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Milk And Alcohol
Jun. 19th, 2022 05:31 pm
Went up to Wolverhampton on Thursday for the Lionesses’ match with Belgium. Excellent dinner at the Bluebrick pub attached to the Premier Inn; all the staff in both pub and hotel very friendly. Met a couple in the dining room who were from Liverpool and had also come down for the Lionesses game. We chatted and exchanged tales of the Dutch Euros and the French World Cup and discussed what games at this summer’s Euros we were going to.
Crystal was joining me for this one and I had her ticket; she messaged at 6.30 to say her train was delayed and she’d be at the ground about 7.45. A bit later she said she’d be nearer 8pm. She was really apologetic; it wasn’t her fault so I messaged back to say it was OK and that I was just looking forward to seeing her. I went down to Molineux for just after 7.30 anyway to make sure of getting programmes for myself and a couple of friends who asked. As I was waiting outside the turnstile block Amir came up and said hello and we had a quick chat before he went into the ground.
A few minutes before eight Crystal came running up to me, she said “so sorry” again, we hugged and kissed and, after a wanding and a bag check, we were going up the stairs into the stand as the Belgian anthem played. We found our seats (they were occupied but, miracle, the people in them moved for us without protest), stood for and sang along with the British anthem, sat and took selfies of us together then sat back just in time for kick-off.
After a goalless first half, the Lionesses really got into gear after the break. Lauren Hemp had a great game and Crystal, a City fan, naturally rooted hard for her. She was also delighted when Chloe Kelly came on, and especially when Chloe opened the scoring! On the replay on the big screen we wondered whether the goal would be given as an own goal, but happily they let Chloe keep her goal. Rachel Daly made it two with a beautiful volley and then in the closing minutes Leah Williamson appeared to have crowned her debut as England captain with a goal, but that one did go down as an own goal. The England band repeatedly played Sweet Caroline towards the end; plenty in our section sang along.
We stayed on after the final whistle to applaud the Lionesses as they walked round the pitch, then we made our way out of the ground and said our goodbyes and Crystal went to rush for the train home. I ambled back to the hotel and went for a relaxing Rekorderlig in the Bluebrick.
My mother’s birthday on Friday. Arrived back home in the afternoon. We had relations visiting through the afternoon then a meal in the evening.
Yesterday morning went to Southampton for the Women’s Euro 2022 Roadshow. It was mostly activities aimed at youngsters but it was nice to have a chat with Lionesses legend Fara Williams and hear her interview on the stage. When she mentioned scoring on her England debut, “this might not go down well - just down the road at Portsmouth!” while there were a few boos I gave a big cheer, partly as a Pompey fan but also because I was at said game against Portugal all those years ago. I also met Flo, an old pal from Pompey Ladies who’s now working for the Hampshire FA, and the amazing Vanessa Raynbird, also now at the Hampshire FA, who’s been involved in Hampshire women’s football for the last 56 years, ever since she was one of the original players in the 1960s rebirth of British women’s football.
To Portchester in the evening for the AFC Portchester Ladies awards night. Met Lewis and some more of the Arancione fan group in the Portcullis taphouse. Had a pint of Drunken Sailor there. We all chatted about thoughts for the fanzine and for the season ahead for both the men’s and the women’s team. The others insisted we had time for a second pint before walking to the Wicor, but they misjudged the time as by the scheduled start time of 7.30 we were still walking along a residential street, with the walk around the perimeter of the field still to come. Lewis phoned ladies’ team Mark with his apologies to say we were on our way and they waited for us before starting.
Sam and Stacy both greeted me with hugs and kisses and all the girls said cheerful hellos. After some background music while people got drinks in, the buffet was opened at 8 pm. An excellent effort with very tasty long frankfurters, burgers and chicken dippers. I transferred the money over to the club account for my sponsoring Stacy for the coming season and confirmed this with Mark. Stacy then kept me supplied with drinks all evening.
