Please indulge me here…
A year has passed and after watching the Chelsea/Arsenal game yesterday I think I’m ready to move on.
I just wanted to put together a little memory of that day a year ago, as it was so special to me personally regardless of the outcome.
First before I forget, I must once again thank a certain prominent BBS member for out of the blue contacting me with the offer of a ticket. We had met one time as his family passed through Los Angeles a few years ago, so this was an extremely thoughtful gesture and one I jumped at. You know who you are… thank you again.
I flew in on the Friday, and as the plane approached Heathrow, Wembley Stadium and the arch were clearly visible and the nerves stared to kick-in knowing that in less than 24 hours I would actually be inside the place for the first time in my life (old or new Wembley).
I was staying with my cousin in Bromley off of Westmorland Road, and on the Saturday morning my cousin’s husband gave me a lift up to Bromley South station at about 11:00am. The first thing that shocked me was the number of groups of people walking towards the station in Red & Blue, in Palace shirts and paraphernalia. As a Palace fan in the 70’s and early 80’s a Palace fan at Bromley South was pretty rare – 5 or 6 people at the most. Once at the station and on the platform the numbers just intensified, and then on the train itself masses of Palace shirts everywhere. I was already buzzing and in shock at the numbers. At Victoria, everywhere was Red & Blue and it was not even noon yet. Flags and banners hanging from the pubs… not a Man United fan to be seen.
I was meeting up with my Ticket sponsor at The Northcote Clapham Junction. All went to plan and he showed up with tickets… not that I ever doubted him, but to see the ticket was a relief. The upstairs bar was set aside for the occasion, and filled to capacity pretty quick… The Palace related music and singing/chanting rocked the place (and the streets below). It was great to see some old faces of people I’ve met over the years as they passed through Los Angeles, or in some cases lived there. I was introduced to some BBS members I knew only by their BBS name, and others I recognized from photos that have appeared on the BBS. I was introduced to Steve Browett which was an honor. The man truly is one of our own, and about as down to earth as could be.
I had promised myself to not drink alcohol and to limit liquid consumption. I was not about to fulfill a lifetime ambition fuzzy from alcohol or miss anything having to rush off to the toilet (I’ve lived in the US for 30 years so lost the ability to drink beer). I achieved both by drinking a few bottles of non-alcoholic Becks and taking more than a few pees at the pub – I could still enjoy the moment.
Off to Wembley and packed tubes of Palace fans, and the first sightings of Manchester United tourist. A group of Asia gents in United Cup Final shirts looking bemused and somewhat scared! Other United fans on the last tube, but all was friendly and cordial. The long walk (well long for me) to the stadium in light drizzle and then the first sighting of the arch. Another toilet break and then on to the seats. Absolutely fantastic location – front row second tier in-line with the penalty area at the Palace end. I just sat taking it all in.
Already the Palace fans filled the end and were singing, banners and flags waving. Has Wembley ever seen such passion from a team’s fans? – the precedence has been set. The Manchester end desolate and quiet. The singing of Abide with Me, which seemed to get a bit messed up and didn’t get me like I thought it would. The National Anthem and the game begins.
I’m a bit out of practice at watching a game live and not on TV, and it look me a while to adjust. The Clattenburg incidents came and went, the first half ends and Palace have made a good account of themselves. Second half and Palace score, and all I can think of at the time it was going to be given as offside – we are right in line with Puncheon, and all I see is him looking offside to me. It took away some of the pleasure, but that was just me.
The inevitable follows and United go on to win, a couple of infiltrating Man United fans let down their guard and are exposed causing some scenes, but they are kicked out and we move on. I look around and there is a lot of sadness, more so than I am feeling myself. At this point I realize that these people watch Palace week in week out far and wide across the country. This means so much more to them than it did to me. After 30 years away I have lost a little bit of that passion… I really felt for these people around me, more than my own sadness. This was an adventure to me, the fulfilment of a life’s goal. Win or lose I was a winner, but to these folks I know it meant more.
So, we depart long after most United fans, who couldn’t even stay to see the cup be presented or the celebration. The long line to get to the station, the goodbyes and on to Bromely. Tubes full of many United fans looking smug, but unemotional. Palace fans on the train back to Bromley are down but getting on with it, young kids not too downbeat, and parents talking about other things that matter in their lives.
Monday back to the US, and at Heathrow I see numerous Palace shirts as Palace fans head back to their homes around the world. The plane departs and I wonder when next I will come to England (My last visit had been 11 years prior). Would I see Palace again in the flesh? I felt very melancholy on many fronts.
To this day I have not read the programme. It sits on my desk unopened. I have the flag they gave us at Wembley on the wall, and videos/photos of the day on my phone. Despite this, I’m so happy I came – I didn’t make the effort to come to the 1990 Cup Final and I would live to regret this. I never thought I would get the chance again. Thank you Palace – you made an aging fan happy for a day, and in true Palace fashion you did so while losing!
