www.red11.org DAILY NEWS
Date: Sun Jul 25 09:44:40 GMT+00:00 1999
Mail: barry@www.red11.org
This Issue:
1. Gary Neville - MEN
2. Football-Manchester United end tour with another win
3. HUNDRED PER CENT REDS RETURN HOME - manutd.com report
4. United cash incentive ««
5. Better Late than Never - Part 1 by Pat Jennings
6. Better Late than Never - Part 2 by Pat Jennings
++++++=========+++++++========+++++++++========++++++++
Daily MANCHESTER UNITED NEWS Sun 25th July 1999:
Barry Daily Comment:
Sunday July 25, 10:20 AM: Fergie: We'll keep Roy
Sir Alex Ferguson has insisted that captain Roy Keane will be staying with
United, and the matter will be sorted out very shortly.
Keane rejected United's opening offer of a new contract, and there has been
a delay in negotiations because the board have been following the club's
recent tour of Australia and the Far East.
However now the tour is completed, Ferguson expects the talks to be
revived, and foresees no problems in persuading Keane to finish his career
at Old Trafford.
Ferguson said: "The chairman, Martin Edwards, and Maurice Watkins (director
and solicitor) are back from Hong Kong on Monday, and I imagine they'll get
down to it straight away. I'm sure everyone at the club knows we've got to
get Roy signed up."
*** NEW *** Listen to Andy Cole's New recording "Outstanding"
Streaming http://www.red11.org/mufc/sound/99/outstanding.ram
or file to download http://www.red11.org/mufc/sound/99/outstanding.rm
Pic at http://www.red11.org/mufc/images/player/cole/outstanding.jpg
Mark Bosnich's Personal Details
http://www.red11.org/mufc/bosnich.htm
Its the presentation of the European Cup at Nou Camp
Video including sound 57secs 1.5 meg Real Video Use Real Player Plus G2
Free at www.real.com
http://www.real.com/R/HPplay-1R/www.real.com/products/playerplus/index.html?src=990611home_5
Latest MUFC Squad song is now available in stereo at www.red11.org
Stereo Sound: REAL AUDIO: 607k 4mins "stereo"
http://www.red11.org/mufc/sound/99/lift_it_high.rm
MP3 4.6meg 4mins "stereo"
http://www.red11.org/mufc/sound/mp3/lift_it_high.mp3
RED sky at night BARCE' delight
More fun here: http://www.red11.org/mufc/barcedance.htm
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
MANCHESTER UNITED STATS v ALL teams on the Web
http://www.red11.org/mufc/stats.htm
Previous News:
BSKYB Takeover news/pics at http://www.red11.org/mufc/bskyb.htm
Brian Kidd Press conference, pic, real audio
http://www.iol.ie/~redcafe/kidd.htm
Peter Schmeichel's last Season at United!
http://www.red11.org/mufc/news/schmeichel.htm
---------------------------------------------------------------
NEXT MATCHES
---------------------------------------------------------------
01-AUG-1999 [15:00] Manchester Utd. vs Arsenal (FA Charity Shield, AWAY)
08-AUG-1999 [16:00] Manchester Utd. vs Everton (FA Premier League, AWAY)
11-AUG-1999 [20:00] Manchester Utd. vs Sheffield W (FA Premier League, HOME)
14-AUG-1999 [15:00] Manchester Utd. vs Leeds U (FA Premier League, HOME)
22-AUG-1999 [16:00] Manchester Utd. vs Arsenal (FA Premier League, AWAY)
Friendlies:
**** Friendly at Salford City
Salford City, the North Western Trains League club, are to play a friendly
against a side from their "big brother" neighbours Manchester United, at
their Moor Lane ground (in Kersal) on Saturday July 17th at 3pm.
August 3rd Omagh Town, St Julian's Road ground
August 4th Wigan Athletic
****Pre season tour details JULY 1999 ***
TODAY 21/7 12.15 uk Shangai first time ever!!!
This match will be watched by 80,000 fans
The game has sold out with the Shanghai Star reporting the home side's
chairman Yu Zhifei as saying: ''It is unprecedented that the tickets
should sell out for a match five weeks in advance."
