tales from 2005

Andy @ Allerton · May 15, 2007

Didn't make it to the final in Istanbul in 2005 although I qualified for it due to European home and aways

Was working somewhere where I was in charge of sorting out the migration suite and working with the customer - so I was told when I would have to take my leave. At the time this obviously didn't matter - May sounded fine.

Obviously then we qualified for the final and my heart sank. Was gutted.

Even though my girlfriend is an Everton season ticket holder, she said she wouldn't mind me flying out there from Egypt (Where we were going) and flying back if it was the week we were due to be in the hotel - it wasn't that week we were due to be sailing down the River Nile to Aswan and then back up to Luxor. Doubly gutted.

However, it was all bought and paid for and I resigned myself to miss this trip of a lifetime. I consoled myself with the knowledge that every single cabin on the river cruiser had a TV - I'd seen the pictures of the rooms. And it was true. Every single cabin on that boat had a telly. None of the f*****s worked - not even a red light on them - but every cabin had the shell that looked a bit like a TV. Ridiculously gutted.

The day in question, we were due to dock somewhere then make our way down to the nearest dock where the ship would stop for the evening. I and everyone else didn't have any signal on our mobiles. We had no television and had been informed that due to the time it takes to get through the dock and refuel - we would be in port hours after the match had concluded. The only positive was the Egyptologist that I'd been talking to on the trip promised to get his mate in Cairo to text us with any scores as they came in. It was a despondent and pretty depressed Andy that settled down to tea that night. Even my girlfriend was upset for me and there was an ardent Red on our table who was equally gutted.

Suddenly out of the blue, my Egyptologist mate ran in "Andy! He shouted! Good News, My friend! We are FIRST through the dock and we are due to arrive 15 minutes before kickoff" - we were stunned and gave a few whoops of delight. He was telling us of the process to get off and where to go, when the captain of the vessel came over. "Am I right in hearing that you are considering getting off the ship?" He enquired - When we responded in the affirmative he went on to tell us of the 'problems' in the area - the mosquito problems, the fact it was a one-horse town in the middle of nowhere - where NO ONE ever got off the ships. Ever. He said there were sections of the town openly supportive of Al-Quelida and openly hostile to Westerners. He said we would be unlikely to find a television. Anywhere. The streets were dangerous and possibly being mugged or stabbed was a possibility. He said everything he could to dissuade us. We took one look at each other and said (Against the wishes of the girlfriend) "f*** it - we're getting off - I'm not missing this!"

So there we stood as the ship bumped gently against the side of the quay. Thinking about it later we could have taken a recce from the top deck - but we were too excited about seeing the game (maybe) and weren't likely to look this gift horse in the mouth.

The door slowly opened and we started to step forward - expecting to be shot, stabbed, bitten by mozzies or assaulted. Expecting to have to trek for hours down dodgy alleys and streets looking for a food vendor that wouldn't shoot us if we watched the game. We took that step and stopped in amazement.

There. On the Dock. Right in front of us was a scene not dissimilar to one you might find on Phoenix nights - a looming lamppost stood there in all its glory with a cable hanging down from it held in place with duct tape. At the other end of this meandering, swirling cable sat an ancient colour television upon a long table with many seats arrayed in front of it. Making our way forward with barely concealed amazement we asked the gent in charge what was going on.

"My Friends!! 5 Minutes - the European Cup final between AC Milan and Liverpool". Gobsmacked.

I asked if he had anything to drink and he said "Yes! We have tea, coffee, water, fanta, sprite, coca-cola, lilt and orange" - I asked if he had any ale.. "For you my friend I shall get Beer!!" f***ing result!! We sat down and my beer arrived and the people on the ship observing that we weren't dead, slowly filtered off down to watch the game. At the start the Egyptians that had made their way there were supporting AC Milan - but after 10 minutes of our gasps, shouts, cheers, swearing and passion - they all flip-flopped and became ardent Reds. An Icy silence descended as half time loomed and the whistle was blown. Everyone looked at everyone and disappointed (and some elated) passengers trooped back to the ship. Myself and 6 other Reds elected to remain - and one elderly chap was in tears as he made his way back tot he ship.

We were all down, but I felt (And don't ask me why) that IF we could get an early goal - IF we could push on - we still might have a chance - I just felt this hope. Then You'll Never Walk Alone came out of the television. We joined in and the Egyptians gave it their best go at joining in.

The second half was a whirl of excitement and disbelief as we clawed our way back into the game. Just before full time THAT double amazing incredible save by Dudek happened. The place went silent - but the ball didn't go into the back of the net - it went over - seemingly seconds later the whistle was blown and there was much cheering, running around and everyone was hugging and congratulating everyone else. The honorary scousers cheering the most with their traditional dress on. It was hard to believe we were on the edge oof the desert in the middle of Egypt.

At this point a nutter from the local shop was trying to get us into his shop to view his crap - he seemingly couldn't understand the game wasn't over - the pennos were coming and he wouldn't get out of the way - a couple of sharp words from the locals and he slunk back to his shop throwing reproachful looks our way.

The Penalties were the most nervous I have ever been. It was incredible. The tension built and more and more locals appeared as if the news had been spread far and wide - in the end there were hundreds and as we won it the whole dock area and the ships in harbour went insane! Everyone was shouting and crying and laughing and hugging. Was an incredible experience and through it all you could once again hear YNWA coming from the television. The girlfriend bought champagne and we spent until late the next morning sitting on the Nile swigging lager and champagne in equal measure. Was an amazing experience.

The next day I finally surfaced to take tea on the Nile with the banks moving leisurely by when I saw the gent that had left the night before in tears. "What did you think of that?" I beamed at him. "Gutted he said. Son.. for us to get through all that - to beat those teams against the odds - to defy the media and the critics then throw it away like that - I'm just so upset I could cry"

I looked at him and said "Are you joking?"

He said "Eh? What do you mean?"

I said "We won!!!"

He turned to his wife and said "hey?! This lads just said we won?!"

His wife turned around and said "OH.. yeah... Sorry - I know I just forgot to tell you"

He was practically dancing around the ship all day

Was a great experience and although maybe not as good as being there - we had finally brought the cup back to where it belonged.

I have a ticket for Athens again due to European home and aways and will make it this time

Edited May 15, 2007 by Andy @ Allerton

Dee · May 15, 2007

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