[Lord Snooty]

August 8:

On this date in 2009, Lee Clark took his Town team down to Roots Hall to play Southend United. It was the first ever Pedal For Pounds charity bike ride and participants included chairman Dean Hoyle, legend Andy Booth and Radio Leeds' Paul Ogden. They raised over fifty grand.

We weren't that energetic, so drove down. 

Got there and parked up just as the cyclists were turning up at the ground and gave them all a good rousing cheer. There were loads of Town fans there, but after this one, they always go the other direction so that they get the acclaim when they get to the John Smith's Stadium.

Anyway, Boothy appreciated our applause. And we appreciate what you all did as well, Boothy lad.

“When Dean came up with the idea I thought it was fantastic and just showed what our football club is all about. I remember the first ride very well. It was difficult as it was such a long way and it was the first one we had done so it was all new to everyone.

“I’ll never forget that moment we got to Southend and there were hundreds of fans cheering us on and clapping us, that to me was a special moment. To see all those fans stood outside congratulating us was just brilliant.”

So the match itself started like the players had just cycled over two hundred miles, with Sarfend going 2-0 up. Clarky had been busy in the summer and gave debuts to Lee Peltier, Anthony Kay, Theo Robinson, Robbie Simpson and Peter Clarke who was playing his first Town game against the team we signed him from and was a legend at.

He'd just won their Player of the Season award and had earlier scored a late equaliser for them in an FA Cup match at Chelsea. He would, of course, soon become a Town legend.

Two nil down after 56 minutes, Clark made substitutions. First off was the ineffectual Simpson, with an 18 year old lad signed from Ipswich coming on for his debut. That boy was Jordan Rhodes. Two minutes later Clark took Robinson off and brought on Lee Novak. This was his debut as well, although he had signed from Gateshead in January, he had gone back there on loan for the rest of that season. He'd earlier in the week, made a name for himself by punching a Newcastle player at the end of the last pre season match.

Town pulled one back in the 71st minute through Anthony Pilkington and then Novak set up Rhodes for the first of his 91 (so far) Town goals. It was a frantic finish to the game as we went for the winner, which wasn't helped by Michael Collins getting sent off. But a point was better than nowt, which was what we looked like going home with for most of the game.