The 100th Chelsea trip.
Det engelska bidraget,ur cfcuk, issue 35, april 2004.
The 100th Chelsea trip, and my 152nd Chelsea match, never got to be what I had planned it to be, when it kept coming nearer and nearer. First of all I always had in mind to make the 100th trip in 2005 to coincide with Chelseas 100th anniversary. Then, when I finally made the trip earlier than anticipated, the team lost at home to Bolton. I always thought a trophy of some kind would have been more appropriate.
First a look backwards how it all started all those years ago.
I did my first trip in March 1978. The team played in Division One, and the visitors from Sweden were not that common back then. That is why I got a complimentary ticket from the Clubs General Manager, Ron Suart. He was impressed that I had come all the way from overseas to see Chelsea play, so naturally I was going to be his guest at Stamford Bridge, when The Blues played v Newcastle. East Stand, Gate 10, J 109 Guest, is printed on the ticket. A ticket was £2.25 for the ones who paid in those days, compared to £34-£49 today.
The programme was 20p, compared to £3 nowadays.
The team that played that day makes me nostalgic. Bonetti; Locke, Harris, Britton, Droy, Wicks, Finnieston, Wilkins Ray (Swain), Langley, Lewington and Walker. Great blokes.
The match ended 2-2, in front of 22 777 at the Bridge. Great atmosphere in a ground that was open, windy and cold. Back then I could never imagine that I would see my 152nd Chelsea match more than 25 years later, in a modern and compact Stamford Bridge. And besides, with a team full of World class player in the beloved blue shirt. A lot seems to happen in 25 years time, after all.
Back to the anniversary then.
Took off from Vasteras (or Stockholm West as Ryanair likes to call it), on schedule at 10:10 on Saturday morning. As you land at Stansted at 11:30 (local time), there is plenty of time to make it to Stamford Bridge, well before kick off. Normally you are enjoying your first pint in the SO Bar just after 13:00. This was not the case on December 13th. 13th, hhmmm!!!
This day, my patience really took some testing. Me and my girlfriend, Fluffo, stood on the platform for ages, waiting for the Stansted Express train, that never seemed to come in. We heard about some delays, but there are always delays, so we were not too worried. Then it just got worse and worse. Today there were severe delays. We realised that we will definitely miss the kick off, and possibly the first half. We stood there; tired, hungry and well pi**ed off. If I could have started world war three there and then, I probably would have. I was fuming. I really do love England as a country, but when you get disturbances in your rail network they are really bad. Sort it out, you w***ers.
At last there was a train departing for Liverpool Street, so we jumped on that one. Off at Tottenham Hale, and down towards Victoria on the tube. Next stop Fulham Broadway. Got off, and handed over my bag to Fluffo. "-See you in the ground". I must have made a new world record as I sprinted down the Fulham Road. Then full speed up to my seat in the West Upper, row 21. Only missed the first seven minutes of the match, so we did pretty well in the end.
I was a bit surprised that so many people, and I mean many, came so late to the match. Poor communications or a last drink in the pub, might be the reason for that, but it really made me wonder.
1-0, Crespo, and after that Chelsea could and should have scored a few more. Instead of that, Bolton equalized just before half time. Dissatisfied with 1-1, they even got a winner in the last minute. And to add more salt in our wounds, it was an own goal as well. Sh*t.
Disappointed with the result we headed off to our usual meeting place post match, at Tamblings, only to find out that it was closed, because of some private party there. We missed kick off, we lost the match, and now we were losing valuable drinking time. After grabbing some food, we went to Bethnal Green, together with Paul Feeney, to see our Chelsea mate and pub owner Barry, in the Angel & Crown Pub, in Roman Road. Nice one Barry! Roman Road, eh? Had a good session there.
Flew back on Sunday evening. Without any complications.
Harri Hemmi, Chelsea Supporters Sweden.