Sat 24/7 Hong Kong Repeat of the 1997 game
"ALL matches will be shown "the same day" om MUTV.
UNITED Stats v All teams:
http://www.red11.org/mufc/stats/
*** FINAL PREMIER LEAGUE TABLE AS AT 16/05/99 ***
Pos Team P W D L F A W D L F A GD Pts
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 Manchester United 38 14 4 1 45 18 8 9 2 35 19 43 79
2 Arsenal 38 14 5 0 34 5 8 7 4 25 12 42 78
3 Chelsea 38 12 6 1 29 13 8 9 2 28 17 27 75
4 Leeds United 38 12 5 2 32 9 6 8 5 30 25 28 67
Here are all the matches for the coming season 1999/2000:
ALL FIXTURES at: http://www.red11.org/mufc/fix9899.htm
Subject: First Team Fixtures 1999/2000 [All dates/times subject to change]
Dates of possible cup ties also shown
Date Opposition Score Pos. Attend.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
15/07/99 Melbourne Australia 11.00 pre-season 2-0 60,000
18/07/99 Sydney Australia 06.00 pre-season 1-0 78,000
21/07/99 Shanghai Shenhua 12.30 pre-season 2-0 80,000
24/07/99 Hong Kong South China 08.30 pre-season 2-0 40,000
1/08/99 Arsenal Wembley Charity Shield -
3/08/99 Omagh Town friendly in aid of Omagh Bomb Fund
4/08/99 Wigan Athletic friendly at JJB Stadium.
8/08/99 Everton away 16.00
11/08/99 Sheffield Wednesday home PL 20.00
14/08/99 Leeds United home PL 15.00
22/08/99 Arsenal away PL 16.00
25/08/99 Coventry City away PL 20.00
27/08/99 Monaco - Lazio ESC 19.45
30/08/99 Newcastle United home PL 13.00
11/09/99 Liverpool away PL 11.30
15/09/99 ? EC
18/09/99 Wimbledon home PL 15.00
22/09/99 ? EC
25/09/99 Southampton home PL 15.00
29/09/99 ? EC
3/10/99 Chelsea away PL 16.00
*11/10/99 Sir Alex Ferguson's testimonial OT [Schmeichel]
13/10/99 ? WC 3
16/10/99 Watford home PL 15.00
20/10/99 ? EC
23/10/99 Tottenham Hotspur away PL 15.00
27/10/99 ? EC
30/10/99 Aston Villa home PL 15.00
3/11/99 ? EC
6/11/99 Leicester City home PL 15.00
20/11/99 Derby County away PL 15.00
24/11/99 ? EC
27/11/99 Sheffield Wednesday away PL 15.00
30/11/99 Tokyo Palmeiras WCC 20.00
1/12/99 ? WC 4
4/12/99 Everton home PL 15.00
8/12/99 ? EC
11/12/99 FAC 3 Will not enter ...
15/12/99 ? WC 5
18/12/99 West Ham United away PL 15.00
26/12/99 Bradford City home PL 15.00
28/12/99 Sunderland away PL 20.00
3/01/2000 Middlesborough home PL 20.00
***** 5-14 /01/2000 Brazil WTC ***** [3-4 games]
* 8/01/2000 FAC 4 Will not enter ...
12/01/2000 ? WC sf i
15/01/2000 Leeds United away PL 15.00
22/01/2000 Arsenal home PL 15.00
26/01/2000 ? WC sf ii
* 29/01/2000 FAC 5 Will not enter ...
5/02/2000 Coventry City home PL 15.00
12/02/2000 Newcastle United away PL 15.00
* 19/02/2000 FAC 6 Will not enter ...
26/02/2000 Wimbledon away PL 15.00
27/02/2000 ? Wembley WC f
1/03/2000 ? EC
4/03/2000 Liverpool home PL 15.00
8/03/2000 ? EC
11/03/2000 Derby County home PL 15.00
15/03/2000 ? EC
18/03/2000 Leicester City away PL 15.00
22/03/2000 ? EC
25/03/2000 Bradford City away PL 15.00
1/04/2000 West Ham United home PL 15.00
5/04/2000 ? EC qf i
8/04/2000 Middlesborough away PL 15.00
* 9/04/2000 FAC sf Will not enter ...
