Dublin Hammers Trip - Bolton Wanderers - Saturday 5th May 2007

West Ham 3 vs Bolton Wanderers 1.

Another fantastic trip! Laughs all the way and a great result!

A 6am start at Dublin Airport... 36 Dublin Hammers arrived and checked in and gathered at the bar, which was open much our delight! See the shot below for an idea of the carnage... this shot was taken as we left to board our flight at 6.45am... there were another 5 tables resembling this one! As we waited to board members got into some 'gentle' ribbing with Colm O'Rouke, who happened to be on our flight. (A TV presenter and 'cracking' GAA player I'm told). There was uproar during the flight as a certain club member treated us some of his own special brand of 'quality!' Once at Stanstead it was all aboard the 2 mini-buses and off to the Travel Lodge in Barking, where we dumped the bags.

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Next stop... the pub! Farmhouse breakfasts all around. After the odd pint or two we drifted off to the ground.

'Come on you irons'... visits to the club shop, stalls etc and taking in the match build up. Former Hammers, Stuart Slater and Alan Taylor were spotted outside the main entrance. Then we gathered at the Wakefield for ticket distribution and pre match drinks... it was packed... getting a drink was becoming a lengthy experience... it was'nt long before a trail of club members were making their way accross the road to an off-licence... we polished off his stock of Magners and made a sizable dent in his drinks section. (Classic memory: A club member with a tin of Special Brew on his head, while singing the Bad Manners song of the same name!).

Once in the ground the atmosphere was 'up for it', The match started and within half an hour we were 3-0 up, a wonderful display by Carlos Tevez with two goals, but my personal favourite was Noble's volley... what a sweet goal... and it was party time. At half time the concourse under the stand was 'hopping', everyone singing their hearts out... even the bar staff! The second half was a little more subdued as we made sure we kept in a winning position. Bolton scored, we went close a couple of times, then it was over... a lap by the players was well appauded. A point at Man. Utd next week and we stay up...

After the game members drifted off, meeting up at the Wakefield and back to the hotel to freshen up. A party headed off to a pub called 'The Cherry Tree' in Daghenham while others chose to watch the match again on Sky, only to watch it again on Match of the Day. At that stage I fell into bed.....

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Sunday Morning!
The usual prosession of members arrived at breakfast in various states of being... after a hearty feed members headed off to enjoy the sights and sounds of London...' Maaarriiiiiaa, I've just met a girl called Maaarrrrrrriiiiiiaaaaaaaaaaaa! We all met up at the pick-up point in a pub near Liverpool Street Station, and after a brief delay we piled into the mini-buses and headed back to Stanstead. A session began on the bus as members sang songs and told jokes... 'Sorry I must have put on the Bee side'... Classic!

Checking in was nice and quick this time round,... luckily... there was a bar right next to our boarding gate! I was driving so was'nt drinking and sat reading OLAS. At one stage I looked up... The bar was full of West Ham, all chat with drinks flowing, while a considerable number of Arsenal fans (Arsenal had played Chelsea earlier in the day) were on the seats.. outside the bar... not a drink between them... As we all lined up to board a hush fell...  The Dublin Hammers and 20 or so Arse... Then some wag piped up, "somebody ask the Arsenal fans if we can play them every week"... how we laughed... there was a real sense of pride among club members!

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The only 'sour note' from the trip involved a club member who had his passport tampered with while it was left in has bag at the hotel. It was only discovered at the airport check-in desk and meant an enforced stay in the UK. I hope this unfortunate event will not deter him from coming on the next trip. For the rest of us, let it be a lesson learned! Anyway...

'Thank you' to the lads who organise these trips... all I do is pay my money, turn up and have a good time... Top Stuff!... Thank You! Relegation or not... bring on the next one...

My name is Ludek Miscllosssckkoooowwwww...
I come from old Mosssscccooooowwwww...
I play for team called West Ham... West Ham...
When i walk down the street...
All the people I meet say...
OI BIG MAN... WOT'S YOUR NAME...