Stepping back in time.
Back in the days when people used to get their bread delivered and a mobile was something Blue Peter used to make at Christmas, the only live football on the TV was the FA Cup Final and the European Cup Final. I can still remember my dad letting me stay up to watch the European Cup Final in 1977, but only if I could properly pronounce Liverpool's opponents that night, Borussia Mönchengladbach. As an inocent 8 year old, I was struggling with the concept of Europe, let alone pronounce foreign team names.
Because of the scarcity of live football on the TV, the FA Cup final was seen as a special occasion, and was therefore NEVER a bad game. Unfortunately, nowadays, it's just another game for the neutral. Last year's final was so dull, I counted the number of ceiling tiles in the bar of the Nelson, 136. I don't recall the score in the game itself.
This year, though, was a fantastic exception. Marlon Harewood's inclusion gave us a valid reason not to support Liverpool rather than having to rely on petty 30 year old bitterness, but the twists & turns of one of the best Cup Finals I've seen meant that, by the end, it didn't matter who won.
Several bottles of Hampshire Brewery's finest from the off-license in the BPitW may have had an effect as well.
Straight after the game and the one FA Cup Final tradition to stand the test of time recommenced, the Basford pub crawl. This year with a twist. It included Hucknall.
Back into the Nelson to start things off and to check that none of the ceiling tiles had gone. A quick walk to the Horse & Jockey before deciding that we really should make the best use of the tram facilities so kindly provided. Hucknall's only 20 minutes away by tram, quicker if you've had a few.
Into Chequers for a few, a bit of 80's disco and a quick game of 'find the toilet in the strange pub'. Across the road to the Plough & Harrow before finishing the evening in the Pilgrim Oak.
And not a sign of a bad head on Sunday morning. Superb.
*** Additional ***
It's now Wednesday afternoon and I've only just heard from Shed Boy who met up with friends in Hucknall and stayed overnight. His interpretation of whether it was a good night or not:
Because of the scarcity of live football on the TV, the FA Cup final was seen as a special occasion, and was therefore NEVER a bad game. Unfortunately, nowadays, it's just another game for the neutral. Last year's final was so dull, I counted the number of ceiling tiles in the bar of the Nelson, 136. I don't recall the score in the game itself.
This year, though, was a fantastic exception. Marlon Harewood's inclusion gave us a valid reason not to support Liverpool rather than having to rely on petty 30 year old bitterness, but the twists & turns of one of the best Cup Finals I've seen meant that, by the end, it didn't matter who won.
Several bottles of Hampshire Brewery's finest from the off-license in the BPitW may have had an effect as well.Straight after the game and the one FA Cup Final tradition to stand the test of time recommenced, the Basford pub crawl. This year with a twist. It included Hucknall.
Back into the Nelson to start things off and to check that none of the ceiling tiles had gone. A quick walk to the Horse & Jockey before deciding that we really should make the best use of the tram facilities so kindly provided. Hucknall's only 20 minutes away by tram, quicker if you've had a few.
Into Chequers for a few, a bit of 80's disco and a quick game of 'find the toilet in the strange pub'. Across the road to the Plough & Harrow before finishing the evening in the Pilgrim Oak.And not a sign of a bad head on Sunday morning. Superb.
*** Additional ***
It's now Wednesday afternoon and I've only just heard from Shed Boy who met up with friends in Hucknall and stayed overnight. His interpretation of whether it was a good night or not:
"Apart from being really hammered, losing my phone and being chased by some prehistoric apes! yeh good night! I lost the phone somewhere between leaving you and it goes a little vague from there on!"
posted by Lucky Col at
4:34 PM
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