15/04/2000 Sunderland home PL 15.00
19/04/2000 ? EC qf ii
22/04/2000 Southampton away PL 15.00
24/04/2000 Chelsea home PL 15.00
29/04/2000 West Ham United away PL 15.00
3/05/2000 ? EC sf i
6/05/2000 Tottenham Hotspur home PL 15.00
10/05/2000 ? EC sf ii
14/05/2000 Aston Villa away PL 15.00
* 20/05/2000 Wembley FAC f Will not enter ...
24/05/2000 ? EC f
http://www.red11.org/mufc/match.htm
-------------------------------------
THE FANTASTIC TRIPLE WAS WON!!
Personal stories here: http://www.red11.org/mufc/barcelona.htm
We went to Barcelona in a fine day in May
And all our supporters sang loudly & gay
And when it was over and all said and done
We beat Bayern Munich by 2 goals to 1
The first one was Teddy's he out foxed the rest
The second was Solskjear's he's simply the best
We could have had 4 or we could have had 9
But we didn't start playing till injury time
++++++=========+++++++========+++++++++========++++++++
Click On pic - for latest match report from Hong Kong"
Subject: Gary Neville - MEN
By Paul Hince
GARY Neville has vowed to prove the doctors - and his manager - wrong by
taking his place in Manchester United's starting line-up for the opening
Premiership match against Everton.
Old Trafford boss Sir Alex Ferguson had already written the cultured
England defender out of his first-team plans until the middle of August as
Neville battled to overcome the groin injury which has plagued him since
the end of last season.
But the elder of the Neville boys was clearly determined not to miss the
big kick-off when he spoke at the launch of United's new away kit at the
Trafford Centre yesterday.
``I have never missed the start of a season before and I hope I don't break
the pattern for the coming campaign,'' he said.
``This is the first major injury of my career - if you can call a groin
strain a major injury - but everything is starting to settle down following
an injection I had a couple of weeks ago.
``I have had this problem with my groin since last Christmas and it kept me
out of the England games at the end of last season which was a big blow to me.
``But I am now back in light training and I will be stepping up the
exercises over the next couple of weeks.
``I certainly haven't written myself out of our opening Premiership match
against Everton and I certainly hope to be available for the two important
England matches early next season againsgt Luxemburg and Poland.''
Neville's determination to be available for day one of the Millennium
season will come as a welcome boost for manager Ferguson who is already
wrestling with serious injury problems.
Ronny Johnsen and Ole Gunnar Solksjaer have already been ruled out of the
opening day clash at Goodison Park while skipper Roy Keane and winger Ryan
Giggs are fighting to recover from an ankle injury and thigh strain
respectively.
Click On pic - for latest match report from Hong Kong"
Subject: Football-Manchester United end tour with another win
HONG KONG, July 24 - English treble winners Manchester United (quote -
news) completed a clean sweep of their Australian and Far East tour when
they beat Hong Kong's South China 2-0 on Saturday.
United, withouth several star players including David Beckham, Ryan Giggs,
Roy Keane and Paul Scholes, scored both their goals in the first half
through Teddy Sheringham and Andy Cole to notch up their fourth win in four
pre-season matches.
Earlier this week, the English premiership, F.A. Cup and European Cup
winners defeated Shanghai Shenhua 2-0 after two victories over Australia.
United faced criticism from many Hong Kong fans for failing to parade their
big-name players but they showed the 40,000 crowd that they wanted to play
positive football by starting the match with three strikers -- Sheringham,
Cole and Dwight Yorke.
Jordi Cruyff, another attacker, played just behind the front three.
The United players appeared to cope with the heat and humidity much better
than the local players, who were out-run and outclassed by their fitter and
more robust opponents.
