Dublin Hammers Trip - Sheffield United - Saturday 26th October 2019
West Ham United 1 vs Sheffield United 1
The Dublin Hammers first official trip of the season vs Sheffield Utd saw a total of 17 members congregated at Dublin Airport. I made my way to Leopold's, where most of the members had already assembled, but not everybody was happy as the Guinness pump was broken! So a bottle of water for me before the flight! We landed at Stansted and made a beeline for the National Express coach to Stratford and managed to lose one member on the way, a search party of one was sent out to look for him, he was duly found and with all members safely on the bus, we set off.
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We arrived in Stratford and most of us made our way to Stratford best cafe. Now fed, it was time to drop off the bags at the hotel and head for Ye Olde Black Bull, a decision was made that we take our seat in the pub as early as possible to avoid the big crush, so three members were elected to bring eleven bags to the hotel for the drop off.
The new Dublin Hammers flag was unfurled in the pub and took pride of place on the wall behind us. Everybody was in good spirits. It wasn't long before the Carlos Tevez masks emerged and Gary claimed one and wore it for the whole afternoon.
Myself and Eddie made our way to the ground as it started to rain and to say we were slightly wet when we took our seats is an understatement.
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West Ham made five changes after the defeat to Everton a week earlier. In comes Zabaleta, Balbuena, Cresswell, Snodgrass and Yarmolenko. West Ham playing better then they had in the previous couple of games, took the lead one minute before half time, Snodgrass the player scoring the goal. We all celebrated the goal and Gary in his Tevez mask turned to the Sheffield Utd supporters hands in the air... suddenly a pie (steak and kidney, balti or mince, not to sure) flew over his head and hit Eddie (who was standing nearby) in the side of the head. What a shot!
Half time and Eddie is rechristened, we all have heard of Memphis Depay, well Eddie was called 'Edward the Pie' for the rest of the day.
The second half saw Sheffield Utd equalize though their substitute Mousset in the 63rd minute, Mousset had scored the winner against Arsenal on Monday and was at it again, the Hammers had a chance to win it when Snodgrass hit the post and in added on time Yarmolenko's curling shot just went wide, it wasn't to be and the game ends all level.
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Back to the Black Bull for more drinks and craic, it was great to see Mick Brennan and his son Louis turn up and meet us for a pint. We had booked a table in the local Chinese restaurant for eight at 8pm, so we head back to the hotel for a quick change and wash and back to the restaurant. When four members tried to join us at the table they were banished to another table... and so was born the 'Stratford Four'.
After one red wine, some tiger beers, seven chicken balls and one member who slept through the entire meal we returned to the Black Bull. Joan gave us a great rendition of Patsy Cline's classic 'Crazy' as we sang right up to closing time. We headed for more pints around the corner in the Queens Head, when that closed, we headed back to the hotel for a night cap or two and then bed.
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The next morning some of us headed off for breakfast, then up to the club shop and then back to the Black Bull to finish off a great weekend. While there the 'Stratford Four' set up a hard boarder between two tables with talk of disbanding the Dublin Hammers, a fragile agreement was reached before the Black Bull laid on some much appreciated food!
Before long it was time to catch the bus back to Stansted. A big thank you to Joan, Michael, Richard and Sarah from the Black Bull for looking after us. Another great weekend, thanks lads and roll on to the next trip, things I will remember from this one... Edward the Pie, The Sisters and the Village Idiot.
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Thanks to Brian Madden for the report and the photos are from everyone!