I Miss The Away Days - Bloody Pandemic!

4FCB

Fans' Favourite
I don’t know about anyone else, but I bloody miss the away days.

Getting up early on a Saturday morning, invariably it was starting to get chillier towards the end of September. Showered and ready, out the door to the car that’s waiting, preferring to drives myself. First job was to stop and fill the fuel tank up, settle back into the drivers seat and off, A31, M27, M3 and more than likely heading north on the A34.

Seeing other Cherry cars on the road that you wave to and then catching up and overtaking the first of the supporters coaches that started off earlier.

Warwick Services on the M40 (the last place I talked with dear old Mick Cunningham on the way to Stoke) would be the first comfort break, grab a cuppa and something to munch. The supporters coaches pulling in, not just AFCB but other teams as well, all ‘comrades’ on the road to meet up and make up their particular ‘barmy army’. Exchanging banter, having a laugh and then wishing them “good luck for today”.

Back on to the motorway and either heading up to the M6 Toll Road or straight up the M42 / A42 towards the M1 and onto your destination.

Meeting mates at the ground, a pint and a pasty or pie .... or both .... having a laugh. Getting to your seat, where back in the old days you had the choice of a few hundred places, then the away section starting to roll in, Red n’ B,ack shirts, scarves and ‘colours’ everywhere. The first chants and claps as the team come out to warm up.

Looking around for any mate that you haven’t seen yet. Phone the Mrs, send someone a photo of the ground, which again back in the old days was invariably a shyte-hole, and then the songs would start as the teams came out.

Acknowledging the manager, whoever it was at the time, with a song ... “Pulis, Pulis, give us a wave” not being certain whether he was waving back or sticking a finger up to you.

The game starts and the rain pours, would we win? Draw perhaps? But more often than not, we’d lose to a late goal put in by the local hero.

Having sang to the ref and the linos that they should stick to their day jobs of being a bankers, you’d then start to pour out of the gates at the end of the game, heading for the car and all you can hear were local accents talking about how dirty John Bailey or Stevie Robinson had been, forgetting that their particular version of Charlie Adams had nigh-on broken one of our players legs.

In the car, switch on 5 Live and the music ‘Out Of The Blue” for Sports Report to get a run down of the days results. Who won, who lost, trying to work out where AFCB would be in the league.

It’s getting darker and and you’re traveling back the way you came. Warwick Services - South for a P, grab a burger and drink, probably fill the fuel tank again and back on the road.

Getting home, kiss the Mrs, stroke the dogs and settle back in your chair to watch Match of the Day ..... or in my case, fall asleep during MOTD. Getting into bed and questioning yourself as to ‘why do I do it?’ ...... because you love the club, the team, the supporters and everything about AFC Bournemouth. As you drop off to sleep, you’re already thinking about the next away trip in two weeks time.

Yep, I bloody miss the away days.


.
 
Sunday lunchtime in the pub and the local Man Utd and Liverpool fans ask incredulously “ you drove all the way to Middlesbrough to watch Bournemouth?”.
l really miss it.
 
I miss the away games more than the home ones.

4FCB is spot on.

Years ago I used to go to the 'local' away games, when I could afford it, Brentford, Bristols, Torquay, Exeter etc.

Enough points? Who needed points back then?

These days I can actually afford to go away properly and make a weekend of it, just as long as I can stay ahead in the away points arms race, and there are just soooo many away games this year that I would have been at.

Grrrr.........................


I can't see any away fans getting into a match this season the way this pandemic seems to be panning out.
 
I miss the away games more than the home ones.

4FCB is spot on.

Years ago I used to go to the 'local' away games, when I could afford it, Brentford, Bristols, Torquay, Exeter etc.

Enough points? Who needed points back then?

These days I can actually afford to go away properly and make a weekend of it, just as long as I can stay ahead in the away points arms race, and there are just soooo many away games this year that I would have been at.

Grrrr.........................


I can't see any away fans getting into a match this season the way this pandemic seems to be panning out.
You can't beat the Bristols.....:grinning:
 
Top words....

Spending quality time together With friends or family... life is so snatched these days and people spend too much time on technology... time spent driving with no interruptions to away games sorting out relationship issues, bantering, putting the world to rights, picking worst five centre forwards....always with a great soundtrack. These are the days we will take to the grave.