United took the lead after 19 minutes. Cole escaped from his marker wide on
the right and sent in a low cross for Sheringham to nonchalantly blast into
the roof of the net from a difficult angle.
Cole and Sheringham reversed roles five minutes later for United's second
goal. Cruyff made a penetrating run from inside his own half, fed
Sheringham on the left and the England forward unselfishly passed across
the goal to the unmarked Cole, who tapped in from eight metres.
Cruyff had a chance to make it 3-0 two minutes later but his point-blank
shot was brilliantly saved by South China's goalkeeper Mick Leonard.
South China's only chance in the first half came from defender Leung
Chi-wing, whose 35-metre attempt on 35 minutes was tipped away by United
goalkeeper Mark Bosnich, who recently joined the club as replacement for
Dane Peter Schmeichel.
United now return to England, where they will prepare to defend their
premiership and European titles. They have withdrawn from next season's
F.A. Cup to compete in January's World Club Championship in Brazil.
Click On pic - for latest match report from Hong Kong"
Subject: HUNDRED PER CENT REDS RETURN HOME - manutd.com report
United's touring team again had to combat the climate as well as eleven men
looking to make a name for themselves.
At the local kick off time of 3.30 pm, the temperature was at 96 degrees
with a humidity level of 87 per cent. Jesper Blomqvist, again playing on
the left wing, lost half a stone in Shanghai on Wednesday, and could expect
to shed a few more pounds against South China!
The Reds stepped out in front of a sell-out 40,000 crowd wearing their
brand new dark blue away strip, which was unveiled on Friday in Manchester,
Hong Kong and across the world on the Internet.
Among the players wearing it for the first time in action was Dwight Yorke,
who formed an unusual midfield partnership with Phil Neville. Mark Wilson,
who played so well in the previous three friendlies, was rested to the
bench while Nicky Butt was ruled out with a minor foot injury.
Alex Agbo, the Nigerian striker making his big debut for South China, had a
physique to match that of his marker Jaap Stam, and the two had quite a
tussle in the early stages of the match.
The conditions forced United to start at a slower tempo than they would
normally produce, and it took them until the 12th minute to fashion a
decent half-chance. Jesper Blomqvist, improving all the time on this tour,
whipped in a cross from the left and found the head of Jordi Cruyff. The
Dutchman, who scored the only goal of the corresponding friendly fixture
two years ago, nodded the ball wide right.
The away team enjoyed most of the possession in the first half and they
made it count in the 21st minute when Teddy Sheringham grabbed his second
goal of the tour.
His strike partner Andy Cole broke down the right flank and fired in a low
cross that sat up sweetly for Teddy to strike first time on the half
volley. His shot flew past South China's goalkeeper Mike Lennon to give
United the advantage.
Sheringham repaid the favour four minutes later to crown a brilliant
counter-attack. Cruyff, wearing the number seven shirt and playing on the
right wing, carried the ball from the centre circle to the edge of the home
box.
Doing well to keep his feet following a clumsy challenge, Jordi laid the
ball off left to Sheringham, who ignored the shooting chance and squared
unselfishly to Cole, who then tapped in simply with his left foot at the
far post. 2-0, after 25 minutes.
United were flowing freely by now and they would have been 3-0 up by the
half-hour mark had South China keeper Lennon not made a brilliant
point-blank save from Cruyff's accurate stab, after a strong run by
right-back Wes Brown.
South China were at sixes and sevens across the park and despite the heat,
their opponents were making light work of exploiting the holes in their
defence and midfield.
Still, it was a mistake by Blomqvist in United's midfield which allowed Chi
Han Chang to rush forward down the left and shoot optimistically from 25
yards. Mark Bosnich kept his concentration to flick the ball over the bar
in the 36th minute.
United's new senior physio Rob Swire, promoted to replace Dave Fevre,
tended to Henning Berg soon after in a worrying moment for the Norwegian
defender. Happily Henning was able to play on following some treatment
behind Bosnich's goal, and it was his partner Stam who actually made way
for David May in the only half-time substitution.
South China started the second half in eager pursuit of a comeback and
there was a moment of concern for United when Agbo broke free with a
powerful run. Bosnich saved well with his feet to protect the proud
defensive record of no goals conceded on tour.
