supervillains, they’re just products of the system Superheroes, supervillains, they’re just products of the system
Hand over the keys to the Batmobile Built by our labour of hand and brain And hand over the iron suit too We don’t want to see your superhero arses round here again
Superheroes, supervillains, they’re just products of the system Superheroes, supervillains, they’re just products of the system
She pulled him out of the river Fed him, clothed him, found him a home
Cos pulling folk out the river Is the only way she’s ever known
She pulls him out of the river And tomorrow she’ll pull him out again She pulls him out of the river But she’ll never meet the bastards That keep throwing him in
Keep throwing him in
She pulls them out of the river Without ever asking from where they’ve come
Fishing souls out the river And some days her day’s work is never done
She pulls him out of the river And tomorrow she’ll pull him out again She pulls him out of the river But she’ll never meet the bastards That keep throwing him in
Keep throwing him in
She’s fishing souls out the river Seems that’s the way it’s always been
While the soulless bastards in government Keep throwing them in
She pulls him out of the river And tomorrow she’ll pull him out again She pulls him out of the river But she’ll never meet the bastards That keep throwing him in
Keep throwing him in
She’s fishing souls out the river Seems that’s the way it’s always been While the soulless bastards in government Keep throwing us in Keep throwing us in Keep throwing us in
Steve White & The Protest Family 