Matchday routines

[Kerry Dixon's Boots]

As I contemplate getting up at 4:30am tomorrow for the Sp*rs game it reminds me of how I used to watch Chelsea matches back in the day.

Back then I'd drive from Newbury to Fulham in my little 206 and park off Dawes Road (or Lillie Road) and meet up with my university mate (and fellow ST holder), Mark. We'd head to a couple of pubs for some pints of Pride and a bite to eat and then hit the Britannia. We'd get our programme, get our seats in MH Lower to watch some of the warm ups and the watch the game and sing until our throats were shredded.

We'd then hit another pub or two and grab a bite to eat while I sobered up and I'd drive back home later that evening to watch Match of the Day before bed.

Now I'm faced with a crack of dawn start to drive on empty freeways to a pub in Santa Ana. There to meet up with the OC Hooligans, have about 6 cups of tea and a full English (thanks Jackie!!) and watch the game. Some of us would talk tactics, some would sing, some would drink a few pints, all would enjoy the game. After that I pretty much head back home to bed before the day starts for a second time.

I was wondering how you all watch games. Do you go to the match and have a pre-match ritual? Do you fall out of bed and crawl to the tv in the next room? Do you have a group of friends you watch games with? Or do you go to the pub and hang out?

The matchday ritual for me is a huge part of being a fan and it would be great if some of you could share your stories :)

[yasik19]

I usually get up, put my Superman cape on.......................oops, I said too much.

[Master_Chief123]

At home in Mississauga, I just set my alarm, and wake up. Usually I'm the only one up so I gotta be quiet when celebrating a goal :)

Basically yes, I crawl out of bed. But faster than I usually would when I wake up early - I know the reason that I'm crawling out of bed is to watch Chelsea. And that just makes it all the more greater.

Usually I sign on here and post abit. If the game is on TV, great, then it's all the more better. If I gotta stream it, it's a little tougher to watch and more frustrating, not to mention I don't get to see as much due to usually lower quality pictures.

In my area, the game is at 8:30 tommorrow which is better than the times last season I got up at 7:30 :D. Rarely do I sleep in for a game - actually, the only time I think I did last season, against Man United (:o), was a complete accident - I got the times jumbled up and woke up around 60 mins in when it was 1-1. I was pissed but we won which made it all the better.

And another night waiting for the game tommorrow, and I'm excited like I always am.

It's sad though - there really aren't many at my age around here that really support clubs - they juts claim to. I don't really ever have anyone to watch the games with, a big reason why I loved London.

[Brook]

Due to my job, I sometimes have to wake up early and call in ill ("Chelseaitis"). Grab an extra hour of rack time, then shower and put on the kit before heading to the pub. Here in Cleveland, we're lucky enough to have a barmaid who opens up the pub an hour and a half early for the 10-15 of us that show up. We're all dressing in kit, including the barmaid, Patty, who I got a woman's t shirt for a couple of years ago. Once the match starts, we try to maintain silence and concentrate on the goings on. With the early matches, I can pretty much count on the pub lasting until 3p.

[garethchelsea]

As I cant afford many tickets or a seaond ticket I usually go and watch my local team Lewes play, unless my mate is watching the match (he's an arse fan so he doesn't watch th matches unless i pester him. I then watch MOTD at night to watch the goals again not much but what else can I do.