The home side tried hard to raise their game, perhaps after a dressing room
lecture at the interval. So far, South China hadn't really provided the
test United were expecting from a team in mid-season, comprising seven Hong
Kong internationals, two Brazilians and a Nigerian.
Steve McClaren made a double substitution in the 62nd minute, bringing on
England Under 21 players Jonathan Greening and John Curtis to replace
Blomqvist and Irwin. Greening went to the right side, with Cruyff switching
to the left. Later Michael Clegg came on for Henning Berg, with Wes Brown
moving into the middle alongside May.
One of Greening's first contributions was a low measured cross for Cruyff,
who again was thwarted by a Lennon save. Jordi worked harder than most to
add to United's tally and his stamina held up well as the last few minutes
of the tour ticked away.
The final score of 2-0 completed a successful series of friendlies for
Manchester United in Australia and the Far East. Manager Alex Ferguson,
watching back home on MUTV, will have been satisfied with four wins, four
clean sheets and the fitness of his Treble-winning squad ahead of the new
1999/2000 season.
UNITED: Bosnich; Brown, Berg (Clegg 67), Stam (May 45), Irwin (Curtis 62);
Cruyff, P. Neville, Yorke, Blomqvist (Greening 62); Cole, Sheringham.
Goals: Sheringham 21, Cole 25.
Click On pic - for latest match report from Hong Kong"
Subject: United cash incentive ««
Manchester United stars are set to pocket a massive pay cheque if they
repeat last season's treble-winning performance.
Reports suggest that United players may receive as much as £600, 000 in
bonuses for repeating the treble, with a figure of £300, 000 quoted as a
Champions League reward
Click On pic - for latest match report from Hong Kong"
Subject: - Better Late than Never - Part 1 by Pat Jennings
I've finally got around to starting my Barcelona diary although I've
been writing it in my head for the past month or so! I also meant to do
reports from other end of season games and the FA Cup, but just haven't
had the time. The hours I work would make a junior doctor look like a
lazy scouse dole-ite!! ;-))
It's difficult to know how far back to go in the season to start with as
there were so many highlights, but I'll have to mention the
sheepshaggers match first, as I had the 'honour' of being next to Pete
H. He spots things that I wouldn't if I watched the game 10 times! He
rightly pointed out that Dwight was having a stinker after only a couple
of minutes and when at the death he missed that sitter, I was beginning
to think Pete was telepathic!
I'll fast forward a bit now to the finale of the league season and the
home game against Spurs. For once the TO had heard my pleas and put me
in East Lower. I'd even managed to fob Daniel off with a mate of mine,
so I was on my own for a change. I took my place in plenty of time (for
a change) down in the corner near the North Stand. The bloke next to me
was like a drug addict coming off a trip. He sat there wringy his hands,
holding his head etc. etc. before the teams had even appeared on the
pitch!! He didn't change much during the first half and never once gave
the team any worthwhile support. We were all nervous but what positive
effect can he have had on the lads on the pitch?
I couldn't stick a second half next to him so went off to find Linda and
Ian and watched the second half with them. Well you all know the outcome
by now and we had a real party at the end. Myself, Linda and Ian with a
combined weight of 50 stone (only 10 of them mine ;-))) tested their 2
seats to destruction as we jumped up and down singing and shouting.
They're certainly a bit stronger than the ones at the Nou Camp!!!
Coming out of the ground and walking back to the Nest were absolutely
brilliant, it was just a shame that we had to leave to go home, I
could've stayed in Manchester all night (week)!
A few days rest and much messing about trying to get a Cup Final ticket
for my brother ended with us stopping overnight at my sisters in landan.
As we drove down the M1 the road was packed with geordies making their
way down. I was passed by this flash twat in a black Merc who had flags,
scarfs and even two luverly black and white cushions on his parcel
shelf. About 20 minutes later I passed him as he was broke down on the
hard shoulder "har f****n har!" I shouted to him "you should buy
yourself a decent motor!!" much to Jayne's displeasure, "will you ever
grow up etc.??" hehehehehe.....
