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Early start for the trip to Birmingham to make my debut as an Aston Villa Women fan, as the game was kicking off at noon. With the clocks having just gone back, it seemed unusually light setting off at 7.30 on the long walk to the station.
Arrived at Birmingham New Street around 10.30, headed for the Costa and asked for a decaf Bonfire Spiced Latte...only for the lady to tell me that the Bonfire drinks had been delisted. IT IS OVER A WEEK TO BONFIRE. What next? Christmas drinks being dropped in early December?
The cab up to the ground cost a packet. Before going into the ground, for future reference I did a little recce along the main road, which was replete with bus stops. No joy - the buses along there don't run on Sundays.
Entered the ground. The barmaid told me the bar wouldn't be opening for 10 more minutes, so I went moseying back along the concrete between the clubhouse and the turnstile. Was given a leaflet by two amiable chaps from Guard Industry, the Aston Villa Women sponsors, who urged me to like their Facebook page for a chance of prizes like VIP tickets for Villa men's matches and training ground tours. I hadn't seen programmes when I arrived, but now noticed a few people with them, so went to see the turnstile lady who now had one to sell me and threw in the August issue of She Kicks.
Back in the bar, which was festooned with Halloween decorations, I was finally able to relax with the prog and a pint of Sharp's Atlantic.
With kick-off time approaching I made my way down to the far end of the stand where the Villa drummers and singers, who I'd been contacting online, were. I introduced myself and they handed me the song sheets. The guys were brilliant, keeping up chants and drumming almost non-stop all game. The songs were pretty easy to pick up and I joined in. At one point, when Natalie Haigh was being sung about, as she had joined Villa from a Danish team I whimsically riffed "She came from Denmark, to give the Villa spark." The band leader told me I fitted right in, and one of the two Marks said he no longer felt needed. The other Mark outed Adam as a fancier of Amy West; Adam made no comment.
Durham took an early lead, with the Villa defence unsighted by the sun. Villa, inspired by Ella Franklin-Fraiture, had a lot of pressure throughout the game. In the second half Villa bagged a deserved equaliser through Nadine Hanssen but were unable to convert further chances and had to settle for a point.
I said my goodbyes to the band, promising to meet them at Coventry, and went down to pitchside to wait for Emma Follis. After the post-match team talks and wind-down, she went over to the perimeter fence where a couple of her friends were and began talking to them. I went and stood a respectful distance from them. Emma noticed me and turned towards me, I said hello and asked if I could have a pic with her and she happily agreed.
Despite walking a fair distance the wrong way along the main road, with a bit of power walking I made it to Chester Road station with a few minutes to spare before the train to New Street. Negotiated the corridors of the New Street concourse until I found the Five Guys and called there for a bite to eat. A sign there advertised the Festive Gingerbread Shake! Merry Christmas, I guess! Actually, I went for one with my meal and it was quite tasty.
On the train home, the other side of the clocks having just gone back was that by the time we reached Northampton, about 5.20, it was pitch dark. Walked from Leighton Buzzard station along to the town centre but was 50 yards from the bus stop when I saw the last bus home pulling away. Arsebiscuits.
Trudged wearily on foot all the way home, then when I arrived was buttonholed by my neighbour wanting a chat. When he'd finally got everything off his chest I popped into the Axe for a quick fruit cider with ice; neither of the barmen I talk to was there so I found a quiet corner (the place was full of people talking loudly though).
Arrived at Birmingham New Street around 10.30, headed for the Costa and asked for a decaf Bonfire Spiced Latte...only for the lady to tell me that the Bonfire drinks had been delisted. IT IS OVER A WEEK TO BONFIRE. What next? Christmas drinks being dropped in early December?
The cab up to the ground cost a packet. Before going into the ground, for future reference I did a little recce along the main road, which was replete with bus stops. No joy - the buses along there don't run on Sundays.
Entered the ground. The barmaid told me the bar wouldn't be opening for 10 more minutes, so I went moseying back along the concrete between the clubhouse and the turnstile. Was given a leaflet by two amiable chaps from Guard Industry, the Aston Villa Women sponsors, who urged me to like their Facebook page for a chance of prizes like VIP tickets for Villa men's matches and training ground tours. I hadn't seen programmes when I arrived, but now noticed a few people with them, so went to see the turnstile lady who now had one to sell me and threw in the August issue of She Kicks.
Back in the bar, which was festooned with Halloween decorations, I was finally able to relax with the prog and a pint of Sharp's Atlantic.
With kick-off time approaching I made my way down to the far end of the stand where the Villa drummers and singers, who I'd been contacting online, were. I introduced myself and they handed me the song sheets. The guys were brilliant, keeping up chants and drumming almost non-stop all game. The songs were pretty easy to pick up and I joined in. At one point, when Natalie Haigh was being sung about, as she had joined Villa from a Danish team I whimsically riffed "She came from Denmark, to give the Villa spark." The band leader told me I fitted right in, and one of the two Marks said he no longer felt needed. The other Mark outed Adam as a fancier of Amy West; Adam made no comment.
Durham took an early lead, with the Villa defence unsighted by the sun. Villa, inspired by Ella Franklin-Fraiture, had a lot of pressure throughout the game. In the second half Villa bagged a deserved equaliser through Nadine Hanssen but were unable to convert further chances and had to settle for a point.
I said my goodbyes to the band, promising to meet them at Coventry, and went down to pitchside to wait for Emma Follis. After the post-match team talks and wind-down, she went over to the perimeter fence where a couple of her friends were and began talking to them. I went and stood a respectful distance from them. Emma noticed me and turned towards me, I said hello and asked if I could have a pic with her and she happily agreed.
Despite walking a fair distance the wrong way along the main road, with a bit of power walking I made it to Chester Road station with a few minutes to spare before the train to New Street. Negotiated the corridors of the New Street concourse until I found the Five Guys and called there for a bite to eat. A sign there advertised the Festive Gingerbread Shake! Merry Christmas, I guess! Actually, I went for one with my meal and it was quite tasty.
On the train home, the other side of the clocks having just gone back was that by the time we reached Northampton, about 5.20, it was pitch dark. Walked from Leighton Buzzard station along to the town centre but was 50 yards from the bus stop when I saw the last bus home pulling away. Arsebiscuits.
Trudged wearily on foot all the way home, then when I arrived was buttonholed by my neighbour wanting a chat. When he'd finally got everything off his chest I popped into the Axe for a quick fruit cider with ice; neither of the barmen I talk to was there so I found a quiet corner (the place was full of people talking loudly though).
