Turning up early and getting it wrong! (3 Viewers)

[GaryJones]

Was talking to mate last night and starting exchanging tales about away game disasters.
Ive been following the Sky Blues home & away since 1974/5 season and over that period Ive had several brushes with disaster including being chased and stabbed when we played Man City at Maine Road & being hit by a brick at Ayresome Park in the hooligan ravished 70s but the funniest moment was when we were playing Stoke City at the Victoria Ground.
I was about 19 and had just passed my test and thought I would drive me and a mate to the Victoria Ground to watch the match. At that time I was a bit of an autograph hunter so thought I would be well prepared and leave early to arrive before the team coach and try and add a few to my collection.
In the days before sat-nav/mobile phones/google maps etc this was very reliant on the map reading skills of my mate Gaz and as he was 2 years older than me (he didn't drive!) I had faith that he would have this nailed on.
Sure enough we got the the ground at 1pm for the 3pm kick-off and apart from the odd stray dog the place was dead quiet. We parked up close to the players entrance and decided to wait in the car and listen to the radio to pass the time.
We started to realize something was not right when the team bus had still not arrived at 2.15pm and the turnstile doors hadn't opened so we got out of the car and knocked on a few turnstile doors.
No reply and the place was "tumbleweed" - we turned back to the radio to see if the game had been called off.
The presenter gave the team line-ups when the game was 10mins from kick-off and I couldn't figure out what the hell was going on - I scrambled around the car to find a home programme so I could check the fixture list as I had a sinking feeling that we should be at Highfield Road instead - to my relief I wasn't that much of a prat - it was definitely away to Stoke City.
I sent my mate Gaz to the corner shop to see if they could shed some light on what was going on while I walked around desperately trying to find an open turnstile.
Gaz didn't come back so I went to look for him when I spotted him in the passenger seat of my car with his head in his hands " Gaz - Gaz whats wrong - you look like shit?"
(Bear in mind I had not missed a game home or away for 2 seasons)
He says "I don't know how to tell you this"
"What" says I.
"I was following the map to the big green rectangle on the way here" says Gaz
"OK OK" says I looking at my wristwatch that just hit 3pm
"Ive directed us to Vale Park" the home of Port Vale confesses Gaz

We got to the Victoria Ground to watch the 2nd half though.
Needless to say we reverted back to taking the club coach to away games from then on!

Thank God for Sat Navs

 

---

[Otis]

I drove down with some mates to see us play Cambridge United in the League Cup.

Turned up and it was completely deserted, so same thing. Ground looked awful too.

We all looked at each other and scratched our heads and stared and were baffled that it was in darkness and empty around the place. We looked at the sign and it said welcome to Cambridge United Football Club.....

Only it didn't. Took a few seconds to sink in, but we looked again and it said welcome to Cambridge City Football Club.



We too had gone to the wrong ground.

 

[ovduk78]

Are we allowed to be late?
3 of us got to Hillsborough at 13:30 to find out it was a midday kick-off so we got back in the car and went home

 

[Manchester_sky_blue]

You're right, definitely funnier than being stabbed! :facepalm:

I love football but cannot imagine for a second caring about it so much as to be driven to want to stab a rival fan........

I've been late for matches before but usually just because i've massively underestimated the travel time. Chesterfield was the worst example, Derbyshire is a much bigger County that i gave it credit for!

 

[oucho]

