While we waited for an answer, we moved to Heathrow area...cheaper and easier/quicker to the area we are looking at. We heard from the agent and have been okayed to move in...finally!!! Monday at 9am...well it was suppose to be, we end up sitting outside of our hotel from 11am 'til 5!!!! a 60Gbp cab later and we're home.
At least it was good knowing that we had that sorted and we could enjoy the first match of the preseason...Crystal Palace v Chelsea at Selhurst park. My mate Cathy text me to let us know where her and Dog were stationed...so it begins...another season but this one is different...I'm here! I'll probbably see more matches this year than all others combined, or at least thats the plan!!
The pre match ritual, pretty much the same everytime; texts in the am to find out who is going and which pub everyone will meet, read the papers for all the prematch news, SoccerAm (unfortunately its not on for preseason matches ), down the pub (approx 2-3 hrs before KO ), loads of talk, banter, singing and then off to the park. It is a vital part of the match day experience for me, it is like a pep rally before a big high school football game, it revs you up for the match or at least gets your voice ready. (mine was not to good on this day,, it wont take long to work it in though).
Our opponents on this day, Palace have had a rough time of late, administration, 10 point deduction and player problems on/off the pitch. They did well just to stay alive, this day will pack the stands and give them a monetary shot in the arm. The Eagles are now in League 1 (2 leagues below the Premiership) and their stand holds about 25,000 people.Selhurst park is in Croyden (South East London), not on the tube but on a national Rail line, we get off at Thorton Heath a short walk away. Just outside the station is the “Chelsea pub” We meet Gill and Graeme from the famous“The Kent Blues” on the train and have a great talk about all things, including Chelsea of course. Almost a year ago we were meeting in NY before the match in Baltimore. They were off to meet freinds closer to the pitch, we have a couple with Cathy, Dog and his
daughter but need to get tickets still and leave with an hour to spare. We get sorted and enter the Arthur Wait stand (the away supporters allocated stand, named after their long serving Chairman) usually only 2,000 are allocated but we had probably closer to 5,000 this day. Was a lively day i
n the stands, not up to regular away standards however...a lot of sitting in our
section and a few singing...the boys in front of me were enjoying the naughty words coming from behind
them :-) . The match was slow and uneventful in the first half, only a few first team starters saw time on the pitch, Cech, Alex, Ferreira, Obi and Essien. Great to see him on the pitch and he had two great kicks on the ball, one off the crossbar and the winning goal. Chelsea win 1-0
Mahalo,
Burger
"...Res ipsa loquitur. Let the good times roll..." Dr. Gonzo
(way out of context but it fits...GF)
You'll never walk alone. :)
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