My 18 year old daughter has long lost a football love sadly but she said to me the other day one of the best road trips she has ever had was coming back from Sheff Weds where the moon was unfeasibly massive and we pretended it was the last night of the world as it was going to collide with us so played all our favourite songs in case it was the last time we heard them.... It was one of my favourite road trips too but I’d never told her.
 
I don’t know about anyone else, but I bloody miss the away days.

Getting up early on a Saturday morning, invariably it was starting to get chillier towards the end of September. Showered and ready, out the door to the car that’s waiting, preferring to drives myself. First job was to stop and fill the fuel tank up, settle back into the drivers seat and off, A31, M27, M3 and more than likely heading north on the A34.

Seeing other Cherry cars on the road that you wave to and then catching up and overtaking the first of the supporters coaches that started off earlier.

Warwick Services on the M40 (the last place I talked with dear old Mick Cunningham on the way to Stoke) would be the first comfort break, grab a cuppa and something to munch. The supporters coaches pulling in, not just AFCB but other teams as well, all ‘comrades’ on the road to meet up and make up their particular ‘barmy army’. Exchanging banter, having a laugh and then wishing them “good luck for today”.

Back on to the motorway and either heading up to the M6 Toll Road or straight up the M42 / A42 towards the M1 and onto your destination.

Meeting mates at the ground, a pint and a pasty or pie .... or both .... having a laugh. Getting to your seat, where back in the old days you had the choice of a few hundred places, then the away section starting to roll in, Red n’ B,ack shirts, scarves and ‘colours’ everywhere. The first chants and claps as the team come out to warm up.

Looking around for any mate that you haven’t seen yet. Phone the Mrs, send someone a photo of the ground, which again back in the old days was invariably a shyte-hole, and then the songs would start as the teams came out.

Acknowledging the manager, whoever it was at the time, with a song ... “Pulis, Pulis, give us a wave” not being certain whether he was waving back or sticking a finger up to you.

The game starts and the rain pours, would we win? Draw perhaps? But more often than not, we’d lose to a late goal put in by the local hero.

Having sang to the ref and the linos that they should stick to their day jobs of being a bankers, you’d then start to pour out of the gates at the end of the game, heading for the car and all you can hear were local accents talking about how dirty John Bailey or Stevie Robinson had been, forgetting that their particular version of Charlie Adams had nigh-on broken one of our players legs.

In the car, switch on 5 Live and the music ‘Out Of The Blue” for Sports Report to get a run down of the days results. Who won, who lost, trying to work out where AFCB would be in the league.

It’s getting darker and and you’re traveling back the way you came. Warwick Services - South for a P, grab a burger and drink, probably fill the fuel tank again and back on the road.

Getting home, kiss the Mrs, stroke the dogs and settle back in your chair to watch Match of the Day ..... or in my case, fall asleep during MOTD. Getting into bed and questioning yourself as to ‘why do I do it?’ ...... because you love the club, the team, the supporters and everything about AFC Bournemouth. As you drop off to sleep, you’re already thinking about the next away trip in two weeks time.

Yep, I bloody miss the away days.


.
Beautifully written. Sums it up for most of us I would think.
 
A great post spot on 4FCB.

The Championship is IMO way better then the Premier League particularly for away trips and we would have gone to the majority. I'm really missing scouring the internet for the best places to stay that provide good links for easy access to quality pubs/micros or breweries and the ground itself not forgetting maybe the odd spoons thrown in for a decent brekkie.

So many treasured memories are linked to AFCB away days. Travelling with friends via Minibus, car, train, coach (yet to do a plane trip) also meeting new people some that become friends as well as acknowledging some of those 'regular faces' that are always there and you sort of know them and they sort of know you (respect). Great great days lets hope they return asap. Meanwhile UTCIAD!
 
Meet up with our lot at my mates house, paint the large Cherries banner (on one of his mum’s old sheets) and hold it out to dry outside his house, get the odd strange look from passing motorists and one or two hoots.

Then day of match all head to the station to get the train, this time we were away at Southend.

On the train a game of 3 card brag on the way to London.

Arrive at Waterloo, start chanting Boscombe, Boscombe as we walked along the platform with other Cherries fans and underground passages where the sound was louder and echoed.

Board train to Southend, disembark at Southend station, then walk to Roots Hall and into ground.

Walk around pitch (was allowed then) with unveiled banner, football rattles and bells making their sound.

