COLUMNIST KEN BUCKLEY

From My Wembley Seat (SF)

By Ken Buckley :  21/04/2009 :  Comments (10) :

Macclesfield, Liverpool, Villa, Boro all vanquished on the road to a Wembley semi-final that will live in the minds of all who attended for ever.

Our trip began on Saturday when five car loads met up in Shakespeare country and base camp was set up.

We then sat out in the sun at a local ale-house and you could tell it might be our time as the ?Barnsley Bitter? was served up just right at £1-50 per pint and it wasn?t long before the locals came to see what all these blue clad interlopers were singing about.

We watched the first semi-final then it was out for a meal, the game was never far from the mind and in between all the Everton songs we knew the team was contemplated and could the FA really appoint a Manc. To ref. It?

We met up next day at the local ale-house for a livener then a short trip to Leamington-spa for the 1-10 to Wembley Park station. A pleasant trip down in a clean uncrowded train didn?t provide us with just what to expect when we alighted.It was our first trip to the new Wembley and as you leave the station it?s no more than five hundred yards to the concourse of the stadium and what a five hundred yards that was, just heaving masses of Blues singing, chanting it was bedlam.

I saw a few of the lads we usually meet at games but conversation had to be kept brief as wave after wave of ?Moyes?s Army? drowned out everything.Flags , banners, hats, wigs and scarfes all added to this special atmosphere, ?The City?s all yours ? we?re at Wem-ber-ly? was the chant for our cousins.

Witty banners abounded, one read ?Stop global warming?ban Liverpool fans from flying to home games? another depicted Rooney with a penis growing from the top of his head.

Time to enter the ground and as soon as I went through our entrance I felt that ?WOW? factor that TV images just don?t give.

We were in time to see the teams introduced for the warm-up and the Blue half of the stadium was in full voice and good numbers while the Manc. half was almost empty, as the players warmed up a beach ball was introduced and us fans got in some ?head-tennis? practice.

At 3-30 the teams were announced, ours was as most had suspected but a few of the Utd. Big guns were missing which we concluded could only further our cause but it still looked quite decent.

By now our end was almost full and the noise incredible and when Z Cars rang out well ? the roof came off!.

The teams emerged and the noise got louder if that was possible and then a game of football broke out and not a very good game as it turned out. We attacked a bit, they attacked a bit but no shots or threats on goal but such was the mood of the crowd every hint of a build up was roared, any lull in play was filled by raucous singing and chanting.

Wembley seats are quite large for the average man and plenty of legroom but when the Blues are in town they are not meant for sitting in for long, Each time we went forward all stood up, each time they came forward we all stood up, each time a song or chant was started we all stood up and each time Riley blew his whistle to give a decision (mostly against Fellaini) we all stood up.This went on all game and was probably the best fitness workout most of has had for sometime.

The game meandered on and I think our first shot on target that had the keeper scrambling came in the second half from Cahill.The Mancs had a great shout for a pen. When Jags got wrong side of his man but Riley turned it down and from my seat(stand) I could see no other reason than to prove he wasn?t a Manc. Supporter.Mind you after that he gave us ?nowt.

The game still didn?t ignite and lots of our players made uncharacteristic errors that on another day would have resulted in a slagging, but not today, every mistake was met with a great roar of ?C?MON? .

Saha who was looking jaded was replaced, the manager showing great faith in Rodwell and the youngster did not disappoint.Utd brought on some big guns but little changed and the excitement was being generated by the booming Blue hoards rather than players.

Full time came and went, extra time brought little, Vaughan had a chance that he scuffed and Vidic deflected the scuff for a corner that Riley gave as a goal kick and with a record crowd for a Wembley semi in attendance it was remarkable that only he didn?t see it and hell he was on the pitch.

Then it was the dreaded penalties a contest that we have not been the best at, some fans found it necessary to leave for the bowels of the stadium whilst some others averted their gaze away from the pitch(behind the sofa time).

Cahill cocked up and the only groan of the day was heard from the Moyes army , but hold on ? Berba boobed ? Rio ricked and four lads in the Royal Blues gave the keeper the same message ? ?Pick that out?

Oh the elation, the relief, the joy, players and fans alike hugged, kissed danced and sang.Z Cars boomed out once more, Jags took his boots off and ran into the fans behind the goal and gave them to one lucky fan.Mobile phones were held aloft to relay the audio back to those unable to attend and amid songs chants and cheers that surely exceeded health and safety limits the players slowly left the pitch.Almost unnoticed the manc.end had emptied but the Blue half of the ground were not for leaving and over the PA came the Jeff Beck ditty Hi-Ho Silver lining which the faithful sang out with such gusto tears were shed, mobiles held aloft again and maybe there is a case for including that song onto the ?Old Lady, s matchday songsheet.

The scenes on the Wembley concourse had to be seen to be believed and as all fans seemed to merge toward the well signposted and marked out routes to the rail station mancs. were mingled with the North Liverpool songsters, no trouble just good banter.Mobiles were again used to determine where all the rest of our group where and remarkably we did all meet up on the platform when it was our turn to board the train.

Going back was as different to the inward journey as it could be, where we had space now we were packed in like sardines in a can, Blues and mancs. sitting or standing together still no trouble and the ones I was near told me Fergie could pick his nose better than he picked their team to-day.At the first station stop a guy fainted and Blues helped him of the train for attention and then at the second stop and as soon as the doors opened a fan shot off and with his bladder in tune with the door timing mechanism relieved himself and shot back on as the doors slid shut.

It was a relief to reach our station and with one much needed stop at ?Subway? to take on our first food for hours we parked up and returned to our adopted ale house and ate the food washed down with a few scoops of the £1-50 ale on the patio.We were soon joined by some locals who joined in a few choruses and exchanged handshakes all round.

Match highlights were watched to the accompaniment of cheers, songs and booze and another airing of Hi-Ho Silver lining accompanied Jag?s winning spot kick.
Just time for some game reflection which, when all boiled down came to ?crap game?- great day ? we are in the final.

Man of the Match was an easy choice today.?Those magnificent fans in the Blue and White.

Monday morning and after booking the same lodgings for the final it?s back up the M6?still loads of cars bedecked in Blue tooting as we or they passed.
If everyone is back I will see you Sat.

UP THE BLUES

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