Fortunately for us, my wife and sister had to leave early Saturday
morning, so we were on our to the tube before 11 o'clock. We stocked up
with cans on the way and met our first load of barcodes at Baker St.
tube station. How they ever get anywhere is beyond me, as no-one can
understand anything they say, they must've asked the conductor about 5
times before he realised what they were asking.
As we got off the tube and walked out the station, you can't help but be
gripped by the occasion and the excitement of a Wembley Final, even if
it was only against a bunch of no hopers (easy to say that now).
As we walked up to the Torch we were greeted by the awful site of it
being completely overrun by barcodes. There were a small band of Reds in
the middle and Boylie was stood on the wall as usual, leading the
singing. We joined them and opened a couple of cans to join in the sing
song. Anyone who said the geordie fans are great, obviously didn't see
the bunch of arseoles that were at the Torch. I couldn't believe they
could be so confident (arrogant) about their 'impending' victory. Did
they know something we didn't?? They had a full size plastic replica of
the FA Cup and were parading it around like it was their own property!
Larging it around right in front of Boylie like they'd already won the
f****n thing!!
Whilst we went through the United song book all they could muster was a
'toon army' that lasted about 3 seconds and a 'at least we're from
noooooocassell' from a group near us. They really had a chance to get
one over on a group of United, but failed miserably. If the numbers were
the other way round, they would've been deafened!!
We were rubbing it in with renditions of 'Championes, Championes,
Championes, are we are we are we!!' and 'If you going to Barcelona, clap
you hands'. The naive geordies then reminded us that they've already
been there, but we had the last laugh with a 'have you ever filled the
Nou Camp, have you f**k'.
The next minute the po-lis moved in and arrested one of the barcodes, I
didn't quite see what he done wrong. As they led him passed us and into
the black van, we sang "you're not going to Wembley! you're not going to
Wembley! hahahahahahahahaaaaaa" Although it was still fairly good
natured, the dibble didn't like the 'Custar's Last Stand' type look of
it and moved in sending us across the road in the direction of gawd
knows where.
As most of us had cans, we parked ourselves on the first bit of grass we
came to and proceeded to entertain the locals with a few songs. The
front of these flats also became the local toilet facility, as a few
Reds relieved themselves. (Sub-note: me and Tim went over the road and
behind some bushes). Any barcodes who came passed got the piss taken out
of them, usually as one of them would be wearing some ridiculous fancy
dress outfit that was usually black and white (suprise, suprise!!).
I was suprised that there wasn't some old bloke in the flats coming out
moaning about 'bloody ooligans', but it was all good natured enough. A
young woman came out to put some washing up and was treated to a
rendition of "we've got a Jaap Stam bigger than your flats"
When it got to leaving time, we collected our empty cans and took them
over to the bin (what model citizens and fine ambassadors of our club
eh???). As we walked back passed the Torch, the place had been infested
with barcodes, barcoditis I think they call it ;-))) We walked down
Wembley way, agreed a meeting place for after and made our way into our
respective parts of the ground. I had a ticket in our section, whilst my
brother Tim was in a neutral bit near the barcode end (75 quid face
value ticket, robbin' bastards!!). I was down near the front, behind the
goal about 6 rows back. Everyone was stood on their seats and as I
couldn't see, I did likewise until some woman behind me started trying
to pull me down and telling her husband to 'ave a word with me. I can't
understand how I get picked on all the time :-( I hadn't even realised
that Keano had gone off until half time! I saw bugger all of the first
goal and decided to jib into the section I knew Linda and Ian were in at
half time. Although Wembley's bogs are shite for pissing in, I love the
singing in there and it's really good at half time with what must be a
thousand people in such an enclosed space.
