Wes Daily Chief Football Writer, 9yrspodcast.org
Wimbledon have pulled off a huge coup by acquiring a new sweeper during the summer transfer window.
With fans unsettled by the departure of Dean Parrett, and unresolved contract issues of Lyle Taylor and Darius Charles, the club have moved swiftly to alleviate some concern by bolstering their options at Kingsmeadow.
“I’m really looking forward to showing the fans what I can do,” said Roger Wanstead, 54, who has agreed a temporary contract to assist with the club’s stadium clean-up weekends this June.
“Primarily I’m a sweeper – dusting down the terraces, brushing away overgrowth in the car park, stuff like that,” beamed Wanstead as he posed for photos in the Cherry Red Gas Travel utility cupboard – Wimbledon shirt in one hand, trusty broom ‘Chris’ in the other. “But I’m flexible. I can paint or drill, maybe dig, assemble bedroom furniture – whatever really.
“I’ve always wanted to help out with these weekends but haven’t been able to commit to more than about 79 per cent of the hours available, so I didn’t know if I’d be welcome.
“But the club said they are desperate for anyone to sign any sort of contract welcome all help, so I jumped at the chance.”
The role of sweeper was originally promised to Thomas Spores, 31, but despite claims from first-team manager Bill Hardly that Spores had not only done the job but was vital to the clean-up project, nobody else could claim to have witnessed the former Alexandra Palace caretaker attend the stadium, let alone put a shift in.
Wanstead, of Wanstead, East London, said he is particularly looking forward to working with fans of Kingstonian Chelsea Ladies other clubs, who also lend a hand on these weekends.
But the main topic of conversation was the name of his broom. He explained: “Chris is the name of my favourite Wimbledon players of all time – Chris Head.
“He may have only played a handful of games back in the Ryman League days, but I really enjoyed watching Head. It was a blow when he left – I thought the decision to let him go sucked.
“But there have been other Chris’s I have liked watching at Wimbledon. I mean, Hussey, Bush, and Wood … what a combination,” he drooled.
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