UK Trip – Stoked, not so much
Some say Lionel Messi couldn’t get it done on a wet, cold Wednesday night in Stoke; I say who could blame him.
My midweek adventure took me to Stoke and what an authentic experience it offered. The weather was as expected but the wind was colder than a look your mother in law gives you after you’ve been caught out with wandering eyes. The rain was a continual steady stream, the type your body forgets is still falling because its shutdown due in the process due to the lack of warmth.
A quick jaunt around town to survey tbe sites and the only realisation I could come to is that Stoke was the charity shop capital of the world.
Anyway I digress, back to the football.
Today I experienced something unique to a certain type of football fans, being situated in the Newcastle away bay. Through the magic of social media and the generosity of a few football fans I found myself sharing the terraces with some of the most passionate fans there are.
Coach after coach full of fans entered the car park as these fans made the 400 mile round trip on your typical Stoke Wednesday. One cannot question the love for the shirt these fans carry, you can however question the mindest of those who believed shirts were optional and braved hyperthermia.
As I entered Brittania Stadium you could hear the raucous Newcastle fans who were here to create a party like atmosphere to inspire their beloved squad of underperforming players. Languashing in the drop zone for a club as big as Newcastle isn’t uncommon and shows just how tough the premier league is.
Three points were vital for Steve McLaren and his men but Stoke would be an incredibly tough opponent. The game had all the hallmarks of a midweek classic but failed to really deliver anything.
The near freezing conditions played their part and at times both sets of highly paid players resembled those of park footballers having a kickabout. The game was best summarised by the introduction of Peter Crouch; nobody knew why he was introduced not even the man himself.
Stoke grabbed the three points thanks to a solitary goal but the game won’t feature on any season review.
As for my experience in the Newcastle section it will go down as a very memorable one, albeit their team gave the large contingent very little to cheer about for the duration of the match.
I thank Tom and Hewey for the opportunity, it’s one I’ll take back to Australia with fond memories.
As for the town of Stoke, that’s a different story. If you are feeling down about your current living situation maybe think about spending a day in Stoke, you’ll soon realise your town isn’t that bad.
Time for a cup of tea and to defrost, who knows where my next adventure could take me.
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