Was talking to mate last night and starting exchanging tales about away game disasters.
Ive been following the Sky Blues home & away since 1974/5 season and over that period Ive had several brushes with disaster including being chased and stabbed when we played Man City at Maine Road & being hit by a brick at Ayresome Park in the hooligan ravished 70s but the funniest moment was when we were playing Stoke City at the Victoria Ground.
I was about 19 and had just passed my test and thought I would drive me and a mate to the Victoria Ground to watch the match. At that time I was a bit of an autograph hunter so thought I would be well prepared and leave early to arrive before the team coach and try and add a few to my collection.
In the days before sat-nav/mobile phones/google maps etc this was very reliant on the map reading skills of my mate Gaz and as he was 2 years older than me (he didn't drive!) I had faith that he would have this nailed on.
Sure enough we got the the ground at 1pm for the 3pm kick-off and apart from the odd stray dog the place was dead quiet. We parked up close to the players entrance and decided to wait in the car and listen to the radio to pass the time.
We started to realize something was not right when the team bus had still not arrived at 2.15pm and the turnstile doors hadn't opened so we got out of the car and knocked on a few turnstile doors.
No reply and the place was "tumbleweed" - we turned back to the radio to see if the game had been called off.
The presenter gave the team line-ups when the game was 10mins from kick-off and I couldn't figure out what the hell was going on - I scrambled around the car to find a home programme so I could check the fixture list as I had a sinking feeling that we should be at Highfield Road instead - to my relief I wasn't that much of a prat - it was definitely away to Stoke City.
I sent my mate Gaz to the corner shop to see if they could shed some light on what was going on while I walked around desperately trying to find an open turnstile.
Gaz didn't come back so I went to look for him when I spotted him in the passenger seat of my car with his head in his hands " Gaz - Gaz whats wrong - you look like shit?"
(Bear in mind I had not missed a game home or away for 2 seasons)
He says "I don't know how to tell you this"
"What" says I.
"I was following the map to the big green rectangle on the way here" says Gaz
"OK OK" says I looking at my wristwatch that just hit 3pm
"Ive directed us to Vale Park" the home of Port Vale confesses Gaz

We got to the Victoria Ground to watch the 2nd half though.
Needless to say we reverted back to taking the club coach to away games from then on!

Thank God for Sat Navs

Classic shitty Potteries traffic, an hour to get less than 3 miles!

 

[fernandopartridge]

You're right, definitely funnier than being stabbed! :facepalm:

I love football but cannot imagine for a second caring about it so much as to be driven to want to stab a rival fan........

I've been late for matches before but usually just because i've massively underestimated the travel time. Chesterfield was the worst example, Derbyshire is a much bigger County that i gave it credit for!

It's an hour from Glossop, lovely drive though!

 

[eastwoodsdustman]

Went to Newcastle on the SBA coach years ago. Got there at about half ten. Spent the whole day in the pub and got hammered. Then walked out only find that they'd called the game off at 5pm due to a waterlogged pitch.

 

[ovduk78]

Went to Newcastle on the SBA coach years ago. Got there at about half ten. Spent the whole day in the pub and got hammered. Then walked out only find that they'd called the game off at 5pm due to a waterlogged pitch.

We were on the A1 just before Scotch Corner when we heard it had been called off so we just turned around and headed home. There was a story that there were some of our fans at the stadium when it was called off and the Newcastle chairman, John Hall?, took them into hospitality and bought them some drinks, were you 1 of them?

 

[Sky Blue Harry H]

Drove some Sheff Utd fans to an away game at Reading (Elm Park). Brian Deane era. Stopped at a pub (I was more interested in a pre-match pint than the game). Misjudged the time and ended up at the ground just into the second half. Couldn't work out how to get in at usual turnstiles, so meandered along and found an unguarded door which led us all the way to where the players came out onto the pitch - we walked onto the edge of the pitch in the middle of the game and walked round to stand with the Blades fans for the rest of the match. Didn't pay to get in and no-one challenged our strange entrance. Bizarre experience!

 

[LastGarrison]

On the train down to Watford when the news came through that it was postponed due to their loan player from United (Jimmy?) had died in a car crash so the game was (rightly) postponed. Watford OB then started to shut down the town center so there was no where to drink so ended up in some snooker hall just to get a drink.

My brother had drove down to meet us not knowing it was off so we all ended up going to Bicester where a lad we know owned a boozer.

 

[Nonleagueherewecome]

About 15 years ago, I was staying with my brother in Kobe for his wedding to a Japanese girl. I was the only one in the family who made the effort (aside from him)! Whilst I was out there, we thought we'd catch a bit of live J-League action. Neither of us spoke or read much Japanese, so it was entrusted to his fiancee to do the research. She read that there was an evening game that midweek-incredibly cheap, too! The Vissel Kobe ground is really nice and a recent-build World Cup venue, so it seemed even more of a bargain. We were both really excited to take in some live footy on the other side of the world, first time we'd have seen a game abroad. We looked up their players and had even heard of one of them-Emerson Thome, the ex Sheff Wed and Chelsea CB, who was seeing out his career there.

