Claret and Blue Review (v. Athlone Town) 19th March '99

Counterfeit Tarantino
By Paul "Mr White" Eaton

Those of you who watched RTE's Soccer Show a couple of weeks ago may have seen a feature on some of our fans "in fancy dress" paroding Quentin Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs. A good bit of craic and some good publicity for the club but it was the choice of cast that raised afew eye-brows on the terraces.
This broadcast has led to murmurings from an undercover outfit who are the bona fide "Reservoir Drogs" and who, although quiet of late, are alive and well but who are deeply annoyed at the blatent larceny of their identity. Their origins can be traced back to the early 1990s when "The Jim Grace Fan Club" was formed. Gathered to pay homage to the veteran custodian, the lilt of "Amazing Grace" and chants  of "Gracie, Gracie, Gracie" were commonplace on the terraces of "the far side". Jim's great grandson, John, succeeded his title in the mid 90s gut it was the friendly match against Blackburn Rovers in August 1994 that saw the first public appearance of the group that was to become "The Reservoir Drogs". The JGFC stormed onto the pitch at halftime attired in their customary black suits and shades to present young Mr Grace with the JGFC's Player of the Year Award. In the clubhouse afterwars, a startled Kenny Daglish, the Blackburn manager, remarked that he thought the presentation party was a republican group out to sabotage the team. However, The JGTC were nothing if not pacifists and, if anything, Blackburn became the aggressors when one of the group quite concernedly and in no way sarcastically mentioned to record striker Alan Shearer how upset he was that England had not qualified for that summers World Cup in the USA. Imagine his surprise when the ace marksman turned on a sixpence and told our man to F**k Off! The Reservoir Drogs quickly evoled from the JGFC and went public for the first time when their specially commissioned banner made it's debut at the cup match against Dundalk and achieved national exposure in the TV highlights. Its has also seen international duty in Lansdowne Road and abroad. Indeed any visiters to "The Randy Leprechaun" Bar in Playa Del Ingles can see a photo of the group on tour in 1996. The outfit also achieved recognition in the "Soccer Magazine" and "11 a side".
So lads, Tv stardom you may achieved but the Reservoir Drogs know the real score. They prefer to remain anonymous and, like the Freemasons, membership is by invitation only. But beware, they have you under surveillance and are planning a display of strength and unity in the near futrue. And young, Gracie was last spotted bunjee jumping off the Empire State building after he had won the 1997 New York Marathon. Keep the faith lads and one last time "Gracie, Gracie, Gracie.........."