Sunday, January 01, 2006
Getting Towed Away at Brighton
As you'll know if you're reading these, I used to go to a lot of away matches - most of the away games in one or two seasons, as it happens. Usually went with my mate BJ - nobody else seemed to want to go, for some reason. So this goes back to the days when Brighton had a proper ground - their own, the Goldstone Ground it was called, not that jumped -up athletics track called the Withdean. Mind you, I never liked their old ground either - we never seemed to win, and they'd always got players who scored against us. Vale are a bit like that ( a lot like that) certain players always score against us, even if they don't ever score against anybody else. Luke Beckett springs to mind at the moment, but there have always been palyers like that.
Anyway, me and BJ set off to Brighton to watch the Vale. Because we knew where the ground was, we took back roads into the town but we got there not too long before kick-off and were having difficulty finding somewere to park. I found somewhere not too far from the ground, but BJ pointed out that it was only a 2 hour maximum stay, and it might take longer, so we drove around a bit and eventually spotted a whole line of cars parked on double yellows. We thought it must be OK to park there on match days, and anyway, there were 10 or 12 cars there, so we decided to take the chance and do it.
The game was awful. Vale played like a load of strangers and we lost 2-0. Both goals scored by the same player - forget his name, but he always scored against us !!
So we come out of the ground and head back to the car - but it's not there, nowhere to be seen, disappeared. First reaction is that it's been stolen - well, it is a nice white Lancia Delta, more than a bit flash, sort of car that could get nicked.
So I go to find a copper - and say to him that I think my car has been stolen. He asks me where I'd left it ( strange question, I think, to start with) so I point him across the road and say "Over there" . He says -" I don't think it's been stolen, sir, I think we've had it towed away for parking on double yellows" and I point out to him all the other cars still parked there and he says they can only take one at a time - and did I see the signs warning me that Brighton tow away illegally parked cars ? So I say, no we didn't, and he says well you should have. So I ask him what we need to do now and he says we need to ring the police station and find out if the car has actually been towed, and that if it has, we'll have to go to the police station to sort things out.
So we find a phone box and call them, tell them the registration - and it has indeed been towed away. Great. So then we ask them how to get there and they say it's actually a few miles from the ground, it's in Brighton and the ground's in Hove ( or vice versa, can't remember) and so you need to get a taxi there - they say that will cost about a fiver. ( Great, I think) and then you'll have to pay the fine and the towing away charge before you can get your car back. This is beginning to sound worse by the minute. Anyway, we get a taxi to take us to the police station- and it does cost a fiver ( a bit more, but so what) and we get to the police station. Parking fine is £14 ( I think) and the towing away charge is £75 - and you have to pay it all in one go or they keep your car, and charge you £15 a day for keeping it if you don't claim it there and then. Bastards is the immediate reaction.
This is now certainly not in the least amusing. The copper at the station is very sympathetic, says they only ever catch visitors - all the locals know how to get round it. I do point out about the fact that loads of other cars were parked there, and he says, that's how it works out - they usually go for the non-locals first....even better.
So now got to find £89. Got cheque book with me, but cheque card only covers me for £50, and they won't accept multiple cheques. BJ has got cashcard with him, and can get the other £40 quid, but he's not a happy bunny about this, not at all. Anyway, eventually we get the fine and charge paid and get a receipt.
So I ask if I can pick car up now - and they say yes, but it's not here. It's actually in a pound at Moulscomb ( I think) which is right out the other side of Brighton and another taxi ride away - about £12 they think from the cop shop. This is getting seriously expensive - have had to put loads of petrol in, it's a very long drive, have had to pay to see the match, and now have had to pay out major dosh just to get the car back to go home. No choice again, got to do what is necessary, only now have to wait until they can confirm the car is actually at the pound. Or go there and wait.....which we do. It is there anyway. So we get it back and have to find our way back from the wrong side of Brighton to get on the motorway.
Probably the most expensive away game I've ever been to - and most of it was a waste of money!That's why I've never been to another game at Brighton - hate the bastards.
