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eiffel_71
On the train to Manchester on Tuesday I got an email from Eastern Airways cancelling my flights, a vindication of my decision to go by train. I was offered a refund or flight change; naturally I went for the refund, almost covering my train fare.
Rachel and I met at the National Football Museum that evening to have our photos taken for the Football Supporters’ Association’s ‘My Country, My Shirt’ project. On arrival, we were sent up in the lift to where the museum had a new exhibition on about the history of women’s football. Even for a devoted fan like me who knows the stories of the Dick, Kerr Ladies, the other pioneers and the FA ban well, the exhibition was fascinating. I was proud to learn that Portsmouth Ladies were one of the most successful teams during WW1.
We were served a free drink then were free to mill around for a while. We bumped into Lisa, once a regular at Lionesses matches but I’d heard nothing of her since we last met at Lewes five years ago. We spent the time catching up until we were all called across to hear the Museum people and the exhibition organiser say a few words. There we met Deb from the FSA. She presented us with Free Lionesses hats and magazines, then we hung around waiting for our turns to be photographed. Sophie the photographer stood, then sat, me in different places and took over a dozen shots until she got one she was happy with.
Wednesday afternoon I headed for the fan park in Piccadilly Gardens, just down the road from my hotel, where Rachel was volunteering for the FSA. The fan park had two sections, one side devoted to game activities, the other side hosting a bar and street food outlets. Matt was there when I arrived. We talked to Rachel while a lively lot of Austrian fans sang songs. Alas, a football came sailing over the fence from the play pitch next door and whacked Rachel in the back of the neck. She went to the paramedics, was treated and given an ice pack.
We went over to the bar side and I got a blackberry cider from the bar and some Greek street food from the stall. As I sat eating Jill and Steph arrived. Alan, Sue and Kath all joined us soon after. I reflected to Kath how I hadn’t seen her since Newport (in August 2018). We all caught up over drinks. Sue asked if anyone was planning to go to next year’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand; she’s going as she has relatives in NZ. For most of us, me included, it’s a non-starter because of the financial outlay and amount of annual leave that would be needed. Rachel confirmed what she said in Switzerland, that she’s seriously looking at going for it. Under persuasion from Sue, Jill said she was now going to seriously look at her and Steph making the trip down under. While it will be great for there to be more Lionesses fans there, and no doubt Jill and Steph will have a wonderful time if they go, I’m absolutely gutted that that will mean the cancellation of our planned Italian trip next May, leaving me with an empty calendar for 2023 :(
We took the tram to Old Trafford and headed into the fan park adjacent to the stadium. Alan and I both queued for over half an hour for a burger and a hot dog respectively. We all agreed to meet at the Corn Exchange in the city centre after the match and separated to our respective entrances.
Alan and I were sat in the lower tier just to the side behind one of the goals, with a fantastic view of the pitch. A roar of excitement went through the stadium as the England team emerged to warm up. The opening ceremony followed, with girls carrying Euro 2022 flags and the flags of the participating nations, and impressive pyro going off.
England bossed the game from the start, and after a quarter of an hour Beth Mead scored to send the crowd into raptures. The Lionesses continued to dominate throughout, but struggled to find that killer last touch in the box. Lauren Hemp got into promising positions but didn’t take the shots, while Ellen White could have added one or two more but shot wide or over. The Austrians drew a couple of super saves from Mary Earps. The game ended, not a classic performance from England but we’d opened our account with a win. Can’t ask for more. We went down to the front to clap the Lionesses as they walked round the pitch.
Alan wanted to wait by the team bus to meet the players. Since Jodie and Carly left the squad, leaving no Lionesses I have an emotional connection to, I no longer bother trying to meet them, but I wasn’t going to bomb off and leave him on his own, even though I ached to head for the city centre and join the others for drinks. We waited a while, then when the players did emerge they headed straight for the bus and we just managed to say “well played” to them as they went by.
Alan was gutted at not getting a photo with a player. As we began the long walk to the tram I explained to him that women’s football has changed in the last few years, it’s more commercial now and the players aren’t as accessible. He sounded forlorn as we saw the team bus head off down the road. There was naturally a massive queue at the tram station, as we were queuing we watched one tram bound for the city leave. When we got on to the platform I advised Alan to head for a less densely populated spot. In the event, when the tram came we weren’t in position for the carriages and had to run to join the scramble to get on. By a miracle we squeezed in before the doors closed on the full carriage.
On the ride to the city centre two young ladies asked me how many stops to St Peter’s Square. I was able to tell them. One of them found Sweet Caroline on her phone and tried to start a sing-song. I and a few others joined in.
When we did reach Piccadilly Gardens, trying to get to the pub was fun and games as Alan could only walk slowly in his shoes with slippery soles. We just made it to the pub in time to have one drink. Had a brief chance to compare notes on the game with Jules, Alice, Kath and Matt. They all reckoned Norway, our next opponents, would be a serious threat. The barman came round and told us to drink up. Outside we said our farewells with hugs and handshakes and “see you in Brighton”. I sloped back to my hotel, where mercifully the bar was open late. On the telly in the corner was a show about Freddie Flintoff forming a cricket team of lads from a deprived part of town. I slowly sipped a Rekorderlig.
