West Bromwich Albion Vs Middlesbrough

Matchday 76 was an incredibly special occasion, as it was part of a belated Christmas present I had arranged for Liam to experience the unforgettable honour of being a mascot. Originally, this was scheduled for February 2024, but I decided to reschedule, attend another game in the meantime, and delay this unique opportunity until today’s match.

This game had even more significance as Liam was the mascot for our beloved Sutton United—a privilege made possible through Sutton’s amazing gesture. However, I had already purchased the mascot package for West Bromwich Albion long before Sutton’s offer, so this evening was all set to be extra memorable. What made the day even better was that one set of grandparents, along with Liam’s mum and uncle, were able to come along, joining us to watch with pride as Liam walked out onto the pitch with the players.

The evening began in a typically hectic fashion, with a mad dash home from work to change quickly and get straight out the door. Grandad Steve and Nan Jen were already at our house, helping to make sure we stuck to schedule and left on time. Even though West Bromwich Albion is a local club, we knew from experience that traffic can be a nightmare, and it’s impossible to predict how long the journey might take—especially since we needed to arrive by 18:00.

Thankfully, traffic wasn’t as bad as we feared, and we made it to The Hawthorns in about 50 minutes. Upon arrival, we faced a bit of confusion when trying to locate the right car park, which was part of the mascot package. The instructions weren’t very clear, so after a moment of uncertainty, we asked a steward for help, and luckily, we had arrived at the correct place.

Once parked, we made our way into the designated hospitality area—a room filled with tables and chairs. We found an empty spot to sit down and relax for a moment. Grandad Steve, ever the observant one, noticed a coffee machine in the corner. After some tinkering with the power, he managed to get it working, and soon enough, everyone was helping themselves to much-needed hot drinks. With the cold and wet weather outside, a warm beverage was more than welcome!

Just after 18:00, the mascot staff arrived, and after a short briefing on what to expect, they led the mascots upstairs, where all 12 children were handed goodie bags filled with some incredible keepsakes. Each bag contained a signed football, a signed letter from one of the players, and a match program—wonderful mementos to remember the day by. They also gave each mascot and their parent ID badges to wear for the evening. A photographer was on hand to capture moments with the mascots and their signed footballs, which made for some great pre-match memories.

At 18:30, it was time for Liam and me to head over to the pitch, while Mum, Grandad Steve, and Nan Jen went off in search of their seats in the stands. Before they left, Mum made a quick stop at the club shop to pick up our customary matchday scarf. As part of the mascot experience, Liam and the other children were treated to a guided tour around pitch side, where they stopped along the way for various photos. Despite the drizzly weather, the children were absolutely buzzing with excitement. There were opportunities to practice some football skills on the pitch, and the mascots were soon joined by West Brom’s famous duo, the Boiler and Baggie Bird mascots, adding an extra bit of fun to the occasion.

One of the highlights for Liam was getting a photo with Daryl Dike, one of West Brom’s star players. West Brom has been known for producing and signing top talent over the years, with players like Cyrille Regis and Bryan Robson becoming legends at the club. It was a brilliant moment, and Liam’s excitement was clear as he soaked up every second of this special experience. The mascots were also introduced to the crowd and appeared on the big screen, which was an incredible sight to see—especially for Liam, who was loving the limelight. With about 30 minutes before kick-off, the parents had to leave the children in the capable hands of the mascot coordinators as they prepared to walk out with the players.

Liam’s big moment finally arrived when he was filmed live on Sky Sports in the tunnel with none other than West Brom’s goalkeeper, Alex Palmer. Liam couldn’t stop talking about how amazing Alex was, taking the time to chat and make him feel special. A huge thank you to Alex Palmer for his kindness—you truly made Liam’s day unforgettable!

We all waited eagerly in our seats, not knowing which player Liam would be walking out with. To our delight, it was Alex Palmer himself! Liam was beaming with pride as he walked onto the pitch, hand-in-hand with the goalkeeper. He even fist-bumped all the players and officials, fully embracing the moment as he stood alongside the team. Just before kick-off, Liam was brought back to sit with us so we could watch the match together.

The game kicked off as expected, but just five minutes in, play was suddenly halted. The referee rushed over to the linesman, Rob Smith, who was positioned right near where we were sitting. It was a tense moment as medical staff from both West Brom and Middlesbrough sprinted across the pitch to attend to Rob. It turned out to be a serious situation, and Rob was quickly stretchered off and taken to Manor Hospital in Walsall. Fortunately, we later learned that he was discharged and able to go home the following day. On behalf of Liam and myself, we wish Rob a full and speedy recovery.

Once the match resumed after a seven-minute delay, both teams struggled to find their finishing touch, and the first half ended 0-0. The second half featured another poignant pause, this time in the 57th minute, when players, officials, and fans from all corners of the stadium joined in a minute’s applause to honour the memory of Mark Townsend, a West Brom fan who had tragically passed away during the team’s previous game. It was a touching moment that showed the unity and compassion within the football community, with even the traveling Middlesbrough fans joining in the tribute.

West Brom has seen its fair share of ups and downs over the years, having been a fixture in both the Premier League and Championship, but one thing has remained constant—their passionate fan base. Albion supporters have stood by their club through thick and thin, showing unwavering loyalty and creating a unique atmosphere at The Hawthorns.

The game’s only goal came in the 73rd minute, when Middlesbrough midfielder Hayden Hackney found the back of the net. Unfortunately, West Brom couldn’t capitalize on their chances, and the match ended 1-0 in Favor of Middlesbrough. While the result wasn’t what we had hoped for, the experience was still an unforgettable one for Liam and the rest of us.

After the final whistle, we stayed behind in the hope that Liam might catch Alex Palmer’s attention for an autograph or perhaps even his shirt as a keepsake. Although we weren’t successful this time, Liam was still buzzing from his incredible experience as mascot.

The journey home was a bit slow due to road closures, and we didn’t arrive back until around 23:00. Despite the late return, we were all still riding high on the excitement of the day, reflecting on the many wonderful memories made.

I’d like to close this blog by offering our deepest condolences to Mark Townsend’s family and sending our best wishes to Rob Smith for a swift and full recovery. We’re incredibly grateful to West Bromwich Albion for giving Liam such an amazing experience—one that he will never forget!

Five Facts About West Bromwich Albion:

1. Founded in 1878, West Bromwich Albion is one of the oldest football clubs in England and was a founding member of the Football League in 1888.
2. The club’s home ground, The Hawthorns, has a capacity of approximately 26,000 and is known for its electric atmosphere.
3. West Brom has won the FA Cup five times, with their most recent victory coming in 1968.
4. The club has produced and signed legendary players such as Cyrille Regis and Bryan Robson, who became iconic figures in English football.
5. West Brom has had a rollercoaster history, often moving between the Premier League and Championship, but their passionate fan base remains one of the most loyal in the country.