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Oye Como Va
Jun. 23rd, 2024 12:00 amTo London for International Surrey Football v Equinoccial FC at one of my old haunts, St Paul’s Sports Ground, home of Fisher FC.
Nostalgic as it was to return there, my main motivation for travelling to this game was to see Equinoccial, a team centred on London-based Latin American players, who had a write-up in the Non-League Paper a few weeks ago.
My journey went fine until I arrived at Canada Water tube station to find the East London line closed. Happily there was a bus to Rotherhithe from outside the station.
Outside the ground I spotted one of the Equinoccial guys in a neat black training top with the flags of all the Latin American countries around the bases of the sleeves.
In the clubhouse I met groundhopper Kevin who I’d seen at several Lionesses matches and at a London Seaward game early last season. I joined him in the stand, sitting near Toby, a Fisher fan I’d met before, and Pete, a Dulwich Hamlet fan he introduced me to. We talked about our football watching exploits, and plans and hopes for future travels, as we watched Equinoccial win an entertaining game 4-1 to the delight of a group of Latin American women to our left. Early in the second half Andy, who I used to see at cricket some years ago, came over, saying he couldn’t believe I was here. He added “Gosport boys stick together,” sat with us and joined our conversation.
Kev and I left the ground at the same time after the game. With Kev’s phone showing 11 minutes till the next bus was due, Kev said he was going to walk to the next stop to get some steps in. In need of some exercise myself, I joined him. At the next stop Kev’s phone was still saying 11 minutes, so he decided to walk on one more stop. I stayed put. Kev said “See you on the bus”.
Andy arrived at the stop I was at. Two Victoria-bound buses came and went; Andy decided to wait with me for the Waterloo one. Kev must have got on one of the Victoria buses, as when our Waterloo bus finally came, there was no sign of him at the next stop. Andy talked about Gosport Borough’s prospects for the new season until he got off at Bermondsey.
This evening the official Equinoccial Twitter account messaged me to thank me for my support and say they hoped to see me again.
Buena suerte to Equinoccial FC, my adopted second men’s team.
Nostalgic as it was to return there, my main motivation for travelling to this game was to see Equinoccial, a team centred on London-based Latin American players, who had a write-up in the Non-League Paper a few weeks ago.
My journey went fine until I arrived at Canada Water tube station to find the East London line closed. Happily there was a bus to Rotherhithe from outside the station.
Outside the ground I spotted one of the Equinoccial guys in a neat black training top with the flags of all the Latin American countries around the bases of the sleeves.
In the clubhouse I met groundhopper Kevin who I’d seen at several Lionesses matches and at a London Seaward game early last season. I joined him in the stand, sitting near Toby, a Fisher fan I’d met before, and Pete, a Dulwich Hamlet fan he introduced me to. We talked about our football watching exploits, and plans and hopes for future travels, as we watched Equinoccial win an entertaining game 4-1 to the delight of a group of Latin American women to our left. Early in the second half Andy, who I used to see at cricket some years ago, came over, saying he couldn’t believe I was here. He added “Gosport boys stick together,” sat with us and joined our conversation.
Kev and I left the ground at the same time after the game. With Kev’s phone showing 11 minutes till the next bus was due, Kev said he was going to walk to the next stop to get some steps in. In need of some exercise myself, I joined him. At the next stop Kev’s phone was still saying 11 minutes, so he decided to walk on one more stop. I stayed put. Kev said “See you on the bus”.
Andy arrived at the stop I was at. Two Victoria-bound buses came and went; Andy decided to wait with me for the Waterloo one. Kev must have got on one of the Victoria buses, as when our Waterloo bus finally came, there was no sign of him at the next stop. Andy talked about Gosport Borough’s prospects for the new season until he got off at Bermondsey.
This evening the official Equinoccial Twitter account messaged me to thank me for my support and say they hoped to see me again.
Buena suerte to Equinoccial FC, my adopted second men’s team.
