Irish_Shrimper
Ant from across the Pond
Saturday started off as any other of our travels over to see Southend: Leaving for the airport at 4am. Conditions were cold, but no rain. Yet.
Arrived at the very rain swept Stansted at 7:55am to grab the bus later to Southend, and got dropped off on Victoria Avenue at 10:50. Rain was so bad, that we went to kill the ten minutes of time under the heater in the club shop before the Spread opened up!
After a couple of pints, we felt a little warmer. I brought along a Brighton fan and a first timer who had never been to a footie game before. This lad was very sick on the journey over, and looked absolutely miserable in the pub. We thought it was going to be a long day for him, but he perked right up when we scored the 3rd goal at the end :D Me and South Bank Hank also discussed tactics for the upcoming Totty Cup, and how we'll get rid of Aberdeen Dave's beloved Liz Hurley nice and early in the competition :support:
Was a great effort by the people that were involved in the Blue Voice display - Me and Aberdeen Dave were laughing about being asked to fire the confetti cannons before kick off in the West. Think he had Senga worried on the phone I was going to accidentally take out Tilly with my bad aim. The two of us were perched up at block W and block U of the west, and christ we were nervous for some reason! Thankfully, when the teams came out, they fired without a hitch...did not want to look like a pillock in front of 9000+ fans for being the chap who jammed a confetti gun...although the 3000 or so in the west probably thought i was one regardless due to Foran being on the back of my jersey :(
As for the match itself - well the way it started felt like the Orient game all over again. Fantastic start, and despite the conditions, we really dominated them. Laurent has such a great ability and control over the ball for such a big lad. Him and Revell were always talking and planning their next attacks - very good to see the communication there. A bit after we went 2 up, they came back at us and we seemed to of lost the plot. Once Harding came off at half time, we most definitely were outplayed and they deserved to equalise, and eventually lead unfortunately. Macca came on and added a bit more urgency in the final minutes, and we finally bundled the ball over the line to send us into hyserics :) It was all kicking off over by my Irish flag, Aberdeen Dave and my mate the trappy one were over there...trouble makers... :D
We did have a Richie Foran going to Darlington protest march planned for after the match, Cricko and OBL were very keen on getting this going, but alas the weather was always going to mean numbers would be slim. Next time though folks ;)
After the match and the post match visit to the Spread, we got the bus back to Stansted, with wet shirts, wet pants, wet socks, and wet shoes. I bought a new jumper in the club shop and stripped off in the back of the bus to get changed, amidst the funny / jealous onlooking passengers, and we eventually made it back to the warmness that it Limerick (which didnt get a drop of rain all day) at 21:30 Saturday night. Was a great trip, albeit an absolute miserable one on the way home completely drenched from head to toe, and good to take a point home. Would just like to say it was great seeing everyone again - and hope to be back soon.
I usually only take about 2 photos per trip, so this time I managed a few more:
L-R: Craig, me, Ciaran
L-R: BrettieAngell, Ciaran, Craig, Vaaaaaange Shrimper, Aberdeen Shrimper & Nephew
Aberdeen Shrimper & Nephew & Me
Brettie Angell, Ciaran, Craig, Vange Shrimper, Me, Aberdeen's Nephew
Tinkerbell, Aberdeen Shrimper, me
Arrived at the very rain swept Stansted at 7:55am to grab the bus later to Southend, and got dropped off on Victoria Avenue at 10:50. Rain was so bad, that we went to kill the ten minutes of time under the heater in the club shop before the Spread opened up!
After a couple of pints, we felt a little warmer. I brought along a Brighton fan and a first timer who had never been to a footie game before. This lad was very sick on the journey over, and looked absolutely miserable in the pub. We thought it was going to be a long day for him, but he perked right up when we scored the 3rd goal at the end :D Me and South Bank Hank also discussed tactics for the upcoming Totty Cup, and how we'll get rid of Aberdeen Dave's beloved Liz Hurley nice and early in the competition :support:
Was a great effort by the people that were involved in the Blue Voice display - Me and Aberdeen Dave were laughing about being asked to fire the confetti cannons before kick off in the West. Think he had Senga worried on the phone I was going to accidentally take out Tilly with my bad aim. The two of us were perched up at block W and block U of the west, and christ we were nervous for some reason! Thankfully, when the teams came out, they fired without a hitch...did not want to look like a pillock in front of 9000+ fans for being the chap who jammed a confetti gun...although the 3000 or so in the west probably thought i was one regardless due to Foran being on the back of my jersey :(
As for the match itself - well the way it started felt like the Orient game all over again. Fantastic start, and despite the conditions, we really dominated them. Laurent has such a great ability and control over the ball for such a big lad. Him and Revell were always talking and planning their next attacks - very good to see the communication there. A bit after we went 2 up, they came back at us and we seemed to of lost the plot. Once Harding came off at half time, we most definitely were outplayed and they deserved to equalise, and eventually lead unfortunately. Macca came on and added a bit more urgency in the final minutes, and we finally bundled the ball over the line to send us into hyserics :) It was all kicking off over by my Irish flag, Aberdeen Dave and my mate the trappy one were over there...trouble makers... :D
We did have a Richie Foran going to Darlington protest march planned for after the match, Cricko and OBL were very keen on getting this going, but alas the weather was always going to mean numbers would be slim. Next time though folks ;)
After the match and the post match visit to the Spread, we got the bus back to Stansted, with wet shirts, wet pants, wet socks, and wet shoes. I bought a new jumper in the club shop and stripped off in the back of the bus to get changed, amidst the funny / jealous onlooking passengers, and we eventually made it back to the warmness that it Limerick (which didnt get a drop of rain all day) at 21:30 Saturday night. Was a great trip, albeit an absolute miserable one on the way home completely drenched from head to toe, and good to take a point home. Would just like to say it was great seeing everyone again - and hope to be back soon.
I usually only take about 2 photos per trip, so this time I managed a few more:
L-R: Craig, me, Ciaran
L-R: BrettieAngell, Ciaran, Craig, Vaaaaaange Shrimper, Aberdeen Shrimper & Nephew
Aberdeen Shrimper & Nephew & Me
Brettie Angell, Ciaran, Craig, Vange Shrimper, Me, Aberdeen's Nephew
Tinkerbell, Aberdeen Shrimper, me
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