Dublin Hammers Trip - Southampton - Saturday 4th May 2019
West Ham United 3 vs Southampton 0
The trip for the last home game of the season saw members gather in Dublin Airport early on Saturday morning, a few warm up drinks were consumed as we ‘looked back’ on a season of ups and downs and ‘looked forward’ to the coming game against Southampton safe in the knowledge that (for once) the result wasn’t that important as we were safe for another season.
An uneventful flight to Stanstead and then The Owner cranks it up with “don’t be going to the toilet, get on the bus quick” this left us split, as some obeyed and some didn’t. He was under the impression that the buses were every half hour rather than every 10 minutes or so.
Anyway the second group (those that went to the toilet) arrived in Stratford and heads to the ‘Best Café’ or the ‘Mezz Café’ as it has now been renamed, where we joined those who had followed the Owner’s instruction (probably through fear as usual).
Following a good feed it was off for some light refreshments in the Old Black Bull where as usual we had a reserved table. We soaked up the pre-match atmosphere, were joined by some friends of the Dubln Hammers, and enjoyed the couple of hours before kick-off.
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On to the ground and into our seats for the start of the game. No sign of Rice or Anderson in the team or on the bench which leaves us wondering. Anyway, there’s a great atmosphere in the ground and we end up 1-0 ahead after Mark Noble plays a superb ball through to Arnautovic who makes no mistake.
Arnautovic makes it 2-0 just before the 70th minute and then we bring on Wilshere which prompted one member to announce that if we bring on Carroll as well, it would be like a scene from Little Britain!
Then towards the end Wilshere does well to feed Fredericks who manages to bundle his way through to score and see the game end as 3-0 (no Shane Long on fire this week!).
After the final whistle the team came out and did ‘a lap of appreciation’ (as it is now called) and we waved a final goodbye to an Andy Carroll limping round on crutches!
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A few of us then went and checked into the hotel before heading for pints in the Old Black Bull. Around 7pm it was time for some food so we headed next door to the Chinese recommened to the Owner by the Drogheda Hammers, and very nice it was too!
Coming out of the restaurant we bumped into the lads from West Ham Fan TV, had a quick chat and a photo call before going back into the Bull where we consumed more pints, from there we ended up in a late bar around the corner and then… Suffice to say, I struggled the next morning!
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Sunday morning saw a group head back to ‘the Mezz’ for another helping of ‘Stratfords best breakfast’ and then we ambled up to the Hammers Superstore and the ‘End of Season Sale’. On the Sunday it’s much quieter and we stocked up on pens, various tops, kids football kits etc… but no garden gnomes this year.
Having never looked around the other side of the London Stadium, we took a leisurely stroll around Hackney Wick with its waterways, moored barges and hipster bars and restaurants. On the way back we searched out the Dublin Hammers stone… “It’s next to Martin Peters”… “I thought it was next to Bobby Moore” … “No, its next to Trevor Brooking”… anyway we found it eventually.
Come midday we inevitably end up at a drinking establishment… The Cow in Westfield Shopping Centre where the first of the day was consumed. Then it was back to the Old Black Bull via the hotel to collect our bags.
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Making ourselves comfortable we enjoyed a great afternoon filled with Football and Music Quiz questions (courtesy of The President). Believe it or not GP was first out in the Sports quiz… Slade re-recorded “Gudbye to Jane” under the new title of “Gudbye to Tracey’… according to one member. We promoted the idea of the renaming ourselves The Dublin Irons, as Boston G had already got the shirt printed… and generally there was mayhem as the wise cracks, ribbing and jokes flowed. At one stage during the music quiz the President suggested members could pick up bonus points if they sang the song relating to the answer… Bad News, the new Stevie Wonder was a highlight!
A special thank you goes to the staff of the Black Bull who (with no prompting) delivered a steady flow of food to our table all afternoon, Chicken Goujons, White Pudding, Chips, Pizza slices… it was a lifesaver and much appreciated. As the time to leave drew closer, we finished off with a few classic Irish ballads, it was a fitting end to a great few hours.
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Time for the bus back to Stanstead… a rowdy little journey that one… we flew through security… and enjoyed a last few in the airport bar where The President ‘held court’ to much laughter.
We boarded the plane and to a man promptly fell asleep!
It was yet another great trip with a terrific bunch of lads and a 3-0 home win thrown in! Thanks go to the President for the quiz questions and to the travel sec for all his efforts. Here’s to next season… when all our troubles will start again!
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Report by Gerry Murtagh and Paul Smith. Photos from everyone!