Can’t remember what year this was when we won at the Dragons but here are thoughts from the time reproduced (from an article I posted on the UAFC site and by coincidence a game against the Dragons), which will hopefully set you in the mood for Sunday’s first supporter gathering of the season.
Sunday at the Rosetta should be Cracklin’ Rosie.
Cracklin’ Rosie, make me a smile
God if it lasts for an hour, that’s all right
We got all night
To set the world right
Find us a dream that don’t asks no questions, yeah
Oh, I love my Rosie child.
I’m indebted to one of my Grousebeater colleagues for an explanation of Cracklin’ Rosie the song. Cracklin’ Rosie is apparently a cheap drink that the Indians on a Canadian reservation resorted to when they couldn’t find a partner for the weekly dance. You couldn’t go without a partner and as there were more women than men on the reservation there were some fellas who lost out and sought refuge in Cracklin’ Rosie. Makes sense when you read the lyrics.
Well I didn’t have a partner for Saturday’s visit to Cracklin’ Rosie, (the Rosetta bar), for Ulster’s game with the Dragons and the drink certainly wasn’t cheap. I could be sure of one thing though, the collective of the Ulster supporter is more than enough refuge for anyone who is unaccompanied. So it was I entered the almost unreal world of Cracklin’ Rosie pre match and found the lounge bar already filling up with the support, hearts in mouth, hand in pockets and eyes glued to the TV screen.
An air of expectancy is staple for these occasions but there is always, no matter our great run of results in Wales last year, a tentative feeling which exudes from at least a small quarter of the Ulsterman’s steely and cheery exterior. Scratch beneath the surface of all but the most patriotically blind Ulster fan and you’ll find that little smidgeon of insecurity about how the team will perform. This is what fuels the Ulster support I believe, a high octane combination of expectancy mixed with a small but potent fear of the dreaded defeat.
We need not have worried, hindsight is a wonderful refuge for the fears and insecurities to be stowed away, after the event. Through many a shaky moment as the match progressed, the Rosie now almost electric in atmosphere followed the fortunes of the Ulsterman on the field of play in Wales.
We won.
A somewhat collective sigh of relief billowed through the assembled throng of supporters. Cracklin’ Rosie might best be described as Cacklin’ Rosie given the nerve stretching, induced moments endured throughout the game. It’s great when your winning, you feel like singing, you want to inhale the moment of victory and breathe the sweet smell of success and of course indulge in more Cracklin’ Rosie. There will be more nights like last Saturday night but there is always ones like last Friday.
Corrections, comments or questions?