Deutscher Girls
Oct. 26th, 2024 08:03 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
eiffel_71Went up to Wembley yesterday for the Lionesses’ friendly with Germany. A lady called Clare had offered a spare Club Wembley ticket on one of the Messenger chat groups, so I’d taken her up and told her to meet me in Blue Check.
Arrived in the pub to be met by QPR Ash who immediately collared me for a chat about the fortunes of the London teams we follow. I’m always happy to talk women’s football but someone really does need to explain to the guy that when someone has just arrived in a pub, letting them buy a drink before engaging them in conversation is a good move.
Got to say a quick hello to Rachel then ordered chicken tenders and chips at the bar. Messaged Clare to let her know which table I was at. She arrived not long after my food came so when we’d introduced ourselves I offered her a couple of chips.
Clare was occupied with her phone most of the time but we talked a bit from time to time about the England lineup, the prospects for the game and which teams we followed - she was a Norwich City men’s team fan but, living in Yorkshire, in women’s football she just attended England games and watched WSL on telly and online as a neutral.
At 5.30 Clare wanted to make a move so she got me to lead her to the Red Zone where our entrance was. As we walked up Olympic Way Clare told me how she’d been to every England game, and a couple of others, during the 2022 Euros so I told her my own memories of that magical summer. Walking around the curve going away from the front of the stadium towards the Red Zone we discussed the England line-up again and Clare observed “Lucy Bronze is my girlfriend. Though she doesn’t know it yet.”
I said that Kayleigh, my old work colleague who’d been my companion at the Euro Final, also fancies Lucy.
“Who doesn’t?”
We passed through a bag check on the outside of the concourse, then through a quiet-looking side entrance into a reception leading to ticket gates. As my ticket got a green light and I went through the turnstile Clare said “See, it’s a real one not a photocopy.”
We climbed a staircase and emerged in an impressive poshly paved curve of eateries and bars plus a merchandise shop. Clare hadn’t eaten yet so we hit the Taphouse West where she went for fried chicken and chips. We found seats at a table with a couple and their little daughter who was attending her first live Lionesses match and was a big fan of Georgia Stanway. They lived in Bristol, but the husband was originally from Southampton - he took my being a Portsmouth fan in good spirit. The girl predicted the end result would be 5-3, naturally with Stanway scoring.
Our seats were near the top of the middle tier, with a spectacular view of the pitch. Clare spent a while trying to locate where she’d been sat for the Euro Final. We found the place, and where Kayleigh and I had been, with the help of a photo I’d taken on the day. We spotted a section of German fans in the tier below in the corner to our left.
It was fantastic to see Steph Houghton, one of my heroines, honoured with a tribute on the Titantron, then saying a few words and presented with her framed shirt on the pitch.
The whole place went dark and a spectacular array of flames whooshed up all round the pitch. The lights came back on and the teams appeared for the National Anthems.
In the third minute Leah Williamson carelessly lost the ball and a desperate Millie Bright brought down the German with the ball, conceding a penalty. A big blue VAR Check notice on the Titantron gave us hope but the spot kick went ahead and Gwinn drilled it into the bottom left.
Alessia Russo’s precision strike had us briefly jumping for joy a few minutes later but the lineslady brought us crashing down with her raised flag. Then Germany went straight down the other end and Gwinn again left Jess Carter for dead and fired home with Hannah Hampton helpless.
Russo shot wide twice. Then from deep in their own half the Germans played a neat series of three one-touch forward passes down the left wing to Klara Bühl, who cut into the box on her right foot and blasted in just inside the near post.
Half an hour gone and 3-0 down, we naturally thought the game had gone. But almost straight away a Lauren Hemp cross was handled in the box and Georgia Stanway made no mistake from the spot.
Then soon after that, Russo got the ball in midfield and sent Beth Mead down the wing, and Mead squared for Stanway to rifle into the top corner. 2-3 and cue wild celebrations in our section.
Ella Toone raced through a German defence at sixes and sevens soon after and almost put the cherry on the fightback but she shot wide.
In stoppage time Germany took charge again and Hampton tipped a close range shot round the post, then had to backpedal to tip a long range shot over the bar.
At half time we got talking to the couple behind us. Sarah, the wife, was a Blackpool fan in men’s football and went to WSL matches in Merseyside and Manchester. Her husband wasn’t much of a football supporter but was coming to love the women’s game through Sarah’s influence.
Clare said we needed to take off Williamson, Bronze and Walsh and bring on Le Tissier, Greenwood and Park. She sort of got one wish : Jess Park did come on, albeit for Toone. Park immediately added some spark to the Lionesses.
