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From Boring Boring Arsenal Features
We (that's Den and I) decided on the trip very late (towards the end of the week preceding the tournament). Amsterdam is somewhere we'd been together twice before and I'd been on my own another time, so Den had a few reservations about going again. Me, I had no doubts! Any chance to spend some more time in my favourite city and have the added pleasure of watching the beloved Arsenal in some pre-season friendlies had to be snapped up. Having left it late, we struggled to get flights and hotel accommodation, but managed to achieve both (the hotel turned out to be the same hotel than Jenny (Clock End) Cann was staying in, a Best Western just south of the Liedesplein). We arrived in town on Wednesday, can't say I remember much about Wednesday expect Liedesplein has some lovely bars and when we went for a walk (to sober up) we found ourselves (once again - how many years in a row now?) in the Cafe Corso on the edge of the red light district. (Incidentally, those who know Hans - the owner - might be interested to know that he retires at the end of this year and is off to Mexico, I for one will miss his "Cheers me dears"). Despite not being the only Gooners in town, we somehow managed to avoid bumping into any others, including the elusive Kev The Desert Gooner (soon to be re-christened Kev the Deserting Gooner). My only real memory of Wednesday was being dragged off my bar stool by some over friendly Feyenord fans, who'd taught me the words to an anti-Ajax song..... thankfully come Thursday I couldn't even remember Wednesday let alone the song, otherwise I may have been in trouble!
We had just time for a quick beer before jumping back on the Metro to ArenA to queue for that evening's tickets. This time we queued for about an hour and eventually (after watching a lone Italian buy 15 tickets - individually, "can I have another one pleez?") we got our chance and were somewhat stunned to be asked "for what night"! Preferring the option of sitting together, we parted with a further fl240 for two tickets for both nights. Leaving us with two spares for Saturday that the staff at ArenA would not exchange/refund. After a quick shower at the hotel we raced down to Mulligans (where we'd spent many a good night on previous trips) for the first list meet where we encountered Simon (already well on his way), Jenny, Judie, Nigel, Kev (the soon to be Deserting Gooner), Julio, Pete, Fab, Jobe, Phil and Jacob - never a nicer bunch of listees one could hope to meet. (I'd forgotten about Phil until he reminded me in The Gunners after the Charlton game, sorry mate, so much booze and so few brain cells to remember with!)
After several beers Thursday's game was a bit of a blur, I know at the time I was impressed with Lauren.. and thought Tomas had potential (although most of us locked up in the stratosphere of the "away" section didn't have a clue who he was!). Petit and Overmars received mixed reactions, but I was too busy drinking the contents of my fl50 ArenA card to care. As an aside, how civilised is that? Where else can you buy 8 beers (for your own consumption) and have the offer of a tray to take them to the terraces?? After the game we (me, Den, Jacob, Jobe, Phil & Fab) headed off on foot with our resident guides Fitzy and Mick to the late bar that Kev had recommended (what a walk, I had the blisters for weeks!) only to find that Kev had failed to show (both at the game and the bar! - hence "Kev the Deserting Gooner"). The late bar also turned out to be kitted out with Barcelona scarves, there we all were in our JVC and Dreamcast home shirts! Simon and Jenny (and Julio?) arrived shortly afterwards in a taxi and after a few beers most of us had to call it a night. Simon saved Jacob from a night on a park bench and woke (for the first time in his life?) to find that he'd been left money on the bedside cabinet! Despite our waking comments of "let's take it easy today", Friday was a major blowout for Den and I, we failed to meet up with anyone (although Jenny claims to have spotted up from a bar in the red light area, but failed to catch us - presumably as we disappeared into another bar). So we got drunk alone! Saturday, I was determined not to drink too much, but my midday had already got the tell-tale numbness at the back of my head when we bumped into Simon in Rembrantplein with some Ajax fans (even though he was supposed to be at a pre-arranged meal in the American hotel with Jenny & Co).... from there we progressed to Mulligans, where Kev had returned from his absence (only it seems he had no idea where he'd been either!). Eventually, most of us gathered in Mulligans (or more accurately outside to watch the gay goings on - it was the weekend of the gay pride parade) ... look forward to seeing the pictures Simon & Kev! Eventually we all (Kev included this time) made our way to the stadium and enjoyed a few more beers in the bar before being evicted (but told it's okay to take your beers outside). The game on Saturday was far more disappointing for me, was getting a little fed up with being taped in, glassed off, etc. from the rest of the crowd and beginning to wish I'd kept the spare tickets (but thanks Fab & Joe for taking them off our hands). Silvinho and Cole looked good. Everyone else (from what I can recall) did not! After the game we descended on Rembrantplein for a few more beers (not sure who was there, I don't remember seeing Simon or Jobe & Fab, but think we were sat drinking with Kev, Jenny, Pete, Julio, Fitz, Mick & Den). Finally, on Sunday we (once again) decided to stay off the beer (never did make the picnic chaps!). We Bumped into Simon (looking very ill) on Sunday at about midday (sorry Simon, couldn't face any more beer) and Fab & Jobe in the Ajax shop (such a small world!) and ended up in a bar in Rembrantplein with Fitz (so much for my good intentions!) I hope everyone made it back okay, in one piece (albeit a little damaged by alcohol abuse?). Great to see some old friends again and nice to be able to put faces to some new names. I think we should make these pre-season friendlies a regular event for list meets..... I'll get my passport. All that remains is to say, thanks to Fab & Simon for the pictures you see here. Although we took a camera, we were too drunk to notice that it had no film!
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