Drinking a beer with Gary and Guppy. Sounds like a great night to me. Yeah the MLS cup final was on but we weren’t there for that. To be honest, the game was a bit of a bore until Beckham, Keano, and Donovan finally worked some magic and justified the multimillions that the Galaxy spent on them. It was actually a lovely play that lead to the goal, but really the entire game was just background noise for the real event. The real reason Class VI and Pid Army turned up to the Celtic last Sunday night was to say thanks and goodbye to Gary Smith and Steve Guppy.
It was definitely a night of mixed feelings. It was a sad farewell but despite the sadness it was primarily a celebration of Gary and Steve’s accomplishments during their tenure with the Rapids. At the end of the day it was a celebration of an incredible accomplishment and primarily an uplifting send off for the two best coaches the Rapids have ever had.
The event was certainly a special one and a real treat for Rapids’ fans. At halftime, Gary stood up gave a speech to the crowd. He said he appreciated the support he had received and he encouraged the fans to keep moving forward. He even gave us a mission for the upcoming year. The speech ended with the inevitable chorus of Gary Smith’s Pid Army for our beloved coach.
It was great to hear Gary address the crowd. However, the real highlight of the evening was the opportunity to talk to both Gary and Steve individually and wish them the best. They both were pure class and outstanding to everyone who showed up. It was amazing to hear their insights and perspectives. My personal favorite anecdote of the evening was talking to Guppy about his Concacaf Champions League experience. As we chatted about his trip, Guppy described the trip and compared El Salvador to Aldershot on a Friday night. Now that is about as tasty as it gets. Brilliant stuff. It was also great to learn that Martin O’Neil is a massive American football fan and that Guppy can always ring up Martin O’Neil at 3 am during the super bowl because he knows he will be up watching. How many people have you had a pint with that are mates with Martin O’Neil? Not many I bet. There were also plenty of other Rapids related stories as well as some Premier League gossip but in true Pid Army fashion what happens in the Celtic stays in the Celtic. Let’s just say you should have been there.
As I stumbled out of the bar already realizing I’d had a couple too many considering the ungodly hour I had to wake up on Monday I left happy. Happy for getting to say thanks to Gary and Steve and spending time with my friends in Pid Army and Class VI. A bit of a hangover at work is a small price to pay for the chance to say goodbye to Gary and Steve in person and spending time with my friends in Pid Army and Class VI.
In the end it was the comment Steve Guppy made that stuck out and put the entire episode into the proper perspective. Guppy said to remember that no individual is bigger than the team and to remind us to keep up the support. As much as it hurts, truer words were never spoken. That goes for everybody be it Bravo, Plush, Guppy, or Smith. It is
easy to forget this sometimes but in the end we support the Rapids and always will. It isn’t always easy but it’s what we do. At the end of the day, this isn’t about technical directors, KSE, or even head coaches. It is about football and it is our team. People may have various feelings about what has happened and how the situation was handled. I certainly do but ironically the farewell party highlighted exactly why I support the Rapids and why I always will.
Getting the chance to personally thank Gary and Steve was an incredible experience and one that doesn’t happen in the Premier League. You can sit in your house or go down to the pub every Saturday and watch Chelsea/United/Arsenal and claim you are a die hard fan but you aren’t going to have that connection and that kind of intimate experience no matter how hard you pretend. It is just another reason why I support local football and love the community spirit of Pid Army and Class VI.
It is that connection and community that make it special. So while I left sad to see my favorite coaches leave, I ultimately left on a hopefully note knowing that my friends in Class VI and Pid Army would still be here. And with that thought I was already itching to get back to the terraces and do it all over again.
So To Gary and Steve – We wish you the best of luck. You will always be Class VI and Pid Army legends and you can be sure that we will support and follow you in your next endeavor.
Finally, to all the members of Class VI and Pid Army, thanks for restoring my faith in modern football. It isn’t about billionare oil tycoons or spoiled multimillionaires wearing snoods to protect their fragile necks. It’s about community, connection to place, and sharing a pint with the best coaches your team has ever had. Keep fighting the good fight. This is what football is all about. No Fan Alone.