Germany appeared to score, but this time the lineslady’s flag came to our rescue. Millie Bright missed a backpass coming to her from Park and a German pounced but Hampton stopped it easily.
On 70 minutes, from a free kick a German fouled Russo in our penalty area but, staggeringly, the referee gave it the other way and awarded the Germans a spot-kick that they converted to go 4-2 in front.
A few minutes later Lauren Hemp sent a rocket shot into the top right corner but yet again the flag was up.
Then on 81 minutes Ann-Katrin Berger spilled the ball from a free kick and, to Clare’s delight, a grateful Lucy Bronze pounced and made no mistake. 3-4. But for all their efforts the Lionesses couldn’t find an equaliser.
Clare summed the game up : “That was absolutely mental”. We made our way out of the stadium, and as we approached the point where our paths diverged (Clare was in an AirBNB close by) I thanked her for the ticket, she thanked me for my company and we agreed that we were sure to meet again at a future Lionesses match.
Back in Blue Check it was like a wake. I sat with Rachel and Leanne, but Rachel was too under a cloud to talk much at all and Leanne was deep in conversation with two other girls. I knew that for the first time there’d been a ‘Home End’ at this game, intended for all the lively supporters to get together, and asked how it had been there, but Rachel said she and Lauren were the only people singing.
I said my goodbyes and sloped off to McDonald’s.
Having checked out of the Premier Inn, I was walking towards Olympic Way when Angela came jogging along and said hello. She asked what I’d thought of the game and asked if I was going to Wembley Park tube. I replied yes and she said it was closed, adding that it was terrible that there were no signs up at this end to warn people, and said I’d have to go to Wembley Central.
I called in at Wembley Stadium station, but there wasn’t another train for almost an hour so I lugged my bag all the way over to Wembley Central and took the tube to Waterloo. Three quarters of an hour till the next Fareham train (the direct Portsmouth line wasn’t running due to engineering works). Cue visit to Starbucks then to the Bagel Factory for lunch.
Managed to make it to Privett Park for Gosport Borough’s FA Trophy first round tie with Taunton Town. Gosport were 1-0 down at half time but made three substitutions at the break and were transformed. Gosport ran out winning 5-1, twice catching the defence napping and capping it off with a penalty.
Up the Borough.
Home for dinner then Z Cars on Talking Pictures.
Arrived in the pub to be met by QPR Ash who immediately collared me for a chat about the fortunes of the London teams we follow. I’m always happy to talk women’s football but someone really does need to explain to the guy that when someone has just arrived in a pub, letting them buy a drink before engaging them in conversation is a good move.
Got to say a quick hello to Rachel then ordered chicken tenders and chips at the bar. Messaged Clare to let her know which table I was at. She arrived not long after my food came so when we’d introduced ourselves I offered her a couple of chips.
Clare was occupied with her phone most of the time but we talked a bit from time to time about the England lineup, the prospects for the game and which teams we followed - she was a Norwich City men’s team fan but, living in Yorkshire, in women’s football she just attended England games and watched WSL on telly and online as a neutral.
At 5.30 Clare wanted to make a move so she got me to lead her to the Red Zone where our entrance was. As we walked up Olympic Way Clare told me how she’d been to every England game, and a couple of others, during the 2022 Euros so I told her my own memories of that magical summer. Walking around the curve going away from the front of the stadium towards the Red Zone we discussed the England line-up again and Clare observed “Lucy Bronze is my girlfriend. Though she doesn’t know it yet.”
I said that Kayleigh, my old work colleague who’d been my companion at the Euro Final, also fancies Lucy.
“Who doesn’t?”
We passed through a bag check on the outside of the concourse, then through a quiet-looking side entrance into a reception leading to ticket gates. As my ticket got a green light and I went through the turnstile Clare said “See, it’s a real one not a photocopy.”
We climbed a staircase and emerged in an impressive poshly paved curve of eateries and bars plus a merchandise shop. Clare hadn’t eaten yet so we hit the Taphouse West where she went for fried chicken and chips. We found seats at a table with a couple and their little daughter who was attending her first live Lionesses match and was a big fan of Georgia Stanway. They lived in Bristol, but the husband was originally from Southampton - he took my being a Portsmouth fan in good spirit. The girl predicted the end result would be 5-3, naturally with Stanway scoring.
Our seats were near the top of the middle tier, with a spectacular view of the pitch. Clare spent a while trying to locate where she’d been sat for the Euro Final. We found the place, and where Kayleigh and I had been, with the help of a photo I’d taken on the day. We spotted a section of German fans in the tier below in the corner to our left.
It was fantastic to see Steph Houghton, one of my heroines, honoured with a tribute on the Titantron, then saying a few words and presented with her framed shirt on the pitch.
The whole place went dark and a spectacular array of flames whooshed up all round the pitch. The lights came back on and the teams appeared for the National Anthems.
In the third minute Leah Williamson carelessly lost the ball and a desperate Millie Bright brought down the German with the ball, conceding a penalty. A big blue VAR Check notice on the Titantron gave us hope but the spot kick went ahead and Gwinn drilled it into the bottom left.
Alessia Russo’s precision strike had us briefly jumping for joy a few minutes later but the lineslady brought us crashing down with her raised flag. Then Germany went straight down the other end and Gwinn again left Jess Carter for dead and fired home with Hannah Hampton helpless.
Russo shot wide twice. Then from deep in their own half the Germans played a neat series of three one-touch forward passes down the left wing to Klara Bühl, who cut into the box on her right foot and blasted in just inside the near post.
Half an hour gone and 3-0 down, we naturally thought the game had gone. But almost straight away a Lauren Hemp cross was handled in the box and Georgia Stanway made no mistake from the spot.
Then soon after that, Russo got the ball in midfield and sent Beth Mead down the wing, and Mead squared for Stanway to rifle into the top corner. 2-3 and cue wild celebrations in our section.
Ella Toone raced through a German defence at sixes and sevens soon after and almost put the cherry on the fightback but she shot wide.
In stoppage time Germany took charge again and Hampton tipped a close range shot round the post, then had to backpedal to tip a long range shot over the bar.
At half time we got talking to the couple behind us. Sarah, the wife, was a Blackpool fan in men’s football and went to WSL matches in Merseyside and Manchester. Her husband wasn’t much of a football supporter but was coming to love the women’s game through Sarah’s influence.
Clare said we needed to take off Williamson, Bronze and Walsh and bring on Le Tissier, Greenwood and Park. She sort of got one wish : Jess Park did come on, albeit for Toone. Park immediately added some spark to the Lionesses.
Germany appeared to score, but this time the lineslady’s flag came to our rescue. Millie Bright missed a backpass coming to her from Park and a German pounced but Hampton stopped it easily.
On 70 minutes, from a free kick a German fouled Russo in our penalty area but, staggeringly, the referee gave it the other way and awarded the Germans a spot-kick that they converted to go 4-2 in front.
A few minutes later Lauren Hemp sent a rocket shot into the top right corner but yet again the flag was up.
Then on 81 minutes Ann-Katrin Berger spilled the ball from a free kick and, to Clare’s delight, a grateful Lucy Bronze pounced and made no mistake. 3-4. But for all their efforts the Lionesses couldn’t find an equaliser.
Clare summed the game up : “That was absolutely mental”. We made our way out of the stadium, and as we approached the point where our paths diverged (Clare was in an AirBNB close by) I thanked her for the ticket, she thanked me for my company and we agreed that we were sure to meet again at a future Lionesses match.
Back in Blue Check it was like a wake. I sat with Rachel and Leanne, but Rachel was too under a cloud to talk much at all and Leanne was deep in conversation with two other girls. I knew that for the first time there’d been a ‘Home End’ at this game, intended for all the lively supporters to get together, and asked how it had been there, but Rachel said she and Lauren were the only people singing.
I said my goodbyes and sloped off to McDonald’s.
Having checked out of the Premier Inn, I was walking towards Olympic Way when Angela came jogging along and said hello. She asked what I’d thought of the game and asked if I was going to Wembley Park tube. I replied yes and she said it was closed, adding that it was terrible that there were no signs up at this end to warn people, and said I’d have to go to Wembley Central.
I called in at Wembley Stadium station, but there wasn’t another train for almost an hour so I lugged my bag all the way over to Wembley Central and took the tube to Waterloo. Three quarters of an hour till the next Fareham train (the direct Portsmouth line wasn’t running due to engineering works). Cue visit to Starbucks then to the Bagel Factory for lunch.
Managed to make it to Privett Park for Gosport Borough’s FA Trophy first round tie with Taunton Town. Gosport were 1-0 down at half time but made three substitutions at the break and were transformed. Gosport ran out winning 5-1, twice catching the defence napping and capping it off with a penalty.
Up the Borough.
Home for dinner then Z Cars on Talking Pictures.
