West Brom pub sign saved by fan who is nailing it to side of his house
An Albion-daft fan has salvaged a huge sign destined for the scrapheap from a Baggies-themed London pub in order to nail it to the outside of his house.
Mark Whitehouse couldn’t bear to see the 7ft x 5ft sign go to waste when The Albion in Goldsmiths Row, Haggerston, closed down to make way for a new pub.
And so the 56-year-old answered a call-to-arms from owner Dave Chapman and persuaded his wife to let them put it on the side of their house in Stone Cross, West Bromwich.
“I went to the pub a few times when Albion played down in London,” explained Mark.
“It became a bit of a mecca for Albion fans.
“When the new owners decided to change the outlook of the pub to a fish restaurant, someone got in touch with me on Facebook knowing I’m a daft Albion fan and said if you’re interested in the sign I can get it up to you.
“I asked my long-suffering wife and fair play she said we could put it on the side of the house!”
Die-hard Baggies fan Mark is no stranger to Albion history.
His great-grandad Sammy Richardson was part of the title-winning team of the 1919/20 season, and his great-great-uncle Bill Richardson, who was Sammy’s brother, was part of the 1931 FA Cup winning side.
Just over 23 years ago he named his daughter Taylor, after a certain super striker named Bob.
And he’s even travelling out to Hong Kong this summer to watch the team play in the Premier League Asia Trophy.
“I’ve saved a bit of Albion history,” he said proudly. “I believe Dave tried to get in touch with the club but they weren’t that interested.
“I’m not normally a memorabilia-saver by any stretch but my great granddad left me a few bits and bobs so I’m in the process of having those framed.”
Because the sign was ripped down from the pub, it needs cleaning up first, but once he’s given it a spruce up, Mark plans to fix it to his wall on the Hall Green Road.
He reckons any supporters travelling between Stone Cross and Friar Park in a couple of weeks’ time will be able to see it in all its glory.
The Albion has been grabbing people’s attention in the London borough of Hackney since Chapman changed its name in 1998, but in January, the pub was sold to new owners.
