The gathering was at a Sydney Pub in the heart of town, metres away from Central Railway Station at the KB Hotel.
A Banner was raised outside the hotel with the Pompey flag adjacent to the bar. This brought together some 20 or so exiled Pompey fans who were looking forward to perhaps our first win of the season.
It began well; watching last seasons DVD highlights with all those great goals, wonderful home games, and brought back memories of our best finish in the top flight for more than 50 years. When the chanting began the only other 2 customers in the pub elected to gulp their beer and depart. The publican didn’t care, after all losing 2 patrons and gaining about 25 renowned beer drinkers was music to his ears every time the till rang.
Expectations were high; Bolton had lost their 2 opening games whilst Pompey had just come off the back of a very creditable draw against the Red Devils. Things didn’t begin well as the Blues succumbed to a ball that David James should have been more than capable of stopping. Were we going to watch a repeat of last years same fixture I concluded. We didn`t have long to wait on that one as KANU cancelled out ANELKA’S earlier goal. Time for another Schooner I thought as I felt that each beer seemed to coincide with a goal. Sure enough when I was nearly ready for another UTAKA grabs the lead with a great solo run to make it 2-1. The roof of the pub will never be the same, nor I gather the traffic outside the pub as all and sundry must have been wondering what the hell was going on in there.
Food appeared from everywhere and the comment was made that the meatballs tasted just like the burgers back at FRATTON PARK. Now that just helped us to feel like being at home. We were even sharing the same weather conditions, wet and windy.
Pompey seemed content to hold the game at this point with our make shift defence and great hands from JAMES keeping Bolton out. The clock ticked by with more food, more beer and more chanting. It was well into the night out here in SYDNEY with copious amounts of booze to wet the dry throats and to send the chorus into non-stop revelry. Suddenly the game fell from Bolton’s grasp as KANU was upended and none other than MATTY TAYLOR to be on hand to convert the spot kick.
The roof of the pub may well have to be looked at on Sunday morning as any leakage of rain may well be attributed to the DOWN UNDER branch of the POMPEY SUPPORTERS whose voices reached new heights with the 3-1 score line. The Publican couldn’t care less; he was more interested in when the next game might be taking place, and just as important another beer or two being served up in celebration. We may not have been there live with some of you guys but rest assured the Pompey spirit is alive and well some 12,000 miles away from FRATTON.
Written by pompeygray.
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