Fan Comment

Trip to Croatia

So there we have it. The trip to hell, as it was billed in the lead up to our departure date.

We arrived in Split, via Munich, on Tuesday afternoon. After a quick pint in the bar next to the hotel, we made our way to the promenade, probably about a 20 minutes walk.

It was really difficult to decide where to start, as there are literally hundreds of bars and restaurants on the promenade. Every back alley or side street had bars. The place is also heaving with tourists, thousands of them!

We had something to eat then started a mini pub crawl. We spoke to a few Split fans who were fine, and they told us we would have nothing at all to worry about on the day of the match. Wasn't quite like that last night, but more about that later.

We eventually made our way back to our hotel around 2.00am.

Wednesday morning, and me two mates decide to go on a walking tour of the city. Not quite my scene that, so I said I would go to the stadium, which was only about 10 - 15 minutes walk away. I set off and was soon there. Had a walk around and found our section. Was right next to what appeared to be a coach park, as a couple of coaches were parked up.

As I'm walking round I met a Blue I know. He was down there trying to suss out the best escape route after the match!! We thought the best way would be the way I had walked from the hotel. How wrong we were!

Anyway we both walked back to the hotel to meet me two mates. A few pints in the bar, were a couple of the barmen were Split fans and were going to the match. Jeez, they even bought us all a pint or two. Really nice, friendly people.

From here back to the promenade, when the first signs of potential trouble began to appear. The first bar we stopped at had a few blues sitting outside. Also present was a few police vans. We were informed that there were some Split fans further up the street we had just walked down, but we never saw any. We all soon dispersed and went our own separate ways. We managed to find a bar that unfortunately had the RS game on, but after being on the ale since 1PM, we weren't really arsed about it. Again, we were talking to locals who reassured us about our safety the following night.That game finished at 10.30 so we decided to call it a day.

Thursday morning, and the other two decide to go the stadium. I stayed in bed with me hangover. When they eventually got back, it was back down to the promenade. Early afternoon and by now Split fans were appearing. They all seem to wear a replica shirt or a scarf round their waist or wrists. Some even wore what appeared to be specially designed black or white tee shirts. So even though we had been advised not to wear any colours, we still seemed to stick out. By now we were hearing of trouble. Someone told to remove an Everton polo shirt, someone hit with a bottle, some chased into a bank. We decided on our plan of action. To walk back to our hotel and have a few in the bar next door, then take the known 10 minute walk to the stadium. By now there was six of us, a few more mates had arrived during the day.

Little did we know that this bar is frequented by Split fans. One or two seemed to be eyeing us up, but as most of them seemed quite friendly, nothing happened. At this point, a couple of Split fans got talking to us. Friendly fellas who told us to be careful and advised us how to get to the stadium. Both were wearing colours, so we thought it would be a good idea if we walked up with them. They agreed to walk with us, but a different way to the one we knew. They took us up a narrow street, stopping to buy some cans. Then onwards, passed some ugly looking tenement blocks, before passing a bar heaving with Split fans. A few looks but no words said by them.

We finally came out by the stadium, where an outdoor drinking area had been constructed. This was when it got hairy. One of our lot said to a Split fan could he have a photo taken with us. Fuck off, English pigs, he said. Our Croatian pal explained we were with him, but just told him to get us the fuck out of there. One or two others were shouting at us, so we just walked on. We got to our section a good 90 minutes before kick off. Totally unheard of, but what else could we do??

After the game, we were initially told we would be kept in for about 45 minutes, when buses would be laid on to ferry us back to the promenade. When they finally let us out, we were then left standing outside the ground, but no sign of any buses. Finally movement, at about 12.30AM. We were herded through a small gap in the fence, and down a steep slope. In the distance was TWO buses, which soon filled up. Some started to walk away, us included, but we were met by a line of police. Loads more blues soon followed, before one of the buses left, under a heavy escort. Next minute, all those on the second bus came walking up the hill. Apparently that bus had broken down. We could see a few Split fans over the road, but not enough to cause any trouble.

Eventually the police decided to walk us back under a heavy escort. After walking for about 15 minutes or so, we came to a halt. A line of police stopping us from going any further. Apparently ahead of us were hundreds of them. Next minute the shout to turn round and head back the way we had just come. But behind us was another bus, God knows where it came from, but loads got on, us included. Off we went, under heavy escort, and indeed, down a side street were what seemed to be hundreds of them. I've since heard that those who couldn't get on this bus eventually carried on walking back under a heavy police escort, and made it safely back to the promenade.

The bus dropped us at the promenade, at the opposite end to where we wanted to be. We set off, passing bars full of Split fans. At this point there was only the three of us, myself and two mates I travelled with. Luckily these fans seemed ok as nothing was said, but we weren't to know that, fully expecting to be jumped. We got to the way we knew back to our hotel, passing one or two more groups of Split fans, who to be fair, just seemed to be having a good time, and not the least bit interested in us.

We finally got back to our hotel, a good three hours after the final whistle, and what should have only been a 10 -15 minute walk.

I'm sorry if this post is a too long, but as I was saying before leaving for Split, we never expected any trouble, and to be fair, we never saw any. Ok, we had one or two scary moments, but that was it. Other than what we heard earlier in the day, we've not heard of any other trouble, unless somebody else can inform me of any?

Split is a lovely city and I would seriously consider going back...

but only for a few days' holiday with the missus!

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