Another convergence game and this time accompanied by not only Matt but also his sister Rachel and brother-in-law Mark. And all of us in the Layrd Design Lounge. I took train to Rugby where I met up with Charlie and Matt for the drive to Cambridge. With plenty of time on our hands and C&M needing to check into their hotel we had a quick glass of wine there before taking a taxi to the ground.
It hasn’t changed much if at all since my last visit. Still a scruffy little old school stadium tucked in amongst houses and hence accessed by alleys of varying size. But the welcome was excellent, the food good (if too much) while the drinks and banter flowed. Best of all our host (Dougie) had arranged for me to meet Marvin the Moose’s new girlfriend Amber. Lots of photos, big hugs and laughs.
The football was pretty dire but the chat (with Mark) good throughout so the time passed quickly. Score ended 0-0 with both teams lucky to get 0. Then back to the lounge for yet more food, drink and natter.
We were the last to leave and had problems getting out of the ground (gates shut) but a quick ride back to the station for me and onto the London train. Then up to Crewe where I missed by Wrenbury connection. Luckily my darkling wife came to save me to complete a long but overall enjoyable day. Off to Tenerife on Tuesday.
Date: 5 January 2019
Time: 15:00
Versus: Stevenage
In: League 2
Score: 2-0
Attendance: 4235
Bitterly cold day for the first adventure of 2019 but wrapped up warm and raring to go. Longer drive than usual to Crewe station with the bridge being out but there in plenty of time and first train arrived spot on schedule. An easy walk from Euston to Kings Cross which has changed a lot since I was last there some seventeen or so years ago. The roof is absolutely amazing and beautiful too which was a bonus. The train to Cambridge was on time and the journey passed in a flash. Then an easy couple of miles walk through a really nice residential and relatively posh part of Cambridge (rows of tiny but immaculate terraced houses dotted with tiny twee up-market pubs) to the ground.
The Abbey Stadium can only be described as ''proper old-school'' with access to the Main Stand down a narrow little back alley. A quick snifter in the toasty warm Dion Dublin (he wasn''’t there!!) then up to my seat - the best in the stadium: perfect height and perfect view of both goals. And being sat next to a very pleasant couple of season ticket holders helped as well. Just enough chat and all balanced and sensible whilst being unmistakably partisan.
Great game too. Cambridge only one place off the relegation zone and coming off a 6-0 drubbing on New Year’s Day, played out of their skins. They could have been three or four up by the time the first went in and a second on the stroke of half time was fully deserved.
At half time I took myself off and managed to get a selfie with marvin the Moose. When i got back to my seat and showed it to the guy next to me (turns out he is a lecturer at the university) he showed me his screen saver selfie with Marvin. Anyway, Stevenage came out all guns blazing in the second half with two subs making them look very dangerous. And the Us low confidence started to show. But some good battling defence and a few very hard tackles and they gradually reasserted their control and ran in easy winners by the end.
A few minutes before the final whistle I had to shoot off for my first of two trains home and made it with minutes to spare. Bob on time again as was my last leg up to Crewe. Home in the warm before ten after another excellent day.
charlottewilkins 89
muttley 63
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