We got to the ground shortly before kick off to find it eerily quiet outside, the streets pretty deserted-yet there was a sound of concerted singing coming from inside. "Ah just typical Japanese efficiency that, they're well behaved, they'll all be in their seats well before K.O. and singing their hearts out!". We eventually found a turnstile that was manned thanks to my soon-to-be sister-in-law translating some rudimentary hand-written signs directing us to one end of the ground. We got given some confusing sheets of paper that we assumed must be teamsheets, until we worked out that they were actually song sheets, with a song and lyrics for each player! And in we went, climbed the stairs and emerged into the floodlit stadium. One corner was indeed totally jam-packed with home fans. They were singing their hearts out, as we had heard from outside, and playing drums etc. But there were no away fans. And no football.

And then we spotted the big screen near the corner where all the fans were: what we had actually turned up to was a live showing of their away game that evening being beamed into the home stadium.That was why it was so cheap! Fair play to the Japanese fans though, they danced and sang like it was a live game. It was a bit cold though and without knowing the players, we couldn't really tell much from the screen so after about 20 mins soaking up the atmosphere, we retreated to a wonderfully dark and warm bar to play pool and drink for the rest of the evening!

 

[shmmeee]

I’ve had the opposite. When I was a kid I nagged my dad to take me and a mate to London for a games show, only to arrive and find out it was on the week after, luckily City were away to Arsenal that day so we went and watched them instead.

 

[ovduk78]

Just remembered that 3 of us went down to watch Newcastle play Wimbledon in the League Cup at Plough Lane in the late 1980's. We struggled through London and finally got to the ground with about 30 minutes gone and they had shut the away turnstiles. There must have been about 100 Newcastle fans locked out and some of them decided to break through the wooden fencing and we all climbed in. It was the family stand and suddenly there was 100 away fans mingling with all the parents and kids but nobody seemed to be that bothered. We asked the stewards and they let us all walk down the side of the pitch and join the rest of the away fans in the end. The facilities in the away end were still non league standard with the gents toilet just a wall to piss against and it trickled down the terrace at the feet of those queuing for food at the food stall next to the toilet!

 

[Johnnythespider]

I once got up early and took a wrong turn, does that count.

 

[eastwoodsdustman]

We were on the A1 just before Scotch Corner when we heard it had been called off so we just turned around and headed home. There was a story that there were some of our fans at the stadium when it was called off and the Newcastle chairman, John Hall?, took them into hospitality and bought them some drinks, were you 1 of them?

That was me but I’d posted about it before so didn’t bother mentioning it. He was a gent god bless him.

 

[Terry Gibson's perm]

I drove to a game at hr and thought it seemed quiet and got nearer and nearer to the ground until I was on thackall street and then I realised the Charlton game was the following week

 

[The Reverend Skyblue]

Was talking to mate last night and starting exchanging tales about away game disasters.
Ive been following the Sky Blues home & away since 1974/5 season and over that period Ive had several brushes with disaster including being chased and stabbed when we played Man City at Maine Road & being hit by a brick at Ayresome Park in the hooligan ravished 70s but the funniest moment was when we were playing Stoke City at the Victoria Ground.
I was about 19 and had just passed my test and thought I would drive me and a mate to the Victoria Ground to watch the match. At that time I was a bit of an autograph hunter so thought I would be well prepared and leave early to arrive before the team coach and try and add a few to my collection.
In the days before sat-nav/mobile phones/google maps etc this was very reliant on the map reading skills of my mate Gaz and as he was 2 years older than me (he didn't drive!) I had faith that he would have this nailed on.
Sure enough we got the the ground at 1pm for the 3pm kick-off and apart from the odd stray dog the place was dead quiet. We parked up close to the players entrance and decided to wait in the car and listen to the radio to pass the time.
We started to realize something was not right when the team bus had still not arrived at 2.15pm and the turnstile doors hadn't opened so we got out of the car and knocked on a few turnstile doors.
No reply and the place was "tumbleweed" - we turned back to the radio to see if the game had been called off.
The presenter gave the team line-ups when the game was 10mins from kick-off and I couldn't figure out what the hell was going on - I scrambled around the car to find a home programme so I could check the fixture list as I had a sinking feeling that we should be at Highfield Road instead - to my relief I wasn't that much of a prat - it was definitely away to Stoke City.
I sent my mate Gaz to the corner shop to see if they could shed some light on what was going on while I walked around desperately trying to find an open turnstile.
Gaz didn't come back so I went to look for him when I spotted him in the passenger seat of my car with his head in his hands " Gaz - Gaz whats wrong - you look like shit?"
(Bear in mind I had not missed a game home or away for 2 seasons)
He says "I don't know how to tell you this"
"What" says I.
"I was following the map to the big green rectangle on the way here" says Gaz
"OK OK" says I looking at my wristwatch that just hit 3pm
"Ive directed us to Vale Park" the home of Port Vale confesses Gaz

