Brent Residents Viewing (Saturday 17th March 2007)
I was living in Willesden Green and heard of the first Test Event at the new stadium. Residents in the London Borough of Brent were allowed to apply for four free tickets by email, so needless to say I sent in.
My joy was unconfined when I got the tickets from Brent Town Hall within sight of the wonderful new place. I had watched ever since the heartbreaking day I went to the snooker at the Conference Centre and saw the old place just about demolished. I had worked for over a year in stewarding, either at the Arena or being picked up there to go to other venues, so I saw it progressing.
It had also affected work on the tube, as every weekend northbound Jubilee line trains terminated at Willesden Green so that a new brige and lifts could be put in at Wembley Park station to deal with the crowds with proper facilities.
Gradually the arch was lifted into place and the stands built around it. I had been on a few occasions around the boarded up temporary roads to see how things were developing. It really was quite exciting, despite the moans about the delays who hadn't been there in person, so they couldn't really understand the work being undertaken.
Now here I was, respelendent in my Scarborough FC 1973 replica Wembley shirt meeting up with my Irish pals Emmet and Colm and their Dad who was over for the weekend. We arrived early so we were near the front of the queue to get in. Our turnstiles were around the far side an the excitement built as fans looked at the stewards and their watches.
Eventually we were in. Immediately we headed upstairs to the third tier for the best view. We weren't let down.
The pitch had been moved a few metres so that the far touchline was around the place where the old Twin Towers once stood. This was to allow space by the railway for the extended stadium and the better road access. The spectator accommodation was in the form of a bowl with three tiers. The first was continuous with access in the East corners to allow vehicles and emergency vehicles. The middle deck was titled Club Wembley, where fans had paid for debentures over ten years as well as the corporate hospitality boxes. The upper tier dipped slightly in the corners with the roof protecting fans, as well as temporary shields covering parts behind the goals. They were retractable so that sunshine could help pitch growth when there was no game on.
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| The Carton gents enjoy Wembley |
We posed for our photographs and moved around. There was entertainment on throughout, including a pro celebrity football match. We were free to move around at will, as the stadium authorities needed to know that everything worked so that they would be granted a license. Many of the people in attendance would no doubt be paying their only ever visit. The vast majority were Asian families making use of a free day out. Everyone got a drinks voucher, but the machines broke down after an hour or so, which received many ironic comments.
We watched a little bit of the match and then went on our way. We'd seen what we'd wanted and were some of the very first customers in the new stadium. I headed off to work pretty happy with the day thus far.
England 1 Germany 2 (Wednesday 22nd August 2007) Friendly International
It was time to go and see a proper event and when Crusher said he could get tickets I agreed to go. He came down with Phil Armitt and I met them at Willesden Green to go to a cheap pub for our pre match beers. Our seats were near the front of the top tier in the North East corner.
Germany brought a lot of fans and made a lot of noise. England went ahead to raise false hopes before a goalkeeping howler brought us back down to earth. The facilities inside the stadium were light years away from the old place, but so were the prices of everything, especially the food.
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| Crusher and Phil |
The atmosphere from the home fans was OK but it was so different. Lads who followed England when we went regularly had been replaced by Mexican waving families with no attention span, who needed the England Band to prompt them. I think the band summed up everything I hated about the modern game. I would have banned them for life at the same time Glenn Hoddle lost his job.
We left at full time and really noticed the difference in getting away. We were still held in groups on Empire Way for a while until the station platform was ready for more fans, but it was so much quicker and less claustrophobic.
St Helens 30 Catalan Dragons 8 (Saturday 25th August 2007) Rugby League Challenge Cup Final
I had the day off from my ticket office training and a colleague of mine Andy Hogan told me that he didn't want to use his Club Wembley ticket, and with me being a northerner he wondered if I wanted to go to the rugby league final?
I nearly bit his hand off and found myself meeting my pal Karl from Scarborough who'd come down on a trip with Heworth RLFC from York. We had beers outside The Greyhound and arranged to meet after the match. I went in early so I could enjoy the delights of my posh seat.
The facilities were second to none. Pictures brightened up the concourses, which were more like an airport departure lounge than a sports stadium. Again the prices were extortionate, but they knew they had you once inside.
My seat was above where the majority of French fans were sat, which was good as I wasn't a huge fan of St Helens. Every neutral in the stadium was supporting the Dragons. They had a brief spell where there was a remote chance of an upset, but the class of the Lancastrians shone through.