Mark said a few words about the girls having done brilliantly this season, winning their second straight promotion and two cups, adding that while it was a regret not having won the league title that shouldn’t take the lustre off the girls’ achievement. Assistant manager Roxy spoke next, said much the same and added “We’re going to give it to Division 1 next season!” Chloe won Manager’s Player of the Season, Ellie won Coaches’ Player of the Season, Brooke won Players’ Player of the Season, Aimee won Most Improved Player and Eilidh won Fans’ Player of the Season. Most of them declined to make a speech or restricted themselves to saying not much more than “thank you”.
We, the fan group, had been making up songs for the team or for individual players on the walk to the ground. We gave a few of them an airing during the evening, much to the girls’ amusement. Stacy and Sam insisted I join the girls in their rounds of Limoncello shots, Prosecco shots and Trainer Jagers.
There were songs and even a fan sticker about 'Malibu and milk'. I asked what the back story was and was told one of the Ladies' coaches had once recommended drinking Malibu and milk, and since then it had acquired cult status at the club. Someone actually poured a mixture of Malibu and milk into the Hampshire County Women’s League Invitation Cup and everyone had to take a swig.
Several of the girls were stood around a table playing a drinking game called What The Fuck? in which said word featured prominently. I went over to Stacy’s table and said “Takes me right back to my student days.” Stacy replied “My student days were too long.”
“Mine were too short.”
I went back to watch the drinking game again and Mark, on the next table, asked me what they were doing.
“It’s just a student drinking game.”
“Are they saying fuck?”
“Yes.”
Sam’s new bride, Sophie, was also there. As she’d come drinking with us of the fan group on a previous trip, she tasked me with finding a decent pub near the ground where the girls will play their next friendly after she and Sam return from their delayed honeymoon during pre-season.
As midnight drew nearer, the party wound down and people began to book taxis Lewis collared me for a chat about possible fan group ventures for the new season and we composed a couple more new songs. One of them, to the tune of Flanagan and Allen’s Side By Side, mentioned Eilidh so I sang it to her. It got her seal of approval, even though neither she nor Lewis knew the original and the tune made Lewis want to burst into Winter Wonderland.
As I waited outside about half a dozen of the girls piled into a taxi. They exhorted me “Come in to Aimee’s” but I had an Uber coming.
Crystal was joining me for this one and I had her ticket; she messaged at 6.30 to say her train was delayed and she’d be at the ground about 7.45. A bit later she said she’d be nearer 8pm. She was really apologetic; it wasn’t her fault so I messaged back to say it was OK and that I was just looking forward to seeing her. I went down to Molineux for just after 7.30 anyway to make sure of getting programmes for myself and a couple of friends who asked. As I was waiting outside the turnstile block Amir came up and said hello and we had a quick chat before he went into the ground.
A few minutes before eight Crystal came running up to me, she said “so sorry” again, we hugged and kissed and, after a wanding and a bag check, we were going up the stairs into the stand as the Belgian anthem played. We found our seats (they were occupied but, miracle, the people in them moved for us without protest), stood for and sang along with the British anthem, sat and took selfies of us together then sat back just in time for kick-off.
After a goalless first half, the Lionesses really got into gear after the break. Lauren Hemp had a great game and Crystal, a City fan, naturally rooted hard for her. She was also delighted when Chloe Kelly came on, and especially when Chloe opened the scoring! On the replay on the big screen we wondered whether the goal would be given as an own goal, but happily they let Chloe keep her goal. Rachel Daly made it two with a beautiful volley and then in the closing minutes Leah Williamson appeared to have crowned her debut as England captain with a goal, but that one did go down as an own goal. The England band repeatedly played Sweet Caroline towards the end; plenty in our section sang along.
We stayed on after the final whistle to applaud the Lionesses as they walked round the pitch, then we made our way out of the ground and said our goodbyes and Crystal went to rush for the train home. I ambled back to the hotel and went for a relaxing Rekorderlig in the Bluebrick.
My mother’s birthday on Friday. Arrived back home in the afternoon. We had relations visiting through the afternoon then a meal in the evening.
