Another Suitcase In Another Hall
Feb. 15th, 2024 10:57 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
eiffel_71
To Hertfordshire after work yesterday for London Seaward’s Combined Counties Cup tie with Watford FC Women Development, finally going ahead at the fourth time of asking. I could be confident of actually seeing the game this time, since the Watford Training Ground boasts a 3G among its several pitches.
Portsmouth Harbour station is closed for engineering works, and I and a gathering crowd had a long wait at the bus stop for the replacement bus to Portsmouth & Southsea to show up. I missed one train to East Croydon waiting at the stop, and made it onto the platform just in time to catch the one after. I reached St Albans City station about quarter to six. Happily there was a taxi waiting outside. It was quite a way out to the London Colney Holiday Inn, the fare came to over a score; I was just glad to be there with plenty of time to spare for the 25 minute walk to the ground.
I had trouble finding a pedestrian-friendly way from the hotel, on a motorists-only roundabout, to the main road; finally I realised that the mud path running behind the Sainsbury’s petrol station was the only link to the nearest pavement. From then on it was plain enough sailing, apart from having to dodge traffic to cross one main road, until the pavement suddenly fizzled out a couple of hundred yards before the turn-off for the training ground. I had to walk on a grass verge that had plenty of mud.
Finally, on the approach road to the training ground, I saw a girl in a Watford tracksuit. Following her, I reached a car park where several other Watford players were waiting. Following them, though, just led me to the ladies’ changing rooms. I wandered around looking for anyone who might be able to help with directions and eventually saw the referee - Dave’s mate Alan who’d officiated the Norwich match the week before last. Alan told me the game was in the Dome and that Dan and the Seaward girls were already in the changing room.
Watford’s training ground has a giant inflatable dome in the club colours, with a huge Watford FC badge emblazoned on it. I headed for the dome, went through the door and found it contained a 3G pitch, with a narrow area at the side for spectators and a few benches and chairs; happily, one chair was unoccupied.
I had a wait while a boys’ training session ran to its conclusion. Eventually James, Gav, Ali and the girls all arrived and I left my bag on my chair and went across to say hello. Mira, Cheryl and a couple of the others did fist pumps with me. I remarked that we were starting our defence of our cup; everyone seemed chipper about the match ahead. The girls began to warm up in the corner close to where my seat was.
Dan entered, went and left his bag in a far area behind the goal and came over to our corner. I called out hello and he came over for a quick chat. He thanked me for my continuing support and said that on Sunday the girls had said they loved having me there cheering for them. That was nice to know.
Seaward scored an early goal and were in command for the first half. Then, early in the second half, came six crazy minutes in which Watford scored three. Two were volleys and the third came from the defence napping and Tia being caught off her line.
It was like Norwich’s defeat to Man Utd in 1993 that cost Norwich their chance of winning the league. All our good work undone by a few minutes of madness. The game resumed its normal course, both sides tried, neither ever really looked like scoring.
The final whistle blew, our defence of our Cup was over. After a stop at one of the Portaloos thoughtfully provided at the training ground, it was time to wade back along the soggy verge, hit the road, cross the now thankfully quiet main road and trek back - calling at the McDonald’s just before the hotel for a cheap hamburger, a post-match tradition I’d learned from Jules after Lionesses matches. With me financially sidelined from following England for the foreseeable, it was nice to be thinking of Jules and linking my travels now with Seaward to our old times.
Hit the hotel bar for a little snifter. The hotel staff were outright diamonds; their presence helped my post-defeat drinks, and being alone on Valentine’s night, feel less lonely. I raised a glass to Sarah, my true love, wherever she may be, before retiring to the room to watch Notting Hill on telly.
Portsmouth Harbour station is closed for engineering works, and I and a gathering crowd had a long wait at the bus stop for the replacement bus to Portsmouth & Southsea to show up. I missed one train to East Croydon waiting at the stop, and made it onto the platform just in time to catch the one after. I reached St Albans City station about quarter to six. Happily there was a taxi waiting outside. It was quite a way out to the London Colney Holiday Inn, the fare came to over a score; I was just glad to be there with plenty of time to spare for the 25 minute walk to the ground.
I had trouble finding a pedestrian-friendly way from the hotel, on a motorists-only roundabout, to the main road; finally I realised that the mud path running behind the Sainsbury’s petrol station was the only link to the nearest pavement. From then on it was plain enough sailing, apart from having to dodge traffic to cross one main road, until the pavement suddenly fizzled out a couple of hundred yards before the turn-off for the training ground. I had to walk on a grass verge that had plenty of mud.
Finally, on the approach road to the training ground, I saw a girl in a Watford tracksuit. Following her, I reached a car park where several other Watford players were waiting. Following them, though, just led me to the ladies’ changing rooms. I wandered around looking for anyone who might be able to help with directions and eventually saw the referee - Dave’s mate Alan who’d officiated the Norwich match the week before last. Alan told me the game was in the Dome and that Dan and the Seaward girls were already in the changing room.
Watford’s training ground has a giant inflatable dome in the club colours, with a huge Watford FC badge emblazoned on it. I headed for the dome, went through the door and found it contained a 3G pitch, with a narrow area at the side for spectators and a few benches and chairs; happily, one chair was unoccupied.
I had a wait while a boys’ training session ran to its conclusion. Eventually James, Gav, Ali and the girls all arrived and I left my bag on my chair and went across to say hello. Mira, Cheryl and a couple of the others did fist pumps with me. I remarked that we were starting our defence of our cup; everyone seemed chipper about the match ahead. The girls began to warm up in the corner close to where my seat was.
Dan entered, went and left his bag in a far area behind the goal and came over to our corner. I called out hello and he came over for a quick chat. He thanked me for my continuing support and said that on Sunday the girls had said they loved having me there cheering for them. That was nice to know.
Seaward scored an early goal and were in command for the first half. Then, early in the second half, came six crazy minutes in which Watford scored three. Two were volleys and the third came from the defence napping and Tia being caught off her line.
It was like Norwich’s defeat to Man Utd in 1993 that cost Norwich their chance of winning the league. All our good work undone by a few minutes of madness. The game resumed its normal course, both sides tried, neither ever really looked like scoring.
The final whistle blew, our defence of our Cup was over. After a stop at one of the Portaloos thoughtfully provided at the training ground, it was time to wade back along the soggy verge, hit the road, cross the now thankfully quiet main road and trek back - calling at the McDonald’s just before the hotel for a cheap hamburger, a post-match tradition I’d learned from Jules after Lionesses matches. With me financially sidelined from following England for the foreseeable, it was nice to be thinking of Jules and linking my travels now with Seaward to our old times.
Hit the hotel bar for a little snifter. The hotel staff were outright diamonds; their presence helped my post-defeat drinks, and being alone on Valentine’s night, feel less lonely. I raised a glass to Sarah, my true love, wherever she may be, before retiring to the room to watch Notting Hill on telly.
no subject
Date: 2024-02-23 05:23 pm (UTC)A few weeks ago I slipped and fell on an icy sidewalk, cracking my head open. Was taken to hospital in an ambulance. I was not concussed but suffered a cut and large swollen area on the back of my noggin, along with extreme dizziness.
It's been some time now but I still have a bump and scab on my head and disorientation. Can't lie down on my right side yet without the dizziness. Can't lean my head back on anything because of the pain.
Sorry to whinge so much but I have been somewhat incapacitated and unable to do a lot of reading or spend long periods of time on the computer. I hope to be back to normal soon.
Take care of yourself Jess! It's very important to try and avoid any silly accidents!