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Ferry 'Cross The Mersey
Nov. 26th, 2018 06:41 pm
Early start yesterday morning for the trip to see Birmingham City Women at Liverpool. Only hitch on the way up was a 20 minute delay at Crewe.
My pal Lee from Notts days, who now does photography for Liverpool Women, picked me up at Rock Ferry station and we went for a quick jar in the Birch Tree. When Lee headed into the ground to set up, it was 12.50. I requested Sunday roast beef at the bar but they weren't doing it today so I went into the ground and made straight for the tea-bar.
Lindsay and Sharon, the Birmingham supporting couple I met in Canada, were at a table in the tea area. Stopped for a chat with them, then bumped into Graham, a Liverpool fan I'd met before. Bought a burger, slathered the relish on and headed out to the stand.
Lee had said he thought Laura might be coming to the game. As it turned out, the VIPs are hived off from us riff-raff in a separate stand at Prenton Park. She didn't appear to be there. I later found out from Jules on Twitter that she'd been at Arsenal commentating for telly. From his post at pitchside, Lee texted to say I might be able to get a pic taken with the injured Rachel Williams.
Pete, a Liverpool fan I know, tagged me on Facebook asking where I was so I walked around the stand till I spotted him. He asked where I was sitting and said "Not in with the Birmingham fans, are you?" I confirmed yes and he tutted. "That won't do." Of course, at women's matches fans mingle freely, so Pete came over to sit with me and no-one minded. Pete said to me "Here you are, your first Christmas card of the year" and handed me an envelope. It was a custom made one with a pic of him and his two grandchildren. He'd written in it "To the most amazing women's football supporter in the world".
My position has always been that I don't define myself as a Birmingham *fan*, I simply go to their matches for an enjoyable women's football experience. I am a particular fan of Emma Follis though, so found myself calling out "C'mon Emma" when she raced down the wing in the second minute, drawing a wagged finger and "Oi!" from Pete - just as Emma homed in on goal and dinked the ball over the keeper and into the net. As Birmingham continued to dominate, Pete made the occasional moaning comment, in between making chat with me about football generally, family and events he's going to. Connie Scofield made it two for Birmingham just before the break.
Liverpool defender Sophie Bradley-Auckland, one of my favourites when she was at Notts, had been playing well in a lacklustre team. At half time I sought out Ley and Oonagh to say hello. I remarked to them "Sophie's having a good game" and Ley said "Sophie always has a good game, it's a shame the rest are shite!" We chatted about football travel plans. Sadly they're going to have to miss the World Cup as they are self-employed and in summer they can't take any days off, even at weekends. They talked about having Radio 5 Live's coverage on as they drive their work vehicles around the fields.
Birmingham remained dominant for the second half, Liverpool created a late chance that was saved and it ended 2-0. I hung around at the front of the stand for a while, till the Birmingham players dispersed without Rachel coming over.
Pete gave me a lift to Lime Street. There was a German Christmas market just outside the station; sadly there wasn't time for a mulled wine but I did get a Bockwurst with sauerkraut in a roll.
Home just before 8.30, but would have been earlier if I hadn't jumped on a slow train at Crewe not realising there was a fast one to MK a little later. Doh!
My pal Lee from Notts days, who now does photography for Liverpool Women, picked me up at Rock Ferry station and we went for a quick jar in the Birch Tree. When Lee headed into the ground to set up, it was 12.50. I requested Sunday roast beef at the bar but they weren't doing it today so I went into the ground and made straight for the tea-bar.
Lindsay and Sharon, the Birmingham supporting couple I met in Canada, were at a table in the tea area. Stopped for a chat with them, then bumped into Graham, a Liverpool fan I'd met before. Bought a burger, slathered the relish on and headed out to the stand.
Lee had said he thought Laura might be coming to the game. As it turned out, the VIPs are hived off from us riff-raff in a separate stand at Prenton Park. She didn't appear to be there. I later found out from Jules on Twitter that she'd been at Arsenal commentating for telly. From his post at pitchside, Lee texted to say I might be able to get a pic taken with the injured Rachel Williams.
Pete, a Liverpool fan I know, tagged me on Facebook asking where I was so I walked around the stand till I spotted him. He asked where I was sitting and said "Not in with the Birmingham fans, are you?" I confirmed yes and he tutted. "That won't do." Of course, at women's matches fans mingle freely, so Pete came over to sit with me and no-one minded. Pete said to me "Here you are, your first Christmas card of the year" and handed me an envelope. It was a custom made one with a pic of him and his two grandchildren. He'd written in it "To the most amazing women's football supporter in the world".
My position has always been that I don't define myself as a Birmingham *fan*, I simply go to their matches for an enjoyable women's football experience. I am a particular fan of Emma Follis though, so found myself calling out "C'mon Emma" when she raced down the wing in the second minute, drawing a wagged finger and "Oi!" from Pete - just as Emma homed in on goal and dinked the ball over the keeper and into the net. As Birmingham continued to dominate, Pete made the occasional moaning comment, in between making chat with me about football generally, family and events he's going to. Connie Scofield made it two for Birmingham just before the break.
Liverpool defender Sophie Bradley-Auckland, one of my favourites when she was at Notts, had been playing well in a lacklustre team. At half time I sought out Ley and Oonagh to say hello. I remarked to them "Sophie's having a good game" and Ley said "Sophie always has a good game, it's a shame the rest are shite!" We chatted about football travel plans. Sadly they're going to have to miss the World Cup as they are self-employed and in summer they can't take any days off, even at weekends. They talked about having Radio 5 Live's coverage on as they drive their work vehicles around the fields.
Birmingham remained dominant for the second half, Liverpool created a late chance that was saved and it ended 2-0. I hung around at the front of the stand for a while, till the Birmingham players dispersed without Rachel coming over.
Pete gave me a lift to Lime Street. There was a German Christmas market just outside the station; sadly there wasn't time for a mulled wine but I did get a Bockwurst with sauerkraut in a roll.
Home just before 8.30, but would have been earlier if I hadn't jumped on a slow train at Crewe not realising there was a fast one to MK a little later. Doh!
