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Fields Of Gold
To beat those World Cup withdrawal symptoms, I headed for Hitchin on Thursday night for Luton's first pre season friendly. The little club bar was packed with Hatters with a load more drinking at the benches outside, soaking up the sun. Among them was Alan Adair, who spotted my copy of his book and happily signed it. The bar served Old Mout ciders - a kiwi and lime one with ice was perfect for the warm evening.
Luton fans filled up the whole end behind one goal - the end with the tea bar in. Near me was a fan who'd been to Brazil for the World Cup, he told a few tales before the game and at half time. Luton fielded most of the first team squad, making mass changes after an hour, and won 5-0 with an Alex Wall hat trick. The bacon baguettes were tasty too :)
A flying visit to Gosport on Friday to preserve my perfect record of seeing The Villagers every year. Despite a tailback on the A34 thanks to a broken down car, made it in plenty of time for an unwind break and a bite to eat before their production of Macbeth. A quick chat with Aussie and Carol before the play started. Very well performed as always, Rob Spraggs was outstanding in the title role and my old work colleague Nigel Dean was excellent as the Sergeant and Old Siward.
Set off back mid-morning Saturday. As soon as I'd unloaded it was time to head into MK for the shopping. Axe and Compass in the evening for a chicken burger.
Found out via Facebook that Creighton's ice cream parlour in Leighton has closed - their directors have decided to concentrate on their other businesses. I'm devastated, their home made brownies, with various fillings from peanut butter to cream egg, were simply divine. Can't believe I'll never have one again. What am I going to eat at half time at Kenilworth Road now?
Sunday another friendly, on a ground I've been wanting to tick - Barnet's new home at The Hive. Very impressive given that until just over a year ago it was a training ground. Having arrived considerably early I approached the Hive Bar only to be told that it was for home fans only. Asking the stewards where else there was to go, they would only say to wait the 20 minutes until the away end, with a bar within it, opened at 1 pm. I got the same response in the club shop. I thought they were showing an unfriendly attitude to away fans, but a quick wander round the surrounding streets showed that there really weren't any pubs in the vicinity.
Back at The Hive, the away end bar was spartan - no seating or tables - but was staffed by a friendly barmaid, served a nice selection of drinks and had Sky Sports News, keeping us in touch with the German Grand Prix (shame about Felipe but nice one Valtteri!) By 2 pm there were dozens of Hatters milling around in the sun outside the bar and by the tea hut - which, hooray, had Rollover hot dogs and Mars bars. Back in the bar, met the legendary Luton-supporting Scouser Keith Brooksbank.
Luton won 2-0, despite a missed penalty from Alex Lawless, with a superb display of goalkeeping from Mark Tyler. Mark Cullen scored our first - he will slot nicely into Andre Gray's boots - and Jake Howells made it two from the spot late on.
Didn't feel like going straight home when I got to Leighton Buzzard so called at one of the fast food eateries for a spot of fried chicken (no chips, my one concession to being good) and on to the Black Lion for a strawberry cider in the beer garden.
Luton fans filled up the whole end behind one goal - the end with the tea bar in. Near me was a fan who'd been to Brazil for the World Cup, he told a few tales before the game and at half time. Luton fielded most of the first team squad, making mass changes after an hour, and won 5-0 with an Alex Wall hat trick. The bacon baguettes were tasty too :)
A flying visit to Gosport on Friday to preserve my perfect record of seeing The Villagers every year. Despite a tailback on the A34 thanks to a broken down car, made it in plenty of time for an unwind break and a bite to eat before their production of Macbeth. A quick chat with Aussie and Carol before the play started. Very well performed as always, Rob Spraggs was outstanding in the title role and my old work colleague Nigel Dean was excellent as the Sergeant and Old Siward.
Set off back mid-morning Saturday. As soon as I'd unloaded it was time to head into MK for the shopping. Axe and Compass in the evening for a chicken burger.
Found out via Facebook that Creighton's ice cream parlour in Leighton has closed - their directors have decided to concentrate on their other businesses. I'm devastated, their home made brownies, with various fillings from peanut butter to cream egg, were simply divine. Can't believe I'll never have one again. What am I going to eat at half time at Kenilworth Road now?
Sunday another friendly, on a ground I've been wanting to tick - Barnet's new home at The Hive. Very impressive given that until just over a year ago it was a training ground. Having arrived considerably early I approached the Hive Bar only to be told that it was for home fans only. Asking the stewards where else there was to go, they would only say to wait the 20 minutes until the away end, with a bar within it, opened at 1 pm. I got the same response in the club shop. I thought they were showing an unfriendly attitude to away fans, but a quick wander round the surrounding streets showed that there really weren't any pubs in the vicinity.
Back at The Hive, the away end bar was spartan - no seating or tables - but was staffed by a friendly barmaid, served a nice selection of drinks and had Sky Sports News, keeping us in touch with the German Grand Prix (shame about Felipe but nice one Valtteri!) By 2 pm there were dozens of Hatters milling around in the sun outside the bar and by the tea hut - which, hooray, had Rollover hot dogs and Mars bars. Back in the bar, met the legendary Luton-supporting Scouser Keith Brooksbank.
Luton won 2-0, despite a missed penalty from Alex Lawless, with a superb display of goalkeeping from Mark Tyler. Mark Cullen scored our first - he will slot nicely into Andre Gray's boots - and Jake Howells made it two from the spot late on.
Didn't feel like going straight home when I got to Leighton Buzzard so called at one of the fast food eateries for a spot of fried chicken (no chips, my one concession to being good) and on to the Black Lion for a strawberry cider in the beer garden.
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It sounds like you had a very good time at the Luton match and cheers for them! Nice win.
Spurs were here in Toronto last night to play a match against Toronto FC (with Jermain Defoe being made captain just for the occasion) but unfortunately I was not able to attend because I'm currently skint. Not good financial planning on my part lately. Usually these preseason exhibition matches are played without most of the 'big stars' but I'm sure because I wasn't there the likes of Aaron Lennon, etc. seem to have showed up. I hope I'll have another chance one day to see a Spurs match in person. I still hope to get over to England one day in the near future and take in some matches.
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