Tell people about this and they think it's very funny - I do know a lot of smartarses who always know better after the event - they all say, "well you shouldn't park illegally, what did you expect" as if it's something they'd never do themselves, the lying gits - resist the impulse to smack them one ( not easy, but I manage it)
Anyway, me and BJ set off to Brighton to watch the Vale. Because we knew where the ground was, we took back roads into the town but we got there not too long before kick-off and were having difficulty finding somewere to park. I found somewhere not too far from the ground, but BJ pointed out that it was only a 2 hour maximum stay, and it might take longer, so we drove around a bit and eventually spotted a whole line of cars parked on double yellows. We thought it must be OK to park there on match days, and anyway, there were 10 or 12 cars there, so we decided to take the chance and do it.
The game was awful. Vale played like a load of strangers and we lost 2-0. Both goals scored by the same player - forget his name, but he always scored against us !!
So we come out of the ground and head back to the car - but it's not there, nowhere to be seen, disappeared. First reaction is that it's been stolen - well, it is a nice white Lancia Delta, more than a bit flash, sort of car that could get nicked.
So I go to find a copper - and say to him that I think my car has been stolen. He asks me where I'd left it ( strange question, I think, to start with) so I point him across the road and say "Over there" . He says -" I don't think it's been stolen, sir, I think we've had it towed away for parking on double yellows" and I point out to him all the other cars still parked there and he says they can only take one at a time - and did I see the signs warning me that Brighton tow away illegally parked cars ? So I say, no we didn't, and he says well you should have. So I ask him what we need to do now and he says we need to ring the police station and find out if the car has actually been towed, and that if it has, we'll have to go to the police station to sort things out.
So we find a phone box and call them, tell them the registration - and it has indeed been towed away. Great. So then we ask them how to get there and they say it's actually a few miles from the ground, it's in Brighton and the ground's in Hove ( or vice versa, can't remember) and so you need to get a taxi there - they say that will cost about a fiver. ( Great, I think) and then you'll have to pay the fine and the towing away charge before you can get your car back. This is beginning to sound worse by the minute. Anyway, we get a taxi to take us to the police station- and it does cost a fiver ( a bit more, but so what) and we get to the police station. Parking fine is £14 ( I think) and the towing away charge is £75 - and you have to pay it all in one go or they keep your car, and charge you £15 a day for keeping it if you don't claim it there and then. Bastards is the immediate reaction.
This is now certainly not in the least amusing. The copper at the station is very sympathetic, says they only ever catch visitors - all the locals know how to get round it. I do point out about the fact that loads of other cars were parked there, and he says, that's how it works out - they usually go for the non-locals first....even better.
So now got to find £89. Got cheque book with me, but cheque card only covers me for £50, and they won't accept multiple cheques. BJ has got cashcard with him, and can get the other £40 quid, but he's not a happy bunny about this, not at all. Anyway, eventually we get the fine and charge paid and get a receipt.
So I ask if I can pick car up now - and they say yes, but it's not here. It's actually in a pound at Moulscomb ( I think) which is right out the other side of Brighton and another taxi ride away - about £12 they think from the cop shop. This is getting seriously expensive - have had to put loads of petrol in, it's a very long drive, have had to pay to see the match, and now have had to pay out major dosh just to get the car back to go home. No choice again, got to do what is necessary, only now have to wait until they can confirm the car is actually at the pound. Or go there and wait.....which we do. It is there anyway. So we get it back and have to find our way back from the wrong side of Brighton to get on the motorway.
Probably the most expensive away game I've ever been to - and most of it was a waste of money!That's why I've never been to another game at Brighton - hate the bastards.
Tell people about this and they think it's very funny - I do know a lot of smartarses who always know better after the event - they all say, "well you shouldn't park illegally, what did you expect" as if it's something they'd never do themselves, the lying gits - resist the impulse to smack them one ( not easy, but I manage it)
Maybe the car is cursed ??
