Wales 0, Bulgaria 0
You join the Llandudno Jet Set on a trip to South West Wales for what seems set to become an annual jaunt to Swansea. Twin Town was on last night and it put me in the mood for the trip, serendipity or what? Indeed Swansea still seems to be a "Pretty Shitty City" and this time the weather was miserable to add to the effect. Add in a lousy crowd (for the 2nd time), Union Flags and a lack of atmosphere and you can understand why I find the long journey down to be such a thrill.
After a rather nice journey to Cardiff my riverside hotel called, the same as Paraguay in March. I then had to catch another train to get to Jack City. The rain threatened to put in an arrival but failed miserably, just like the Swansea fans. Arriving late at the station meant that I had a slightly quickened walk to the ground. I seemed to remember the way as I didn't end up lost in Llandore.
When I did get to the roundabout by the ground I was amazed by what I thought I saw in the distance; thousands of people were waiting to get in. As I got closer I could see that this was unfortunately a mirage and my eyes had been deceived. I had a look in the club shop, open this year!!!, and I purchased an Owain Tudor-Jones Key ring. After getting the official Matchday Magazine it was in to the Liberty.
The crowd was about the same number as last year, so at least you could choose a seat. I found a position for the flag and found a seat. On the way to my seat I noticed some Swansea flags festooned from the top of the stadium's back wall. I noticed that one of then was made from other flags and that one of those was a Union Flag. At least now I have some inkling why there may be a little tension between Cardiff and Swansea as you don't tend to find many Cardiff fans with that flag.
I know we're meant to be British and all but the appearance of that flag didn't enhance my impression of the Swans' fans; last year one made subtle enquiries in a threatening manner about whether I came from Cardiff. He didn't know where Llandudno was either. In my opinion they should stick that piece of jingoistic, regal rubbish in the bin where it belongs. Failing that take them to Chelsea matches and BNP Rallies.
On the other hand the Bulgarian fans looked quite good and there were quite a few. Some fans had gone to the trouble of dressing in Flag coloured t-shirts. Each one carried a different letter on the front in order to spell Bulgaria, at least as far as I could tell from my lofty position. Considering this is a friendly it practically constituted an invasion.
Wales looked good in the first half in attacking terms but not so good defensively to sum up the first half in a nutshell. Bellamy looked sharp and Delaney looked fit considering his long period out injured, no goals. 0-0. Ht
At Half Time I had a look around and I bumped into Hywyn, a thoroughly decent chap who I met on the plane to Austria last April. The conversation on the plane started because he recognised me and my flag at the Rhyl-Bangor match the day before the flight. That flag has really opened the doors of friendship, if you want to get ahead, get a flag!!! Hywyn also showed his disgust at that Swansea flag as I sat next to him during the second half. It was just like the Welsh Premier, swapping your place at will.
The second half was much like the first as Wales continued to look good going forward, in fact we should have won but you can't have it all I suppose. Wales looked good and that's enough sustinence to be going on with, the qualifiers start in two weeks. Hywyn and I made our farewells. That's the thing about supporting Wales away, you meet loads of nice people and you'll always bump into them. I'll probably seen Hywyn again at Airbus-Bangor as per usual. I took down the flag went to the station and boarded the train.
Arriving back in Cardiff I didn't feel like bed so I went where all the cool people go, Clwb Ifor Bach. The Llandudno Jet Set was at home. While in there I met an old punk who was a Freelance Psychologist. I bet not many people can say that met such a person after watching Wales in Swansea. Actually thinking about that, maybe Postmodernists are right. No single person's experience has any more legitimacy than another, everyone's experience is equally valid. With this in mind who knows what adventures other people are having and we're not privy to them. What makes me so special? In fact why should I have told you about this in the first place? It makes you think a lot. Football, the intellectual's sport.
The morning after meant a tour of Cardiff, I had look at Ninian Park as I'd never been there. It looked fairly dirty and slightly run-down but you could imagine that the atmosphere would be good. I also had a look at Sophia Gardens as I thought that Llandudno were playing there in the Welsh Cup Final on the following Sunday. I thought that my presence in the vicinity five days before would help them win. As it turned out they had been there the Sunday before, timing is everything as they say. After that it was time for the Llandudno Jet Set to return home.
Another "Home" game for me to go to.
