Allegiances torn for footy fan over Wealdstone-Rotherham cup tie

A FOOTBALL fan from Harrow will have torn allegiances when his home town team, and lifelong love, Rotherham United star in this weekend's cup clash against Wealdstone - the club he adopted on coming to the capital.
Loyal Tim Green, 52, of Fairholme Road, says he watches the South Yorkshiremen, who sit fifth in Coca Cola League Two, and the high-flying Ryman Premier League amateurs approximately 10 times a year each.
The freelance software programmer said: "I was born and brought up in Rotherham and have been a season ticket holder for years, even while I have been living in Harrow.
"I travel back up regularly, although not as often as I used to in the past, to Rotherham home games.
"I came to London to work about 12 years ago. I started watching Harrow Borough because I knew the then-chairman, Jim Ripley, but - ahem - I found it quite boring.
"I went to a few Wealdstone games up at Edgware and it was far more fun."
Rotherham United, nicknamed the Millers, and Wealdstone, the Stones, have never played each before and while Sunday's encounter at Grosvenor Vale in Ruislip will be the league side's first game in this year's FA Cup, the non-league club has battled through four qualifying ties to reach the first round proper - the furthest they have progressed for a quarter of a century.
"Unfortunately, I wasn't in the Wealdstone clubhouse when the draw was made but I was at home watching it," Tim said.
"As the number of remaining teams was going down and the probably of the two being drawn against each other was going up, I thought: it's going to happen!
"I think Wealdstone have a very good chance. Rotherham aren't, shall we say, having their best patch of form.
"Wealdstone have won four games to get here - they've got their eye in - and Rotherham haven't won in the FA Cup since January 2002."
Tim, a member of London Millers, for city-based Rotherham fans, added: "The ground will come as a bit of a surprise to Rotherham. The Vale is quite a small place and I would be surprised if Rotherham had played in quite a small a ground in a professional match.
"That said, it's got a slope like our old Millmoor ground so we'll be used to that!
"There are other similarities: Wealdstone were homeless for 12 years and we're currently homeless, and Wealdstone have amazing fans who kept their club going - it could have easily died - and Rotherham's supporters have gone through similar troubles: point deductions for going into administration."
Tim's local knowledge will come in handy for away fans making the trip down the M1.
"I have been asked to put something together for one of the Rotherham supporter websites on where to go, and hopefully I'll be having a few beers with the Wealdstone supporters," he said.
"Actually, I'm going to be the only supporter wanting a replay. I'm going to be in Rotherham on the Tuesday the replay would be played, which is perfect for me!
"It's one of those where I'm torn but in real life, I think we - Rotherham - are going to nick it 1-0 or 2-1, by one goal."