So in the run up to the glorious day in April that ended in tears on the train we had quite a few great games at Goodison Park. In fact a run of four homes games before the replay at Sunderland that got us to the mighty Wembley. It all began with a relatively easy win against Tamworth, 2-0 the score line consisting of a goal from Heitinga and a penalty from Leighton Baines. We sat on an open front row in the lower Gwladys Street and it was absolutely freezing! Needless to say we have never sat their again since.
So the draw after that brought a game I was excited to see. Everton would play Fulham in the fourth round of the FA cup. As you will know from my first blog (if you haven't read it catch it here http://footymadgirl.blogspot.co.uk/2015/04/finding-football.html?m=1) my first game at Goodison was against Fulham in which the Blues won 2-1 this was set to be a scoreline I would see again on our wedding day and then our anniversary. Interestingly Fulham happened to be a game for David Moyes to have a connection with as his first game as manager was a 2-1 win against Fulham. I love how football works in these mysterious ways!
Anyway back to the cup run so 2-1 at home against Fulham this time two new names on the score board, Stracqualursi and Fellaini. A Friday night game enjoyed under the old lady's glorious floodlights. So on we went, it was starting to get quite exciting now, people were chattering on the bus on the way home about how we could do this, we could get to Wembley. At the time I listened on never even dreaming that I would get the opportunity to go, I was excited for my husband that he would have the chance to go back again. Little did I know.
So here we were again tuned in for the big draw, out we came first of the two names another home match this is the bit I hate it's like the world slows down, your heart beats in your chest so hard you can hardly breathe. "Please not Liverpool, give us someone good" you say to the ex player drawing the balls out of the bowl full of prospective FA cup winners. "Blackpool will face Everton at home", a sigh of relief. Although they hadn't been doing too badly themselves. Off we head back to Goodison Park, the atmospheres at the games were starting to buzz. The crowd singing "we're on the march with Moyesy's army" I was excited by it all. Anyone who has ever had the pleasure of being sat with me at the match will know my favourite things are half time Minstrel sweets and a good old sing song. I have never found any better distresser after a week at work than a chortle at the game. Now I don't get to go to the match as much as I used to, due to a young lady arriving back in 2013, I find I don't have as good release at the weekend as I did.
Wembley was looking an ever more promising prospect for the blues now with only one more game to secure it and it was to be the Mackems who would make the trip to Goodison this time. I sadly didn't get to the game due to work commitments although it's probably for the best I'm not good with tense games like that. I did however get to watch the replay that resulted in me stood on our sofa singing at the top of my voice like I was at the game! The minute tickets became available to season ticket holders my hubby and his dad were straight on it. I was sad at the thought I couldn't go but happy he had got a ticket. I still didn't see me getting one with only five home stubs to my name I didn't see it going down that far for ticket sales but low and behold it did and we were straight on it, I ended up in the gods but hey I was holding in my hand a ticket to Wembley so I didn't care where I sat!
The day came before I knew it and we were heading off to London at some ridiculous hour. My father in law drove us, me, my hubby and his mate who had only the night before driven all the way from Cardiff as he does most weeks for his team. I had been to Goodison in the run up and got a new Everton bag and some top trumps for in car entertainment not that they got played! I was mesmerised by the sights on the way down and the tweets and football chat the entire journey. Cars with a blue scarf one side and a red the other, coaches with both sets of fans travelling together, we stopped at a service station on the way and there were people bumping into each other from opposite sides of the park asking how the family are. I'm not sure many rival clubs could do that, if any.
As much as I enjoyed the sight of fans mixing in harmony I much preferred it when it was just us. We parked the car out in Borehamwood and got the train in to Wembley, a quick McDonalds breakfast and then up to the Green man pub. Now I was in my element! I love being around fellow blues, especially the singing kind! Everyone out in force outside in the sunshine enjoying a well earned bevvie after that journey. People were buzzing, the atmosphere was amazing. In actual fact I would have preferred to stay their all day but we did have a game to get to. So two beers down and off we went. On the walk down from the pub there were a few police horses, a sight we are used to on Priory Road. With Wembley towering in the background one of the fellas in front of us asked the police man "can you tell me where Wembley is mate?" Oh my word I am not sure I have laughed that hard very often in my 28 years!
We got to the bottom of the steps at the side of Wembley where we found lots more singing blues, quick sing song another beer from a stall and then into the ground. Getting to our seats in the top stand took what felt like an age but it was well worth it, anyone who has been to Wembley will tell you that view is outstanding, it's not the top balcony by any stretch but it is pretty damn good! Everything was pristine from the seats to the ladies toilets you could tell we were at the national stadium. Now although this blog is about my first trip to Wembley and I have spoken about the games in the run up, I doubt I need to talk about this one in great detail, for obvious reasons. The first half was just what I hoped it to be singing, cheering, enjoying every moment even if them lot were on the other side of the stadium. This was our moment nobody could touch that. Half time was brilliant, enjoying the frivolity of what looked being a very good day in every blue house on Merseyside. But that was not to be, two slip ups and we were on the end of a long drive home. Beaten by our most bitter rivals. Interestingly when we left the ground I was still singing, I was sad we didn't do it but I'd had such a fantastic time. I'd met so many blues, enjoyed a day in the sun with some of my favourite people but today was not our day. My hubby on the other hand did not take the defeat too well it was like going home with a grumpy teenager.
I still enjoy the memories from that day and would love to go back. Away days are fantastic and hopefully I will get a few more of those especially the European kind after such a brilliant run this season I'm hopeful it will happen again soon!
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