Scoreboard82

We went on the Eurostar via Brussels. We were at work the day before and still had no tickets at that point. Some bullshitter came in and said it had been on our local news. Anyone without a ticket will be turned away. We thought we've paid to travel, still got to go. As the train pulled into Brussels it was met by a large group of police so we were nervous despite the umpteen beers we'd had. They merely handed us leaflets saying welcome to Belgium and a list of dos and don'ts. Will be hard to beat those few days.

Didn't expect to get a ticket for the 23 final but booked everything to go down anyway. Even paid to book in a pub to watch the game then unexpectedly was successful in the ballot. Also booked travel and hotel in Gent when we played Zulte Waragem (UEFA cup?) years ago. Ended up getting tickets for the home end off a Belgian, through this very forum IIRC. Been to some of the big ones, Barcelona, Juventus etc but that was without a doubt the best away trip i've ever done. The lad who got us tickets met us after the game and took us on the drink to a street called Ooverport street. What a night. Thurs night and it was like the toon on a Saturday night. Fantastic.

Proof once more that their only pleasure is any NUFC related setback. Hope we spoil his day out. Meanwhile I wonder if Wee Phillie will be leading the toon party in Cosy Joe's if we win it? Imagine that twats face. Would love to see it.

We can no longer be happy just to be there but I agree in that we are knocking on the door and one day we'll kick it in. This is a one off game. Underdogs sometimes win football matches. We'd be raking it in at the bookies if the outcome of games was that easy. It's probably bottom of Liverpool's priorities and cup finals are run of the mill for them where as surely our lot must be up for a cup final. Especially as they must have the memory of letting us and them down in 2023.

Some win that considering Sutton were a league club last season.

Unbelievable man. He relegated us twice. Changed the name of our home to the sports tat arena and turned us into a club that stopped competing. When we had signs of hope like we did at the end of the season Rafa went he ensured any hope was extinguished. It's one thing to sit it out and hope he fucks off but to be vitriolic to those wanting him out just blows my mind.

Didn't they get relegated into the bargain?

Well the strength of feeling seemed strong among the fan base when Rafa went but aye, it was all talk. Our fans don't do protest very well. Few banners outside sports direct etc. Blackpool did it properly when they wanted rid of Oyston. Crowds went down to sub 1k I'm sure and protests were regular outside Bloomfield Road during games.

Was there last night. Not a nice atmosphere. Daftness. Too many kids trying to wind each other up.

I really wasn't having a go at you huss9. Each to their own. As I say I can understand people staying. Ashley was still in charge when I went back so I could be criticised for that. I just feel a mass exodus might have hastened his departure.

Very similar circumstances to myself. After 29 years I gave my ST up when we failed to keep Rafa. On a deal also. Loyalty pts wiped. Expected 10s of thousands staying away and doing the same but nowhere near as many did in reality. Wondered why I'd bothered and felt let down by our fan base. Still do if I'm honest. After missing it and thinking my staying away was futile I gambled on going back. After all I could walk away if nowt changed. I can understand why people persevered. It's hard to stop doing what you've enjoyed doing all your life. Some worried about the loyalty point aspect but those who walked away did so to improve the club. So that there would be cup finals as there is now. Only thing is the ones who tried to make a difference are now missing out and have people like Magdad mocking them, along with the disabled. Out of order Magdad. We all have opinions but shouldn't resort to personal insults.

Swansea v Bradford in a cup final man. There was even Portsmouth v Cardiff in an FA cup final one year. All those years when cups were practically there for the taking and our lot weren't interested.

You surprise me with Dundee Utd. Didn't realise they'd actually won anything in Europe. Can remember them going very close. Seen them lose the 87 Scottish cup final to St Mirren...up the saints! Then think they lost a European final a few days later. Had they beaten Barcelona in the semis?

Class! That "It's a goal" jingle brings back memories. Can hear it vividly in my mind. The tension when you heard it was massive.

It's NUFC. Anything can happen on any day. Never know what we're going to get.

Yes, I think most thought it was job done. For any club other than ours a 4-1 lead should be a formality.

Without checking records, most of what they achieved in those 50 years was about 45 years ago. You can't take those achievements away but don't recall them achieving much, if anything more than us since the very early 80s.

I pondered driving down for the York game yesterday in case they do go up. That way I'd be helping keep my 92 club membership intact. Ended up going down the road to Blue Star for a dull 1-0 win v Penrith. Another time I suppose. As you say, sadly top spot is sliding away but who knows in the play offs.

And they're forgetting their very lowly finish last season. As for their free/cheap ticket policy. People will get used to that. Unless they're doing really well, the same fans will begrudge paying real ticket prices when asked.

Exactly. Overpriced "beer" in plastic glasses for a mere few hours pre match.

Apologies if I've missed it on previous pages but this is canny for looking up your seat. I used this while choosing mine. https://www.wembleystadium.com/plan-your-visit/stadium-guide/view-from-your-seat

😄 No worries. I must have just been lucky. Hope it continues that night.

Just an option for leaving London late enough that didn't cost the earth. From past experience I've always found the buses comfortable enough. Much prefer the train of course and getting the train down but a chunk of the journey is replaced by a bus anyway.

9.30 Megabus? Only 6 and a half hours ☺. Gets me home straightforwardly anyway. Edit to say I've just noticed the teacher bit. Might be a bit tired at school that day.

They've committed to saying those in pots 1-3 Will get a ticket and I'm guessing they're able to say this based on them knowing how many are eligible in each pot. When you think of it, we have just short of 32K tickets and have a similar number of ST holders I believe. IF so, very few ST holders should miss out...he said desperately trying to reassure himself as much as you Jack ☺