Gratified to see plenty of fans in England shirts at breakfast Thursday morning. Train journey to Fareham without a hitch. Me ma came and collected my bag at Fareham station, we went for a coffee then I went back to the station to wait for Jade.
Jade arrived and we got the train into Southampton. We walked up towards the stadium and stopped in the Painted Wagon for a drink. Despite our being Portsmouth fans, Jade was impressed with the Southampton FC themed bar festooned with Saints memorabilia. We agreed that we need a similar Pompey themed bar in Portsmouth. The barmaid was wearing a Euro 2022 polo shirt so we talked to her about the tournament, she was impressed that I’d been at Old Trafford the night before.
We went to eat at German Doner Kebab, it was Jade’s first time there and she loved her mixed Doner box. We moseyed around the fan park, but there wasn’t a lot happening so we walked on to the stadium, accompanied by jolly Norwegian and Northern Irish fans. Jade’s ticket QR code didn’t work when we tried to enter the ground. We had no more luck when a lady in a hi-vis with a wand tried to check her in so had to troop all the way round to the ticket office on the other side of the stadium. After we explained our problem to two guys at the ticket window, we had a wait of about ten minutes while the ticket office staff talked to each other. Finally a man emerged and accompanied us back round to the turnstile. This time her ticket worked.
We had singing Norwegians to the left of us and singing Northern Irish to the right. My fellow Lionesses fans’ tips about Norway being a strong side were borne out as they ran out comfortable 4-1 winners. Undeterred, the Northern Irish fans continued to raise the roof with their songs. We were glad to see them get a goal.
Back on Southampton Central station, as we waited for the Fareham train we met a couple in Northern Ireland colours and said hello. They turned out to be the uncle and aunt of Julie Nelson, the Northern Ireland goalscorer. As they proudly mentioned, Julie had become the first Northern Ireland Women player to score in the finals of a major tournament.
Friday back to work. Then Spain v Finland and Germany v Denmark on telly. In between the matches Louise, an old pal, messaged me for a catch up chat. She asked me to join her at a picnic next afternoon.
So yesterday I went to the appointed venue, Nicholson Gardens…to find the place locked and no one there. I texted Louise and she got back to me 20 minutes later with her apologies, saying the venue had been changed to Stokes Bay and she’d only just found out. So I made my way out to the beach and found Louise and her group. We sat on folding chairs - until the couple who owned the folding chairs said goodbye and that they were heading back to Portsmouth, then we had to move to a blanket - and had a long catch up.
Back home for Portugal v Switzerland.
Rachel and I met at the National Football Museum that evening to have our photos taken for the Football Supporters’ Association’s ‘My Country, My Shirt’ project. On arrival, we were sent up in the lift to where the museum had a new exhibition on about the history of women’s football. Even for a devoted fan like me who knows the stories of the Dick, Kerr Ladies, the other pioneers and the FA ban well, the exhibition was fascinating. I was proud to learn that Portsmouth Ladies were one of the most successful teams during WW1.
We were served a free drink then were free to mill around for a while. We bumped into Lisa, once a regular at Lionesses matches but I’d heard nothing of her since we last met at Lewes five years ago. We spent the time catching up until we were all called across to hear the Museum people and the exhibition organiser say a few words. There we met Deb from the FSA. She presented us with Free Lionesses hats and magazines, then we hung around waiting for our turns to be photographed. Sophie the photographer stood, then sat, me in different places and took over a dozen shots until she got one she was happy with.
Wednesday afternoon I headed for the fan park in Piccadilly Gardens, just down the road from my hotel, where Rachel was volunteering for the FSA. The fan park had two sections, one side devoted to game activities, the other side hosting a bar and street food outlets. Matt was there when I arrived. We talked to Rachel while a lively lot of Austrian fans sang songs. Alas, a football came sailing over the fence from the play pitch next door and whacked Rachel in the back of the neck. She went to the paramedics, was treated and given an ice pack.
We went over to the bar side and I got a blackberry cider from the bar and some Greek street food from the stall. As I sat eating Jill and Steph arrived. Alan, Sue and Kath all joined us soon after. I reflected to Kath how I hadn’t seen her since Newport (in August 2018). We all caught up over drinks. Sue asked if anyone was planning to go to next year’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand; she’s going as she has relatives in NZ. For most of us, me included, it’s a non-starter because of the financial outlay and amount of annual leave that would be needed. Rachel confirmed what she said in Switzerland, that she’s seriously looking at going for it. Under persuasion from Sue, Jill said she was now going to seriously look at her and Steph making the trip down under. While it will be great for there to be more Lionesses fans there, and no doubt Jill and Steph will have a wonderful time if they go, I’m absolutely gutted that that will mean the cancellation of our planned Italian trip next May, leaving me with an empty calendar for 2023 :(
We took the tram to Old Trafford and headed into the fan park adjacent to the stadium. Alan and I both queued for over half an hour for a burger and a hot dog respectively. We all agreed to meet at the Corn Exchange in the city centre after the match and separated to our respective entrances.