We got to the Victoria Ground to watch the 2nd half though.
Needless to say we reverted back to taking the club coach to away games from then on!

Thank God for Sat Navs

Gary, just one point didn't you notice that the ground colours were black and white and not red and white of Stoke.

 

[JAM See]

I once got up early and took a wrong turn, does that count.

I did that in a hotel once, whilst desperate for a piss...

 

[Earlsdon_Skyblue1]

The first time I ever want to watch RCD Mallorca was about 10 years ago. I didn't have a smart phone (did they exist?) so text messaged my mate back in the UK to find out the kick off time.

We had only found out there was a game that day so were really excited to catch a La Liga match on a whim. We finished lunch and then drove down to Palma.

When we arrived at the stadium there was on site parking for free and we got in easily. We went to the ticket office and found it wasn't open. It was really odd, but we didn't know what to expect so didn't get too worried. We found a policeman who told us the game didn't start until 5. It was only 2...

Turns out my mate had got the kickoff time wrong due to it giving to him in UK time zone. Also my dad wanting to get everywhere stupidly early meant we sat outside the ground for 2 hours before we could go in, 35c too...

Anyway, they beat Espanyol 3-0 (they had Steve Finnan, didn't play though) and it was very enjoyable. We now go every year and watch a game.

They got promoted this year alongside CCFC and CRFC. Best year ever!!!

 

[pipkin73]

Was talking to mate last night and starting exchanging tales about away game disasters.
Ive been following the Sky Blues home & away since 1974/5 season and over that period Ive had several brushes with disaster including being chased and stabbed when we played Man City at Maine Road & being hit by a brick at Ayresome Park in the hooligan ravished 70s but the funniest moment was when we were playing Stoke City at the Victoria Ground.
I was about 19 and had just passed my test and thought I would drive me and a mate to the Victoria Ground to watch the match. At that time I was a bit of an autograph hunter so thought I would be well prepared and leave early to arrive before the team coach and try and add a few to my collection.
In the days before sat-nav/mobile phones/google maps etc this was very reliant on the map reading skills of my mate Gaz and as he was 2 years older than me (he didn't drive!) I had faith that he would have this nailed on.
Sure enough we got the the ground at 1pm for the 3pm kick-off and apart from the odd stray dog the place was dead quiet. We parked up close to the players entrance and decided to wait in the car and listen to the radio to pass the time.
We started to realize something was not right when the team bus had still not arrived at 2.15pm and the turnstile doors hadn't opened so we got out of the car and knocked on a few turnstile doors.
No reply and the place was "tumbleweed" - we turned back to the radio to see if the game had been called off.
The presenter gave the team line-ups when the game was 10mins from kick-off and I couldn't figure out what the hell was going on - I scrambled around the car to find a home programme so I could check the fixture list as I had a sinking feeling that we should be at Highfield Road instead - to my relief I wasn't that much of a prat - it was definitely away to Stoke City.
I sent my mate Gaz to the corner shop to see if they could shed some light on what was going on while I walked around desperately trying to find an open turnstile.
Gaz didn't come back so I went to look for him when I spotted him in the passenger seat of my car with his head in his hands " Gaz - Gaz whats wrong - you look like shit?"
(Bear in mind I had not missed a game home or away for 2 seasons)
He says "I don't know how to tell you this"
"What" says I.
"I was following the map to the big green rectangle on the way here" says Gaz
"OK OK" says I looking at my wristwatch that just hit 3pm
"Ive directed us to Vale Park" the home of Port Vale confesses Gaz

We got to the Victoria Ground to watch the 2nd half though.
Needless to say we reverted back to taking the club coach to away games from then on!

