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Away The Lads, and Lasses!

kevin raymond

Wednesday, December 18th, 2013

1 Leave a comment on verse 1 0 On a cold winter night
We had ventured to see
Our idols and show our support
At The Stadium of Light
In the freezing North East
Where the under fire Mackems hold court.

2 Leave a comment on verse 2 0 It had been a good while
Since I went on the road
T’was like greeting an old friend you’ve not seen
Though the games played on mobiles
I-pods, and blackberry phones
En-route, were a whole different ball-game to me.

3 Leave a comment on verse 3 0 The five hours in trainsit
We spent during our quest
Engrossed in the banter and jokes
Made me think back to the fans
Whom I’d joined and made jests with
On some decrepit old train or flawed coach.

4 Leave a comment on verse 4 0 But hey, things for the punter
Are fast rapidly changing
Thomas Cook are in charge of our fate
As we sat comfortably back in near slumber
These reps were busy arranging
Every step to the magnificent Away The Lads gate*.

5 Leave a comment on verse 5 0 The people on Wear-side
Had right pushed the boat out (sic)
In making the experience a wonderful memory
And although we lost, an exciting new era
Was impressed on a once cynical bloke
Of a day spent Away With The Lads an The Lasses!

© Kev 2013

Notes

Midday.Tuesday 17th December.
Travel itinerary to Sunderland’s Stadium Of Light.
Depart London Kings Cross 1-45
There’s a signal failure, so beforehand we’re texted and e-mailed by Thomas Cooke to go to Finsbury Park, where they’ll hold up the train for late-comers due to the enforced sudden change in travel plans to the North-East.

After a slight delay a neigh pristine train arrives and we’re allocated pre-booked carriages (with a well stocked buffet and working toilets) by travel reps who carefully check we’re who we say we are on our documents.

Depart and arrive in Sunderland in plenty of time for the match, walk to the ground with a low key police escort who politely show us the way to The Stadium of Light.

Grab something to eat, go to the wonderful Stadium of Light. Where we enjoy great craic, the terrific facilities and sadly get beat with two minutes to go in extra time.

Slouch sadly and slowly back to the station, amongst hordes of pretty jubilant Mackems, unescorted and unhindered, to our train (that has been cleaned again) which departs for London just before midnight.

Arrive back London at 4-30 this very morning.

Total cost of the match ticket and return train journey to the North East £20:00.Yes that’s right as we say here in London, all that for a mere score, and what a blinding day out it was (except for the result of course)

So to the money grabbers at our sweet FA, reduced ticket prices can indeed be done and will work. As can be confirmed by checking out the figures for the above match, and the ticket prices in Germany and Spain, etc, etc.

Carefree…. braised in Celery.

Go well, be lucky and keep smiling.

Peace.

Kev.

*Beautifully sculptured wrought gates to The Stadium of Light.

Source: http://footballpoets.org/poems/away-the-lads-and-lasses/