Who, where, when? Charlton fans at an away game EDIT Brescia Away.

Oh my word... that is definetly mate... and my best Marc Robert to my left. I will show him later... I shall never forget that trip... we were on THAT coach. It seemed to be a 3 day journey... 

That's definitely Rudders and Marc Roberts dead centre

This is how I recall the trip.  Back in those days there were other pubs around the area. Coach left  in the afternoon. However, 2 of us were pissed (one a lot more than the other) by the time we ended up on the other side of the ferry. We all ventured out with nervous anticipation and excitment of seeing Charlton for our first and probably ever time see Charlton in Europe. I was struggling with a chest infection.  The coach journy was long (can safely say very very long). At one point on one of the borders, police bordered our coach for a routine border check. We thought we were done for, due to the 2 drunks plus the smell of "funny fags". The police then left the coach after only going so far down then let us through. We were supposed to be getting there reasonably early. Excpecting something to eat I took a couple of tablets. When we got into Italy. However, driver had other ideas. He got lost. (I think we stayed at Hotel Belvedere). Driver got lost and had to do a turn which annoyed one of the residents. A local resident was waving his arms up and down in a "Mamma Mia" fashion thinking that the driver was going to knock into his fence/wall.  We then arrived at our Hotel and the plan was for us stop off locally to  eat. However, everywhere you turned there we were not allowed to stop off., there were police blockages (due to repuatation of England fans abroad and Brescia had a local reputation as well which meant that until our game  they had a ban on their own fans.  So without anything to eat and my chest infection I was not feeling great (it would be a further 18 hours since my tablets intake and getting something to eat).  We got to the ground early and were sitting on the coach for considerable time.  A few us got concerned included me as a rough looking group of fellas were pissing up at the tree. I thought "feck me they look a bit rough". It transpires they were undercover coppers. 

In fact some of them understood very good language as one fan that entered the ground found out when I overheard a copper repeat the same sworn words including the C word" In good English the copper said "you don't think I don't understand... " (he was not part of our coach group.).

The game itself was a bit of a non event. Can't remember wether it was 0-0, 1-0 loss or 2-0 loss. I think it was 2-0 to Brescia. However, what was more comical was the plain clothes coppers inside the ground. You could not make it up. There were mediterean blokes walking round with bowler hats atnd umbrellas.. WTF.

A lot of people were exchanging scarves erc with Brescia fans and vice versa.

Coach got back to the hotel.

I had a good sleep and was hoping Marc would wake me up for breakfast.
When I woke up.. Marc had rubbed his belly and said "oh that was a great breakfast".

It was late morning by then and so when I went down to the lounge area to go for a breakfast I was told "no. no.. breakfast is over.. we are now getting ready for lunch".
(one was not amused).

So all in all we headed back on the coach on the long journey home thinking we were going to stop off in Milan.
This never happened. Saw some lovely views (car factories etc) and other nice views.

Bye the time we got back to the ferry it was late. (Story of our trip).
They wouldn't let us on.
They only allowed 2 football coaches of fans on at any one time and had to wait a while. Also we learnt that England had been knocked out of the qualifying stages for the World Cup and didn't qualify for the tournament irself. I think we lost 1-0 to Poland. Is this the game De Wolff elbowed Gazza??

Bye then I was thinking I need to call in work as the time we get home I would not make it in time for bed for sleep or work next days.
When I did call in I said to my boss that I can't come into work today as I have been stuck in France.
His reply was WTF?

So what should have been 2 days turrned into a 3 day trip.

We later learned that the people that went by plane for £200 had stopped off in Milan, done some shopping, had a few beers and got home same day.
We on other hand paid.... £65 to £85?? and endured a coach trip from hell.

I Still remember lying on the middle of the floor of the coach.

If any of the details are incorrect I am happy to be corrected.

My Experience

Paul Rudnik

That return trip was a total nightmare.Got back to Charlton 20 mins before I was supposed to be in work.Sickie time.

Charltonparklane said:

Cafc43v3r said:

i_b_b_o_r_g said:

Little bloke with the green shouldered coat used to come in The Horse on a match day

They went everywhere together, think it's Mark in the white and Paul in the green, could well be wrong. 

Sid and Eddie to their mates  
In all seriousness they were lovely fellas. 

Cheeky fecker

Rudders22 said:

addick1965 said:

That return trip was a total nightmare.Got back to Charlton 20 mins before I was supposed to be in work.Sickie time.

Didn't we get back about 8.30am??

Sounds about right. £65 rings a bell with me. Good value I think.

Rudders left out the rain fall from hell as we aquaplaned down the motorway. Only seen rain that bad when caught in the downpour that flooded Boscastle. At least in France I wasn't on a motorbike without waterproofs.

I feel guilty about Rudders22 missing breakfast that morning. Sorry Paul. I was young and immature.  Now I am just immature!  

Oh gawd.. tbose 5 a side were great. Started off with 9 players ended up with about 21. Winner stayed on.. Good workout and exercise followed by pizza hut... one time a few of us entered a snooker competition after.