Some Days Are Just Perfect

Saturday 17th February 2024

There is an enormous amount that could go wrong when you decide to use this country’s public transport network to do Burnley away from the Isle of Wight in a day. And technically although I’m staying in Mrs T’s B & B in Portsmouth, I’m doing that out of choice rather than getting home at 4 in the morning. Today was one of those days where everything went right. Success on every level. And that of course includes our superb performance on the pitch.

I’ll try and break down my day. Do bear with me.

Not only did my alarm need to go off at 4.45am this morning. But I needed to drive to the car ferry. I wasn’t taking the car. But the 6am departure was essential to meet our first train of the day. When I say car, I mean my battered up old Fiesta. I won’t bore you with the details as to why but this is a car in the latter stage of its life. It coughs, it splutters, it squeaks and it has plants and moss growing on its exterior. But it started and we were on our way. Game on.

The ferry was dead on time and part two was done. And apart from when we walked from the port to the station we were approached by a young lady, in her slippers, who accused us of ‘nicking her vodka’, our train from the south coast to London was pretty uneventful and, most importantly of all, also on time. Happy days. But ww were only in our capital city. Burnley was still a very long way away.

The short tube journey to Euston negotiated and Avanti offering various excuses for the numerous trains they were cancelling at short notice, ours was showing on time. So with refreshments purchased, Manchester at least was looking promising. One more bit to go.

A quick taxi from Manchester Piccadilly to Victoria and we even had time for a quick pint. And boarding our final and on time train on the picturesque journey through the likes of Rochdale, Todmorden and Smithy Bridge to Burnley meant that, certainly to the game, everything had gone perfectly. 2.15pm we got to Turf Moor. That’s how little room we had for delay or error. Job done.

Before we could concentrate on the game however, we were still uncertain as to how or if we would be able to get back to London after the game. In fact as we approached Piccadilly, the Avanti onboard customer person announced, “We understand there are lots of Arsenal fans going to Burnley and Chelsea fans going to Man City. Unfortunately none of you are getting home tonight!”

Having questioned this as there was still one train we had a chance of catching that was still accepting bookings, a second announcement was made this time saying, “I’ve just spoken to control and, at the moment, the 6.55pm to London is still running. But I must emphasise ‘at the moment’”. I wouldn’t say it totally filled us with confidence but we all agreed we would worry about that after the game.

The Turf Moor scene

Our recent form can do nothing other than have you heading into the game full of optimism. But we were also at Fulham. So we know what can happen in any game.

This time of course, our rich vein of devastating form continued. We were sharp, aggressive, controlled and exceptionally dangerous. And our 5 goal victory did not flatter us in the slightest. There were plenty of good performances and plenty of cracking goals too but for me Kai’s touch and finish to complete the rout put the cherry on the top of the cake and made him my overall man of the match.

Tremendous stuff and the away end was proper fun once again.

The walk back to the station wasn’t fun though. Driving rain had us all a little bit moist once we got on yet another on time train. But my programme being battered was definitely not going to spoil the day.

Looking good when we arrived back at Victoria, it was the change over to Piccadilly that could have gone horribly wrong. With the benefit of hindsight we should have just jumped on the metro but given the taxi was so simple earlier on in the day we took that option. But the city centre traffic was horrific. Looking like we were in trouble and the possibility of and unwanted night in the North looking increasingly likely, we decided to abandon the cab and make a run for it. Believe me, this was not the likes of Steve Ovett and Seb Coe at the peak of their careers. But half a dozen blokes in their 50s looking like a cross between Forest Gump and that opening scene in Trainspotting!!

But we made it. With a few minutes to spare and although 1 or 2 are nursing some long term niggles, i’m proud of our performance. The last train back to London and we were on it. Get in. The buffet car took a bit of a pasting as we celebrated our brilliant win and the banter was as varied and amusing as always. And it was laced with satisfaction that our travel plans, against the odds if I’m honest, had worked out just fine too.

I’m on my last train now and all being well I should be tucked up in bed by 1am. A long long day. But when you get to watch us play like we did today, it’s worth every bit of the effort we have put in.

A bit of relaxation is on the cards tomorrow before we head off to Portugal late on Monday night.

The weather forecast looks highly promising, I’m travelling with a cracking group of great friends and I love a drop of port.

Sounds alright to me.

Up the mighty Gunners, on we go.

Frank
@stubbsy70