Thank God for Sat Navs

That gave me a good laugh apart from the stabbing bit mate.glad you were ok

 

[Ricketts]

I was on holiday in Barmouth and my girlfriend at the time (now my long suffering wife) decided to go and watch City play Sheffield Wednesday.

We set off, but the map I had didnt have the motoray on it (this was late 80s/early 90s, sat Navs weren't invented).

I stopped at some obscure welsh Petrol station and brought the latset map. Still no motorway. Bugger. We got there at half time, so after explaining our story to the stewards they let us sit in the home end, and we had about 6 stewards sit around us!

(One of the things living in Coventry that I didnt appreciate is we have motorways heading in all direction!)

 

[Ranjit Bhurpa]

Back in the 90's I lived a half hour drive from Ewood Park. A Rovers mate of mine invited me to a Cov game there along with his wife and 2 kids, they would pick me up with his wife driving and I could use his season ticket as he had a free pass with his job as a Sports Ground Safety Officer covering Lancashire.
My mate was a borderline alcoholic so it was no surprise that we stopped off at a pub for 'lunch' about a mile from the ground and some 3 hours before kick off. On entering the pub, the landlord greeted my mate and his family like long lost friends, pints of ale appeared like magic and we started playing one of many games of dominoes with the landlord. Pint glasses were automatically refilled when they were half empty and no money was exchanged at all. When I mentioned feeling hungry, lunch turned out to be a bag of crisps.
This went on for a couple of hours until we set off for the ground. I duly sat with my mates wife and kids for the first half. Hadn't got a clue where my mate was but following an urgent half time pee break, he was standing in the concourse holding 4 pints for him and me.
The rest of the game was a blur, we were well beaten 4 or 5-1 and Nuddy I think missed a penalty.
On the way back, we stopped again at the same pub 'til the traffics died down'. 2 hours and several more pints later, we finally headed for home.
I managed to stagger down the drive and open the front door, realising I needed an urgent pee. Imagine my surprise when my youngest son burst in during mid flow and started shouting at me. My mistake was not in turning right for the bathroom but left into the kitchen and I was happily pissing all over the dining table and chairs wondering what all the fuss was about.
Let's say the missus wasn't too happy and I don't think I've been to another game with that particular mate.

 

[Liquid Gold]

I worked this god awful job in the evenings when I was at college but tolerated it because I didn't have to work every Saturday meaning I could go to Highfield Road. One of the assistant mangers, who was a bastard to everybody, had a real problem with me not being there for the busy Saturday and was always on my case for minor things even though the main boss was always happy with me. Anyway, the boss was on holiday for a couple of weeks and the assistant was left in charge. He was on at me all week that they were short for that Saturday and they needed more cover. Even though city were at home I thought screw it, I'll miss one game, maybe get him off my back for a bit and I could do with the extra cash anyway. The Saturday in question comes round and I turn up for work but somehow this guy was worse than ever, constantly on at everybody being a dick and throwing his weight around. I was trying to get by but could see it getting closer to 3pm knowing I was missing out on city for this. About 2:45 he decided it was my turn for a bollocking, comes over with a raised voice and aggressive demeanour and after one sentence I said to him "Fuck this, I'm going football". Strolled out of there feeling great and with my uniform on headed up to HR thinking I'll miss the start but will catch most of the game. 12:30 kick off.

 

[GaryJones]

Gary, just one point didn't you notice that the ground colours were black and white and not red and white of Stoke.

Yes that is a good point however I only had a Black & White telly back in the day so they all looked the bloody same! Lol :happy: