No matter how your team are performing there is something special about the experience of travelling around the country to support them.
In the summer of 1985 I decided with my friend to start following Carlisle United to away matches. It came as alarming news to our parents being just after the Bradford and Heysel disasters, but we weren’t getting talked out of it. However aged 13 we were still too young to be negotiating British Rail on our own and with parents not willing to drive us we had to rely on coach travel.
This involved putting our names down at the tiny supporters’ club shop in town, and hoping there would be enough interest for a coach to run. Our first trip was to Hull’s Boothferry Park (where years later I’d take my son to his first Carlisle match) for a 4-0 defeat. We were late back on the coach after the first of several lengthy service station stops, and blushed at the heckles and ironic cheers that met our return, but now we were proper away fans and we loved it.
Undeterred, on a Friday night in December we visited Bradford’s temporary home of Odsal Stadium. The game was played on a Friday evening as Bradford Northern were also at home that weekend, so we had to get notes from our parents excusing us from school in the afternoon. Not many went to the same lengths – we counted fewer than 100 fans in the away end; we got home long after midnight.
Denne historien er fra February 2018-utgaven av When Saturday Comes.
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Denne historien er fra February 2018-utgaven av When Saturday Comes.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Pirate Transmission
Broadcasters around the world are paying huge sums to screen football, but they will not be willing to invest if they cannot be protected.
Scandi Drama
Years before it was screened live in the UK, England’s Football League was building a cult following abroad thanks to a visionary broadcaster.
Pot Of Gold
A rare meeting between two local rivals brought FA Cup fever – and a useful financial boost – to one corner of Hertfordshire
Digital Divide
From earnest post-match punditry to being used in actual players’ matchday preparations, the virtual game is becoming increasingly blurred with reality.
Haringey Ladder
The decision to walk off in the face of abuse has shone a national spotlight on a community club with a progressive approach
Bournemouth 0 Norwich City 0
Dean Court may have received a Premier League facelift but against today’s visitors the home team fail to live up to their status, although the low-quality draw they play out is still somehow reassuring.
Room With A View
Hampden Park
Not In The Script
ARSENAL FILM
Out Of Place...
After another unsuccessful qualifying attempt Martin O’Neill is under pressure, while a poor Republic of Ireland squad is only getting weaker
Uncomfortable Truth
At the end of April Sheffield United surprised many people by re-signing Ched Evans, who, following a retrial, has now been found not guilty of the rape charge for which he spent two-and-a-half years in prison.