Alan and I were sat in the lower tier just to the side behind one of the goals, with a fantastic view of the pitch. A roar of excitement went through the stadium as the England team emerged to warm up. The opening ceremony followed, with girls carrying Euro 2022 flags and the flags of the participating nations, and impressive pyro going off.
England bossed the game from the start, and after a quarter of an hour Beth Mead scored to send the crowd into raptures. The Lionesses continued to dominate throughout, but struggled to find that killer last touch in the box. Lauren Hemp got into promising positions but didn’t take the shots, while Ellen White could have added one or two more but shot wide or over. The Austrians drew a couple of super saves from Mary Earps. The game ended, not a classic performance from England but we’d opened our account with a win. Can’t ask for more. We went down to the front to clap the Lionesses as they walked round the pitch.
Alan wanted to wait by the team bus to meet the players. Since Jodie and Carly left the squad, leaving no Lionesses I have an emotional connection to, I no longer bother trying to meet them, but I wasn’t going to bomb off and leave him on his own, even though I ached to head for the city centre and join the others for drinks. We waited a while, then when the players did emerge they headed straight for the bus and we just managed to say “well played” to them as they went by.
Alan was gutted at not getting a photo with a player. As we began the long walk to the tram I explained to him that women’s football has changed in the last few years, it’s more commercial now and the players aren’t as accessible. He sounded forlorn as we saw the team bus head off down the road. There was naturally a massive queue at the tram station, as we were queuing we watched one tram bound for the city leave. When we got on to the platform I advised Alan to head for a less densely populated spot. In the event, when the tram came we weren’t in position for the carriages and had to run to join the scramble to get on. By a miracle we squeezed in before the doors closed on the full carriage.
On the ride to the city centre two young ladies asked me how many stops to St Peter’s Square. I was able to tell them. One of them found Sweet Caroline on her phone and tried to start a sing-song. I and a few others joined in.
When we did reach Piccadilly Gardens, trying to get to the pub was fun and games as Alan could only walk slowly in his shoes with slippery soles. We just made it to the pub in time to have one drink. Had a brief chance to compare notes on the game with Jules, Alice, Kath and Matt. They all reckoned Norway, our next opponents, would be a serious threat. The barman came round and told us to drink up. Outside we said our farewells with hugs and handshakes and “see you in Brighton”. I sloped back to my hotel, where mercifully the bar was open late. On the telly in the corner was a show about Freddie Flintoff forming a cricket team of lads from a deprived part of town. I slowly sipped a Rekorderlig.
Gratified to see plenty of fans in England shirts at breakfast Thursday morning. Train journey to Fareham without a hitch. Me ma came and collected my bag at Fareham station, we went for a coffee then I went back to the station to wait for Jade.
Jade arrived and we got the train into Southampton. We walked up towards the stadium and stopped in the Painted Wagon for a drink. Despite our being Portsmouth fans, Jade was impressed with the Southampton FC themed bar festooned with Saints memorabilia. We agreed that we need a similar Pompey themed bar in Portsmouth. The barmaid was wearing a Euro 2022 polo shirt so we talked to her about the tournament, she was impressed that I’d been at Old Trafford the night before.
We went to eat at German Doner Kebab, it was Jade’s first time there and she loved her mixed Doner box. We moseyed around the fan park, but there wasn’t a lot happening so we walked on to the stadium, accompanied by jolly Norwegian and Northern Irish fans. Jade’s ticket QR code didn’t work when we tried to enter the ground. We had no more luck when a lady in a hi-vis with a wand tried to check her in so had to troop all the way round to the ticket office on the other side of the stadium. After we explained our problem to two guys at the ticket window, we had a wait of about ten minutes while the ticket office staff talked to each other. Finally a man emerged and accompanied us back round to the turnstile. This time her ticket worked.
We had singing Norwegians to the left of us and singing Northern Irish to the right. My fellow Lionesses fans’ tips about Norway being a strong side were borne out as they ran out comfortable 4-1 winners. Undeterred, the Northern Irish fans continued to raise the roof with their songs. We were glad to see them get a goal.
Back on Southampton Central station, as we waited for the Fareham train we met a couple in Northern Ireland colours and said hello. They turned out to be the uncle and aunt of Julie Nelson, the Northern Ireland goalscorer. As they proudly mentioned, Julie had become the first Northern Ireland Women player to score in the finals of a major tournament.
Friday back to work. Then Spain v Finland and Germany v Denmark on telly. In between the matches Louise, an old pal, messaged me for a catch up chat. She asked me to join her at a picnic next afternoon.
So yesterday I went to the appointed venue, Nicholson Gardens…to find the place locked and no one there. I texted Louise and she got back to me 20 minutes later with her apologies, saying the venue had been changed to Stokes Bay and she’d only just found out. So I made my way out to the beach and found Louise and her group. We sat on folding chairs - until the couple who owned the folding chairs said goodbye and that they were heading back to Portsmouth, then we had to move to a blanket - and had a long catch up.
Back home for Portugal v Switzerland.