It was like a list meeting in their block with Linda, Ian, Tony Smith,
Mick Meade, Paul Windridge and now myself in there. We were all soon
celebrating again as we went 2 nil up after a marvellous bit of
defending and we knew that was it and the Cup was ours again. It was
great at the end when the team came round as we all celebrated together
(I think....... the sun (and lager) was beginning to take it's toll)
;-))
I met Tim in our agreed place and we started the slow walk back down
Wembley Way, he'd managed to jib all the way round and got into the
section I was in, only to find that I wasn't there! The atmosphere
seemed pretty subdued considering we'd just won apart from a few of us
trying to get something going (*Remember this bit for part 2*).
We eventually made it back to Hammersmith and tried to look sober as we
went in to meet Jayne and Sarah, but it wasn't long before we blown our
cover. We somehow managed to stay awake until the MOTD highlights which
seemed to come on around 12:50 AM for some daft reason and at last I got
to see the first goal. After that it was off to bed as some of us had a
rather important next few days ahead and needed to get our beauty sleep.
Next stop Barcelona!
Cheers
Pat Jennings
(c) Not to be Used without Permission of the Author
E-mail: patj@telepad.demon.co.uk
Click On pic - for latest match report from Hong Kong"
Subject: - Better Late than Never - Part 2 by Pat Jennings
As we were due to fly out Tuesday morning, I had a hectic day Monday,
having to travel from home to Rawtenstall and back, via Manchester to
pick Sid up from home. Sid was to stop over at 'ours as I knew if I
didn't hold his hand, he'd never have got to the airport on his own. He
proceeded as usual to eat and drink us out of house and home and has
soon as he spots my Stella in the fridge, it's all of a sudden his
favourite drink. We sat up eating, drinking and chatting with my wife,
who was getting more and more envious of our impending trip. I suppose
she had good reason to as I'd used up our entire amount of Air Miles to
book the trip for me and Sid, before we'd even got passed Inter Milan.
Although it was quite late when we went to bed, I couldn't sleep and had
the same sort of night as I did when I was a child, you know, the night
before you go on your much awaited summer holidays (not that we ever
went anywhere decent ;-)) I was convinced that I would die in my sleep
or Jayne would catch the plague or William would take ill, something was
BOUND to happen to stop me from going to Barcelona.
Fortunately nothing untoward happened in the night and after a quick
breakfast we were off to Birmingham Airport to catch our 11 o'clock
flight. Not too much happened on the flight apart from spotting the
tosser David Davies and BFR who was up in first class in the section in
front of us. BFR must have had more snap than the rest of the plane put
together, I was going to ask him if he wanted mine aswell just incase he
was still a bit peckish.
As we arrived at Barca airport, it was evident the Red Army was en masse
as there were Reds everywhere. As I'd been to the group game earlier in
the year (brag brag) I knew the craic at the airport and we got straight
on the bus outside that took us to the Place Catalunya. The plan was to
go straight to the hotel and dump the bags, then go for a drink. This
plan lasted until we saw loads of Reds singing outside the Zurich Cafe,
where we couldn't resist the temptation of a couple of cold beers.
Sid grabbed a table outside and I went into the bar, whilst queuing up
(for ages) the barman asked the lad in front of me if he was drinking
inside or out. When he said outside, the barman said he'd have to get a
waiter to serve him. After giving him a few verbals the lad went off and
the barman asked me. "We're inside" I said (trying to be clever) and the
barman told me to get a waiter aswell "$%^* me!!" I told him and went
off in search of a waiter. Sid couldn't believe it when I came out 15
minutes later still without a drink. We collared a waiter and ordered 2
pints, the plan now was to have 1 drink here and then go to the hotel.
The first pint was gone in an instant and we decided to have 1 more,
just to even the rounds up.
Sid bet me a fiver that he'd meet someone he knew before I met someone I
knew. Being the sort of person I am, I got the mobile out and rang
around to see if anyone I knew was nearby. Alan Dobson was 'just' down
the Ramblers and said he'd come up for a drink.
A group of United fans walked passed and for some unknown reason 2 of
them were wearing ingerland shirts. The lads on the table next to us
(quite rightly) gave it some 'you can stick your f......'
For one moment, I thought it was going to kick off as unpleasantries
were exchanged between them all.
