Boxing Day Derby Could Be Back On

By Dave Picken - July 11 2002
Boxing Day Derby Could Be Back On
Tippet King
West could be playing Rovers this Boxing Day. Talks are underway following Rovers AGM and the venue could be decided by a game of Tippet! Rovers Chairman Phil Mitchell is in contact with West Chairman Ron Greig with the consensus being that a solution should be found.

The rift has been over whose turn it is to host the game. It sounds daft but, with West moving out of Brierton Lane to Pools and then the Friarage itself, the whole thing has become very complicated.

If both Committees are willing [and who would guess a vote] then it could be solved by the toss of a coin.

But myself and Tony Lowe, the Rovers President, came up with the Tippet idea over a beer in the Cricket Club.

Why not have a challenge match between the two clubs over a game of Tippet? Best of three .. winner is at home on Boxing Day. The game could be held at Athletic. It would get a lot of publicity and put some money behind Athletic's bar.

John Stabler is an obvious choice for the West team and so would Stubbsy .... providing the old Boays coach is still considered a Westie. I feel another disagreement coming on.

The Nathan Painter Memorial game with Tech could then become an annual end of season fixture.