UGR : In The Arms Of Your Enemies (712 hits)
Category: NoneRating: 1.53 on 19 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by Davros (View user info) at 2006-06-21 16:19:00 EDT
It had been a good day, despite the result. A great chance for me to experience another culture, another side of life that I never normally see. I had seen a spectacle for the first time and, although I couldn't say I was hooked, I could definitely relate to the guys in the office a little better for being in attendance on that night.
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Jim and Ross sat across the desk from each other. I had a single desk in the same office. For weeks I had heard them talking about the big game, both of them lapsing into that broad dialect that I found so difficult to understand, even after three years of working together.
I had come to realise that this was a big event, even if I didn't fully understand the significance. A return to an old arena. The first time, in a long time, that their team had competed in European competition. Even for someone who isn't a sports fan, I found their enthusiasm contagious. So, naturally, when one of their number had to drop out and they offered me his ticket, I readily accepted.
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They picked me up, just outside of Manchester and we headed North.
Within about three hours we were reaching the outskirts of Glasgow, by which point, Jim, Ross and I had sunk a fair amount of alcohol. Billy the driver didn't seem to mind. His only comment on the matter had been, "Dinnae hurl in the car.".
We had parked up and walked into the strangest sight I had ever seen.
Hundreds of men, wandering around the streets with cans of lager and bottles of spirits and wine. We called into an off license and picked up a further dose of our respective poisons and wandered up to what the guys called the "Mecca".
Ibrox Stadium. Home of Glasgow Rangers football club, looked huge to me. I had never been a sports fan. We had no real sports teams in the little Cornish town where I had spent most of my life, until taking the job in Manchester. To be honest, I was feeling slightly pissed by this point and the situation didn't show any sign of improving.
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The game passed in a blur for me.
The only thing that I can really recall is the masses of Blue shirts surrounding me. Then we were heading out, back to the shop to buy some more beer for the journey home. Billy, Jim and Ross were not too happy, but I was having the time of my life.
The journey out of time would have normally seemed slow, but the beers helped us along the way. The moods of the travellers gradually improved, despite the news of Celtic's win against Sporting Lisbon filtering through the car radio.
By the time we had escaped the confines of Glasgow, supplies were running low, but Billy just kept on driving. He eventually stopped for petrol just outside a town called Lockerbie.
Following some gentle persuasion, he agreed to drive into town to see if we could find a bar that was still serving.
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When we arrived, everything seemed quiet, with the exception of the Town Head Hotel. We pulled up outside and I volunteered to go in and see if it would be possible to get a drink. I was told that it would and headed out to grab the guys.
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When the four of us walked through the door it was as if someone had turned off the sound. Billy, Jim and Ross, in their blue Rangers shirts, found themselves surrounded by the green and white hoops of their great rivals Celtic.
Having been invited, it was decided that we should stay for at least one drink. It was unfortunate that we managed to choose the exact time that the highlights of the games were beginning on TV.
The atmosphere was intimidating to the guys as the Celtic fans cheered every goal against Rangers and we expected it to become worse as the Celtic highlights came on.
We were about to leave, when a scowling guy approached us.
"Ye got some nerve coming in here, but dinnae worry. You'll no get hurt."
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The nerves settled, I bought another round as we continued to watch the TV. When the Celtic captain scored the only goal of the game, I found myself dragged into the middle of the crowd who were jumping around and hugging each other.
I was grabbed and hugged for the longest time, before being allowed to rejoin my friends.
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We didn't stay much longer before we continued the journey home.
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The following day, I told Jim and Ross how much I had enjoyed the day and they agreed that it had been good, despite the result and the happenings in the pub. The only thing that they pointed out to me was that if the results had been reversed, the situation in the Town Head could have turned out so very differently.
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*Notes*
This is based on a true story, with a little poetic licence, as told to me in the Town Head Hotel, by the guy who is the narrator. I was one of the Celtic fans celebrating the win in which Tom Boyd scored the only goal.
Rangers I believe lost 2-0.
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-Dave
User Reviews
Submitted by redskieslookfake (user info) at 2006-07-06 05:36:28 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pc9y5ayeeb4
Submitted by Sacrilicious (user info) at 2006-06-28 09:40:26 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
post-comp reval
Submitted by Orgasmatron (user info) at 2006-06-23 14:16:00 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Well played.
Who'd have thought Fist Bismark would be felled by the mighty game of football?
Submitted by Sacrilicious (user info) at 2006-06-23 11:03:38 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
This was a nice little slice of life.
I would normally +2 this, but Orgasmatron's Choose-you-own-adventure book was one of my favorite posts ever. I'll surely rerate after the comp, Dave.
Submitted by LittleMonster (user info) at 2006-06-23 06:19:05 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Where in cornwall?
.....oh and good post
Submitted by Paloma (user info) at 2006-06-22 13:27:19 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I really liked this. Well told.
Submitted by inion_de_trua (user info) at 2006-06-22 11:16:39 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
i was waiting for a little asskicking thrown in there. nicely told though, but i wanted some soccer hooligan action. i mean hey gotta entertain the americans with your football and stuff.
Submitted by livEvil (user info) at 2006-06-22 11:05:46 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
to be honest, it was short of the mark but that's probably because soccer doesn't entertain me.
Submitted by Dervel (user info) at 2006-06-22 09:17:18 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Yes, yes, well done.
I still blame Cromwell though.
Submitted by Berty (user info) at 2006-06-22 05:19:32 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
What an ace story.
Submitted by whysenheimer (user info) at 2006-06-22 00:58:36 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by kaos-king (user info) at 2006-06-21 19:59:37 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
yep...
Submitted by ThoreauMe (user info) at 2006-06-21 17:11:30 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by sicosemen (user info) at 2006-06-21 17:10:33 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I had no clue what you were talking about, but I continued to read and read on. Not very imaginative use of the title though. A 1.86547486947432ish, but I'm rounding up.
Submitted by JonnyX (user info) at 2006-06-21 16:52:21 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
i thought there'd be some head-bashing on this. oh bugger
Submitted by Davros (user info) at 2006-06-21 16:48:18 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by redskieslookfake (user info) at 2006-06-21 16:43:59 (#)
Ranking: 1
http://www.ubersite.com/m/85634
Dave....
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Knew I had seen the pic before, but it seemed to fit.
-Dave
Submitted by redskieslookfake (user info) at 2006-06-21 16:43:59 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
http://www.ubersite.com/m/85634
Dave....
Submitted by Method (user info) at 2006-06-21 16:41:38 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Brdn_Nkd (user info) at 2006-06-21 16:31:16 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
call it crap if you must but I was entertained.