A year has passed and after watching the Chelsea/Arsenal game yesterday I think I’m ready to move on.
I just wanted to put together a little memory of that day a year ago, as it was so special to me personally regardless of the outcome.
First before I forget, I must once again thank a certain prominent BBS member for out of the blue contacting me with the offer of a ticket. We had met one time as his family passed through Los Angeles a few years ago, so this was an extremely thoughtful gesture and one I jumped at. You know who you are… thank you again.
I flew in on the Friday, and as the plane approached Heathrow, Wembley Stadium and the arch were clearly visible and the nerves stared to kick-in knowing that in less than 24 hours I would actually be inside the place for the first time in my life (old or new Wembley).
I was staying with my cousin in Bromley off of Westmorland Road, and on the Saturday morning my cousin’s husband gave me a lift up to Bromley South station at about 11:00am. The first thing that shocked me was the number of groups of people walking towards the station in Red & Blue, in Palace shirts and paraphernalia. As a Palace fan in the 70’s and early 80’s a Palace fan at Bromley South was pretty rare – 5 or 6 people at the most. Once at the station and on the platform the numbers just intensified, and then on the train itself masses of Palace shirts everywhere. I was already buzzing and in shock at the numbers. At Victoria, everywhere was Red & Blue and it was not even noon yet. Flags and banners hanging from the pubs… not a Man United fan to be seen.
I was meeting up with my Ticket sponsor at The Northcote Clapham Junction. All went to plan and he showed up with tickets… not that I ever doubted him, but to see the ticket was a relief. The upstairs bar was set aside for the occasion, and filled to capacity pretty quick… The Palace related music and singing/chanting rocked the place (and the streets below). It was great to see some old faces of people I’ve met over the years as they passed through Los Angeles, or in some cases lived there. I was introduced to some BBS members I knew only by their BBS name, and others I recognized from photos that have appeared on the BBS. I was introduced to Steve Browett which was an honor. The man truly is one of our own, and about as down to earth as could be.
I had promised myself to not drink alcohol and to limit liquid consumption. I was not about to fulfill a lifetime ambition fuzzy from alcohol or miss anything having to rush off to the toilet (I’ve lived in the US for 30 years so lost the ability to drink beer). I achieved both by drinking a few bottles of non-alcoholic Becks and taking more than a few pees at the pub – I could still enjoy the moment.
Off to Wembley and packed tubes of Palace fans, and the first sightings of Manchester United tourist. A group of Asia gents in United Cup Final shirts looking bemused and somewhat scared! Other United fans on the last tube, but all was friendly and cordial. The long walk (well long for me) to the stadium in light drizzle and then the first sighting of the arch. Another toilet break and then on to the seats. Absolutely fantastic location – front row second tier in-line with the penalty area at the Palace end. I just sat taking it all in.
Already the Palace fans filled the end and were singing, banners and flags waving. Has Wembley ever seen such passion from a team’s fans? – the precedence has been set. The Manchester end desolate and quiet. The singing of Abide with Me, which seemed to get a bit messed up and didn’t get me like I thought it would. The National Anthem and the game begins.
I’m a bit out of practice at watching a game live and not on TV, and it look me a while to adjust. The Clattenburg incidents came and went, the first half ends and Palace have made a good account of themselves. Second half and Palace score, and all I can think of at the time it was going to be given as offside – we are right in line with Puncheon, and all I see is him looking offside to me. It took away some of the pleasure, but that was just me.
The inevitable follows and United go on to win, a couple of infiltrating Man United fans let down their guard and are exposed causing some scenes, but they are kicked out and we move on. I look around and there is a lot of sadness, more so than I am feeling myself. At this point I realize that these people watch Palace week in week out far and wide across the country. This means so much more to them than it did to me. After 30 years away I have lost a little bit of that passion… I really felt for these people around me, more than my own sadness. This was an adventure to me, the fulfilment of a life’s goal. Win or lose I was a winner, but to these folks I know it meant more.
So, we depart long after most United fans, who couldn’t even stay to see the cup be presented or the celebration. The long line to get to the station, the goodbyes and on to Bromely. Tubes full of many United fans looking smug, but unemotional. Palace fans on the train back to Bromley are down but getting on with it, young kids not too downbeat, and parents talking about other things that matter in their lives.
Monday back to the US, and at Heathrow I see numerous Palace shirts as Palace fans head back to their homes around the world. The plane departs and I wonder when next I will come to England (My last visit had been 11 years prior). Would I see Palace again in the flesh? I felt very melancholy on many fronts.
To this day I have not read the programme. It sits on my desk unopened. I have the flag they gave us at Wembley on the wall, and videos/photos of the day on my phone. Despite this, I’m so happy I came – I didn’t make the effort to come to the 1990 Cup Final and I would live to regret this. I never thought I would get the chance again. Thank you Palace – you made an aging fan happy for a day, and in true Palace fashion you did so while losing!
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