At the end I managed to get through the crowds of heavily inhebriated fans to meet Karl. If football fans were in that condition there would have been hell to pay, but the rugby fans were left alone and even allowed to drink in their seats during the match. We went up the hill to the infamous Green Man before I bid farewell and headed back towards the city.
Stadium Tour (Wednesday 18th December 2007)
My Mum and Dad were visiting London for a few days pre Christmas as they so much loved doing. My Dad was struggling a little bit as he was awaiting a hip replacement operation, but that wasn't going to stop him.
I had booked tickets for his seventieth birthday so I really wanted him to have a good day. Our tour guide was a bit younger than my Dad and a Chelsea season ticket holder who had been to the FA Cup match at Scarborough a few seasons earlier. We were the only two with him, so he took us places that were normally a bit awkward with a large group.
It was brilliant. The pitch was up at the time as they were preparing for a motor racing event, but it didn't spoil anything. We went into the changing rooms, boxes, press box, the Corinthian Club (the group that disappear before half time and don't return for some time afterwards) before climbing the steps up to the Royal Box where we had our photos taken with the FA Cup.
It was a very special day that I will always remember. We went to meet Mum back at Bond Street. She had been on her own in central London for the first time ever, and was really on top form. As I say. A very special day.
Hull City 1 Bristol City 0 (Saturday 24th May 2008) Championship Play Off Final (att: 86,703)
Talking of very special days. The club who I'd followed alongside my beloved Scarborough reached Wembley for the first ever time and I managed to get a ticket.
It was a very emotional time amongst my City supporting mates. One of the stalwarts of our trips Nick Groombridge was cruely taken away from us that January. At a hugely attended and very emotional funeral we all said that City would reach the Premier League just for Nick.
The big day arrived and my brother Nick asked if Nick's brother Jon and Fraser could stay at my flat. As it transpired I was in Brighton for a stag do, so I left them the keys before meeting up with them at a Rayners Lane pub on Saturday lunchtime.
We tried not to be nervous and smile as much as possible, but it was going to be a tough day. I had a few more with James Hunter at Wembley before going upstairs to my seat. I was right next to the segregation area, with snarling Ciderheads hissing insults across.
Fraiser Campbell went to the byline midway through the first half and dragged the ball back, to where veteran local hero Dean Windass charged in and volleyed the ball into the back of the net. It was a really magical moment. Half the stadium, including myself went absolutely berserk.
At half time I met up with Fred Firman and a load of Hull lads who had a spare seat with them. The second half wasn't as anxious as it could have been and City were pretty comfortable for the win.
I headed off at full time to my flat. I told the others to head to a pub in Willesden Green where I'd take them their luggage. I was just so pleased to see the look on their faces. It was a very emotional moment. Sadly, I had to get back to bed as I was on night shift. I'm sure the lads enjoyed their ride home. At least I found a decent home for the bottle of champagne I'd had in my fridge for ages!
England 2 Czech Republic 2 (Wednesday 20th August 2008) International Friendly
Guy Watson and Crusher came down to this game. I was not in the best of form after the incompetents at Wembley didn't send me the tickets, meaning a trek to the stadium in the morning. However, we had a great afternoon around the pubs of the Euston area and had tea at the Finchley Road Walkabout. There was lots of laughs and chat about football. Then we went to Wembley...
It was one of those evenings when I tried to wonder why I bothered. I had a row with two idiots behind us who booed the Czech anthem, Mexican waves and the band never ceased and England were absolutely awful.
I swore I'd give England games a miss afterwards, until Guy next texted me of course!
Oasis, Kasabian, Reverend & the Makers Concert (Saturday 11th July 2009)
My good mate Jeff Cards sorted me out with a ticket for this wonderful lads day out, to go with his felloe QPR fans, his brother John and Rob. We took lubrication in the manic Walkabout as the staff were caught out by the Ashes and a South African rugby match on the TV.
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| My companions enjoying the day |
The gig itself was simply outstanding, and could have been even better if The Enemy hadn't pulled out at the last minute. All three bands were superb as we took it all in on the pitch, with Kasabian the stand out. It turned out to be one of Oasis' last ever appearances.
I'm glad I had nothing planned the following day!
England 3 Belarus 0 (Wednesday 14th October 2009) World Cup Qualifier
I found my fan number despite threatening to delete it and ordered the tickets when Guy texted and I found that I was off work. Again we had a quality day out and thankfully the performance was an improvement. The band and waves were still there though. The seats like the Czech game gave a great view at the front of the top deck behind the north goal.