Back behind goal cheering team on to victory (good away record at their place).

Then after game, reverse journey back home after a win and a good day out.

In those days we always travelled by train and once on an organised coach to Eastville Stadium when we played Rovers.

Miss those days back in the 1960’s.
 
Would have been a Saturday B&B this week, getting too old/fond of a beer for driving that far twice in a day. Last time we stayed in a place with loads of old Boro memorabilia.

Hopefully would have managed at least one pint in the Infant Hercules this time.

Maybe one day...
 
Echo all of the above. Of course I miss the home games but this thread, particularly 4FCB’s perfect OP, captures something that’s been in my head for a while - the unique nature of an away day, and how I bloody miss it.
There’s no way I can match the quality of the OP but recognise so much of it. I’ll just throw in a few more...
The coach trips and sterling work of the stewards; “clap the lads off after the game and get back as quick as you can, we’re told we’ve got a police escort”. The stony silence getting back on after a poor performance and the “escort” turns out to be a copper waving you out of the car park into a five mile traffic jam.
Miss the train journeys too, often with the tube across London to Euston or Kings Cross, hearing the occasional “come on Bournemouth” or “make sure you win today” from some random other fans heading across town.
Similarly, on arrival, the absolutely packed away pub and the nods and acknowledgements to those familiar faces you often see but don’t really know personally. Actually miss those chats with home fans who, particularly early in the PL days sought us out to hear a bit more about our story, buy us drinks, shake our hand. Remember coaches being clapped in and away from some grounds. That stopped!
The concourse before the game, the collectiveness and togetherness, the songs and, of course, the pies.
The game itself. There’s something utterly compelling about being the away fans in a packed ground and singing your head off, often against the odds. In the PL Upton Park and WHL were favourites, otherwise - always - Brentford. Shame they’ve all gone. You cannot beat a late winner away from home either - Burnley was truly joyous and Gozzo’s at Chelsea was pretty special. Otherwise, that oh so rare tension free last 10 minutes when we’re coasting - and celebrating... Chelsea 3-0, Brighton 5-1.
All of this - and more - shared with great friends and above all, my lad, who, in his thirties has loved the aways every bit as much as his old man.
It’s going to be a while... but can’t wait.
 
Meet up with our lot at my mates house, paint the large Cherries banner (on one of his mum’s old sheets) and hold it out to dry outside his house, get the odd strange look from passing motorists and one or two hoots.

Then day of match all head to the station to get the train, this time we were away at Southend.

On the train a game of 3 card brag on the way to London.

Arrive at Waterloo, start chanting Boscombe, Boscombe as we walked along the platform with other Cherries fans and underground passages where the sound was louder and echoed.

Board train to Southend, disembark at Southend station, then walk to Roots Hall and into ground.

Walk around pitch (was allowed then) with unveiled banner, football rattles and bells making their sound.

Back behind goal cheering team on to victory (good away record at their place).

Then after game, reverse journey back home after a win and a good day out.

In those days we always travelled by train and once on an organised coach to Eastville Stadium when we played Rovers.

Miss those days back in the 1960’s.
My first ever away trip was to Southend.....mid 60s 2-1 win......on Topsey leakers coach...:grinning:
 
I really miss away days.

I’d get the first vaguely sociable train out of London and either doze or read a magazine/listen to music. Then on arrival would I would tend to walk around the town/city and maybe even visit a museum or attraction and grab some lunch (try to find some street food type place).

I’d look for a decent pub between the town and the ground but far enough away that it wasn’t too busy. Chat with the locals or other Bournemouth fans with whatever optimism or pessimism there was. Finish my drink at 2.40pm for what normally turned into a 30 min walk away (so bit of a walk/run) often via a short cut through a dodgy area!

After the game I’d try to find a craft beer brewery and have a drink or two and then train home when hopefully it was a bit quieter. Generally had a snooze.

I loved having a bit of me time, seeing new places, trying new beers and hopefully seeing some good football. A positive result would be the cherry on top but was more about the day then either the football or the score.

I’ve now moved out of London and now got a 4 month old so away days would have changed anyway and definitely reduced in frequency.

But yeah - really miss them
 
my partner is a boro lass, so would have been up there for a long weekend of food, booze & footy. have got to know the north east very well over the years, and love going up there - fantastic place. may even move up there one day, you never know. utciad.
 

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