Yesterday morning went to Southampton for the Women’s Euro 2022 Roadshow. It was mostly activities aimed at youngsters but it was nice to have a chat with Lionesses legend Fara Williams and hear her interview on the stage. When she mentioned scoring on her England debut, “this might not go down well - just down the road at Portsmouth!” while there were a few boos I gave a big cheer, partly as a Pompey fan but also because I was at said game against Portugal all those years ago. I also met Flo, an old pal from Pompey Ladies who’s now working for the Hampshire FA, and the amazing Vanessa Raynbird, also now at the Hampshire FA, who’s been involved in Hampshire women’s football for the last 56 years, ever since she was one of the original players in the 1960s rebirth of British women’s football.
To Portchester in the evening for the AFC Portchester Ladies awards night. Met Lewis and some more of the Arancione fan group in the Portcullis taphouse. Had a pint of Drunken Sailor there. We all chatted about thoughts for the fanzine and for the season ahead for both the men’s and the women’s team. The others insisted we had time for a second pint before walking to the Wicor, but they misjudged the time as by the scheduled start time of 7.30 we were still walking along a residential street, with the walk around the perimeter of the field still to come. Lewis phoned ladies’ team Mark with his apologies to say we were on our way and they waited for us before starting.
Sam and Stacy both greeted me with hugs and kisses and all the girls said cheerful hellos. After some background music while people got drinks in, the buffet was opened at 8 pm. An excellent effort with very tasty long frankfurters, burgers and chicken dippers. I transferred the money over to the club account for my sponsoring Stacy for the coming season and confirmed this with Mark. Stacy then kept me supplied with drinks all evening.
Mark said a few words about the girls having done brilliantly this season, winning their second straight promotion and two cups, adding that while it was a regret not having won the league title that shouldn’t take the lustre off the girls’ achievement. Assistant manager Roxy spoke next, said much the same and added “We’re going to give it to Division 1 next season!” Chloe won Manager’s Player of the Season, Ellie won Coaches’ Player of the Season, Brooke won Players’ Player of the Season, Aimee won Most Improved Player and Eilidh won Fans’ Player of the Season. Most of them declined to make a speech or restricted themselves to saying not much more than “thank you”.
We, the fan group, had been making up songs for the team or for individual players on the walk to the ground. We gave a few of them an airing during the evening, much to the girls’ amusement. Stacy and Sam insisted I join the girls in their rounds of Limoncello shots, Prosecco shots and Trainer Jagers.
There were songs and even a fan sticker about 'Malibu and milk'. I asked what the back story was and was told one of the Ladies' coaches had once recommended drinking Malibu and milk, and since then it had acquired cult status at the club. Someone actually poured a mixture of Malibu and milk into the Hampshire County Women’s League Invitation Cup and everyone had to take a swig.
Several of the girls were stood around a table playing a drinking game called What The Fuck? in which said word featured prominently. I went over to Stacy’s table and said “Takes me right back to my student days.” Stacy replied “My student days were too long.”
“Mine were too short.”
I went back to watch the drinking game again and Mark, on the next table, asked me what they were doing.
“It’s just a student drinking game.”
“Are they saying fuck?”
“Yes.”
Sam’s new bride, Sophie, was also there. As she’d come drinking with us of the fan group on a previous trip, she tasked me with finding a decent pub near the ground where the girls will play their next friendly after she and Sam return from their delayed honeymoon during pre-season.
As midnight drew nearer, the party wound down and people began to book taxis Lewis collared me for a chat about possible fan group ventures for the new season and we composed a couple more new songs. One of them, to the tune of Flanagan and Allen’s Side By Side, mentioned Eilidh so I sang it to her. It got her seal of approval, even though neither she nor Lewis knew the original and the tune made Lewis want to burst into Winter Wonderland.
As I waited outside about half a dozen of the girls piled into a taxi. They exhorted me “Come in to Aimee’s” but I had an Uber coming.