England 4 Bulgaria 0 (Friday 3rd September 2009) Euro Championship Qualifier
Guy and Sharpy had got in touch trying to get me to go to this match,plus they wondered if I could put them up for the night? Sure enough I ordered the tickets and met Paul early and dropped his bag off at my place before we headed into town for beers. Guy eventually arrived at the magnificent Market Porter as we had a pub crawl on the way to Liverpool Street.
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| Guy and Sharpy enjoying the pre match beers |
We headed to Wembley early as Paul had his own ticket and I'd sold the others as I was to purchase two for Club Wembley for the same price as a mate had won them at the Scarborough Athletic Golf Day, but couldn't attend. I called that a bargain! After much running about when I bumped into a Boro fan based in Kent who sponsored Ryan Blott's kit.
England were OK against a poor Bulgarian team. Our seats were good and we were in the only area that served alcohol! We headed to The Torch at full time to watch the highlights before we all headed for a cozy night at my comfy abode.
We got a taxi because there were no trains the next morning as the lads headed to Yorkshire and I went to watch Scarborough at Seaham Red Star. I think it was a smooth journey but as I didn't wake up until Durham, my judgement wasn't the best.
Muse, Biffy Clyro Concert (Saturday 11th September 2010)
A major cock up on the ticket front meant I didn't go with the same lads as the previous concert. They were there the previous evening while I was at a cricket awards evening. A fellow Boro fan had posted on Surfing Seadog that he had two tickets for sale.
We worked a deal out that benefitted everyone and went with Colm. I had been to a magnificent game at Loftus Road, watching QPR smash a poor Middlesbrough team before I met Colm in the sports bar near Wembley Park station.
We saw the back end of Biffy Klyro as we chose to sit for the evening. Muse came out and put on the best live show I'd ever seen. The music was excellent, but the actual effects were staggering. It was one of those nights that would live with me for many years to come.
Huddersfield Town 0 Sheffield United 0 Huddersfield won 8-7 on penalties (Saturday 26th May 2012) League One Play Off Final (Att: 52,100)
I received a phone call from my old mate Martin Kaye from my old days in Scarborough in the week leading up to the game telling he was coming down. I offered to put him up for a couple of nights so he could catch a reasonably priced train and in return he kindly bought me my match ticket. I rang work who kindly granted me a days leave.
After a good night out we rose to have breakfast at the Wetherspoons where we'd spent plenty of money the previous evening, only to be turned away because Kado was wearing his own shirt, and the pub had been allotted to Blades fans for the day. his was not the start we were looking for, but we got on with it and headed to the stadium ticket office, where we were met by another pal Colm who decided to come to the game.
We spent the next few hours in the company of some excellent Terriers fans outside the Greyhound and then Mannions as we soaked up the atmosphere and copious ales before heading to the sun drenched stadium.
Our seats were in the lower tier where the players come out but towards the west end. The game was tight with defences dominating. The atmosphere made up for the lack of goal mouth action. Colm managed to get a seat with us for the second half and then the inevitable extra time and penalties.
An incredible twenty two penalties were taken in the shoot out, with plenty of misses along the way. It came down to the goalkeepers to take their turn. Alex Smithies scored with his, while Steve Simonsen missed. The place went crazy.
Click below for my amateur video coverage:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-N4d3qVqrA&list=UUuIHNmGQ2lRbtwwp7tLYDDQ&index=7&feature=plcp
There was a nice touch as both sets of players took the plaudits from opposing fans. We went for more drinks along Wembley High Road. I headed to Kings Cross with Martin in not pristine condition!
England 1 Ukraine 1 (Tuesday 11th September 2012) World Cup Qualifier (att: 68,102)
This game formed part of a great sporting week with my Dad as we saw the Under 21s the previous evening at Chesterfield and then had a couple of days watching Yorkshire on their way to promotion at Chelmsford. My brother Paul also came to Wembley.
We met him after we'd walked to the stadium from my flat. Our seats were in the top tier at the west end. It was the first time for Dad at an England full international, and the first time he'd seen a game inside the new Wembley.
England weren't at their best, but the Turkish referee was not helping as he ruled out a fine Jermaine Defoe goal after he was conned by some fine Ukranian acting. The away side took the lead with a superb long range shot from Yevgeni Konoplianka. England laboured with too many sideways passes, but deservedly snatched a late equaliser with a Frank Lampard penalty. Captain Steve Gerrard received his marching orders for two soft yellow cards.
We went for post match drinks at the Wetherspoons in Wembley High Road while watching the highlights. Sadly the beer was rotten and the establishment had introduced much inflated match day prices. You live and learn!
To see my video of the penalty, go to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9Omfmi5rT4&feature=plcp
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