Atouk
07 Oct 2002, 10:21 PM
I had a GREAT weekend in the Bush! If you're in the mood, here are a few too many details about my trip:
Friday -- Checked into my hotel on Shepherds Bush Green, went to the clubshop and bought a new home jersey (w/ Carlisle and 5 on the back) and a few other things, purchased my ticket for the match (Loftus Road Lower Stand, to the right of the goal but not quite to the corner, Row G), and met up with my friend at the Springbok at 2:30.
A few drinks each at The Springbok, The White Horse, The Green, Walkabout, The Bush Ranger, and one more whose name is escaping me (nearer to the "other" Shephers Bush tube stop), took us to 10:30 when we were both quite drunk and, coming off a night of flying, I was quite dead. My friend headed home while I made a trip to the kebab shop and then off to sleep.
Saturday -- Checked in at the Bush Ranger for about an hour but as there was not much conversation going on (everyone watching Leeds/Arsenal), I headed to the White Horse. There I met up with a couple of guys I'd met before and drank with them and a few others until time to head to the match.
Good solid day of football in which we always looked like winning. An excellent day from Connolly, Langley, and all of the back line. Royce looks like a keeper of a 'keeper too. Too bad he's been called back and it'd take one of our limited loans to get him back again.
After the match, I made a trip back to the clubshop. In the end, I didn't end up buying an old Guinness top, but rather purchased a few of the Carlisle superman t-shirts (w/ a "c" in the badge, of course, and "Carlisle" and 5 on the back).
From there back to the White Horse for a bit. I walked down Loftus Road to the Uxbridge Road, so I didn't see or hear about any of the trouble on South Africa Road or near the White City tube stop. Frankly, I'm a bit surprised, because that was the smallest travelling support I've ever seen at the Loft (including Bury last season). Excellent crowd (12,906) considering Colchester brought so little.
Several more drinks at the White Horse before some of the fellows had to go. A few good songs popped up from the celebrating crowd in the White Horse. Oddly enough, people don't seem to like the lads from Chelsea! ;)
One friend and I walked down to O'Donohughes after the Stan Bowles thing had been going on for a bit. I talked to Stan for a bit afterward as he was great and talking to anyone who wanted to come up to him. The place was done up in blue & white baloons, the staff all had on QPR gear, etc., and they were playing QPR songs, etc., and then had a good band playing some good rock covers that shifted toward Irish music as the evening wore on. Again, a stop for a kebab before crashing. An excellent day.
Sunday -- Slept in a bit and then went to do a few things around town. Sunday night I watched an excellent band that I like, called Turin Brakes, at the Shepherds Bush Empire. From there to the White Horse for a pint and to the late-open Walkabout for a few Steinlagers (while listening to a band playing pretty bad modern-rock covers) before a final trip to the kebab shop and crashing.
Monday -- Not much before heading back to Gatwick for the trip to DC via Philly.
Overall, an excellent trip. I may be back sooner than I thought (I'm thinking of going for DC United's game against Tottenham) and if I do, it'll be Cheltenham Town on the road. Should be a strange experience, that one.
Mark
Friday -- Checked into my hotel on Shepherds Bush Green, went to the clubshop and bought a new home jersey (w/ Carlisle and 5 on the back) and a few other things, purchased my ticket for the match (Loftus Road Lower Stand, to the right of the goal but not quite to the corner, Row G), and met up with my friend at the Springbok at 2:30.
A few drinks each at The Springbok, The White Horse, The Green, Walkabout, The Bush Ranger, and one more whose name is escaping me (nearer to the "other" Shephers Bush tube stop), took us to 10:30 when we were both quite drunk and, coming off a night of flying, I was quite dead. My friend headed home while I made a trip to the kebab shop and then off to sleep.
Saturday -- Checked in at the Bush Ranger for about an hour but as there was not much conversation going on (everyone watching Leeds/Arsenal), I headed to the White Horse. There I met up with a couple of guys I'd met before and drank with them and a few others until time to head to the match.
Good solid day of football in which we always looked like winning. An excellent day from Connolly, Langley, and all of the back line. Royce looks like a keeper of a 'keeper too. Too bad he's been called back and it'd take one of our limited loans to get him back again.
After the match, I made a trip back to the clubshop. In the end, I didn't end up buying an old Guinness top, but rather purchased a few of the Carlisle superman t-shirts (w/ a "c" in the badge, of course, and "Carlisle" and 5 on the back).
From there back to the White Horse for a bit. I walked down Loftus Road to the Uxbridge Road, so I didn't see or hear about any of the trouble on South Africa Road or near the White City tube stop. Frankly, I'm a bit surprised, because that was the smallest travelling support I've ever seen at the Loft (including Bury last season). Excellent crowd (12,906) considering Colchester brought so little.
Several more drinks at the White Horse before some of the fellows had to go. A few good songs popped up from the celebrating crowd in the White Horse. Oddly enough, people don't seem to like the lads from Chelsea! ;)
One friend and I walked down to O'Donohughes after the Stan Bowles thing had been going on for a bit. I talked to Stan for a bit afterward as he was great and talking to anyone who wanted to come up to him. The place was done up in blue & white baloons, the staff all had on QPR gear, etc., and they were playing QPR songs, etc., and then had a good band playing some good rock covers that shifted toward Irish music as the evening wore on. Again, a stop for a kebab before crashing. An excellent day.
Sunday -- Slept in a bit and then went to do a few things around town. Sunday night I watched an excellent band that I like, called Turin Brakes, at the Shepherds Bush Empire. From there to the White Horse for a pint and to the late-open Walkabout for a few Steinlagers (while listening to a band playing pretty bad modern-rock covers) before a final trip to the kebab shop and crashing.
Monday -- Not much before heading back to Gatwick for the trip to DC via Philly.
Overall, an excellent trip. I may be back sooner than I thought (I'm thinking of going for DC United's game against Tottenham) and if I do, it'll be Cheltenham Town on the road. Should be a strange experience, that one.
Mark