The second pint was gone and as Alan hadn't arrived, we decided to have
another one and another one ;-)))
I called Alan again and he told me they were having something to eat,
frankfurters or something ;-))) and they'd be up in a bit.
When Alan eventually got there we had to have another drink with him,
just to be sociable, but I was getting a bit panicky about checking into
the hotel. I decided to try and ring them to make sure they didn't give
our room up to someone else. I then spent the next 30 minutes or so
going between public phone boxes etc. trying to find the hotels number.
I tried calling international directory enquires back in the UK and to
be honest, although I did eventually get the number, I can't remember
how? When I did speak to them they said not to worry and they wouldn't
let the room to anyone else anyway!
We left Alan and Paula at the Zurich Bar and decided to go to the hotel
as it was getting late. We grabbed a cab, checked in, had a quick shower
and change and set off to walk back to the Ramblers. Our hotel was on
the Avenue Diagonals about half way between the Place Catalunya and the
Nou Camp. We thought we'd walk as it didn't look far (on the map) and we
could grab something to eat on the way.
As every crossroads we walked across looked the same, it was a
competition between me and Sid as to who said "I think we've been here
before" at every junction we got to. There must've been about fifty but
we'd been drinking nearly all day and had our daft heads on. We had a
pizza (and another beer) on the way and got back to the top of the
Rambles about 3 hours after we'd left it (note vague references to time
as I haven't got a clue what time it was).
I got stung 11 quid for 2 beers and although they were like buckets, we
decided to take them with us further down the Ramblers as we could hear
a good sing song going on. There was a large group of United fans
gathered in the middle and as we made our way to a table to put our
beers on, who should we bump into again but Alan and Paula! They both
looked the worse for wear, but if you speak to either of them now, they
say they were alright but it was the other one that was pissed!!!
Mind you, neither of them had anything on the 'worlds drunkest man' who
was there in the middle of the road. He had a glasgow rangers shirt on
and falling about all over the place. He'd stagger about 20 yards one
way, then the other. He clattered into our table only moments after we'd
picked our beers up from it. You couldn't work out whether his mates
were trying to hold him up or if it was them all along that were pulling
him from side to side. Why oh why he didn't just fall down and stop down
I'll never know, but he kept crashing about into everyone like something
out of a Chaplin film.
The sing song was going at full strength and the locals too were being
really nice as they threw bags of flour, water, piss and all sorts, out
of the flats above us and onto the crowd. If they thought they were
getting any sleep, we had other ideas as we sung louder and louder. We
moved over and under an umbrella, but when Sid had to go for some more
beers he got hit sock on the head with a bag of brown stuff. Alan had
another drink with us, but Paula declined and collapsed on the floor.
Sid got stung another £16 for 3 drinks - Ouch! The crowd here was
beginning to thin out and Alan and Paula decided it was past their
bedtime and left, whilst me and Sid carried on down the Rambles to the
harbour area.
I thought we'd go to the Magneranum area as we'd been there during the
group matches (remember everyone, it was where Richard Martin fell
asleep at the bar ;-))) I can't quite remember where we got them from,
but when we got there we had 4 cans of beer and just walked into the
club with them. Despite the fact that I'd promised myself not to ask the
DJ to play the Macarena, I walked straight up to the decks and asked him
for it. He put it on straight away, but we didn't get the reaction to it
that we'd done earlier in the year. I told Sid that I thought the place
would be packed with Reds but apparently not.
When we'd just about finished our drinks, the doorman spotted us
drinking from tins and asked us to leave. We grabbed a cab outside just
before the club closed and the crowds came out. I suppose ti must've
been about 4'ish but I wouldn't bet my life on it.
We decided to go back to the hotel as we were both knackered (pissed!)
and it was a BIG day tomorrow!
Cheers
Pat Jennings
(c) Not to be Used without Permission of the Author
E-mail: patj@telepad.demon.co.uk
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If ever they are playing in your town
You must get to that football ground
Take a lesson come to see
Football taught by Matt Busby
Manchester, Manchester United
A bunch of bouncing Busby Babes
They deserve to be knighted
Barry
J. Leeming Digest Prgram
by 
William
McArthur Canada
