Although I have without doubt been excited and looking forward to the biggest day in my Pompey supporting life since I knew we would be playing in the semi final, from that minute the whistle was blown as Old Trafford and I started celebrating with the others their wildly, even when I knew that I had a semi final ticket sorted out – that ‘would’ be mine without question, this long story and not one needed to be told here – as pumped as I was the absolutely true reality of what is going to happen on Saturday, and how I will be a part of it did not fully sink in 100% until yesterday?
The amount of text, phone calls and emails I have put out to people, and they to me to try and get tickets for those that did not have them – and I cannot thank those enough that have helped me and others, or at least tried to even if they could not – took the gloss off this somewhat for me I think, but this week the reality has really started to set in, none more so that 9am Thursday morning.
Why did it kick in more at 9am yesterday? Well it was because that was when I boarded my train the Pompey area, as I will be spending the next few days based at Cosham but at various parts around the area Portsmouth and surrounding areas until Tuesday when I return home, having of course been to Wembley on Saturday!
Maybe it was the fact that for the first time in a long time I was forced to endure a sustained period where I had absolutely no chance of gaining access to t’internet so I could not have a ‘sneaky peak’ at the site or check my emails so I had no distraction, welcome or otherwise from the net, so I only had my music and own thoughts for company during the journey fairly long journey so I was probably able to process things more clearly, but in doing this the absolute clear reality of what we are doing on Saturday fully, without question, and without me having to keep telling myself – we are off to Wembley to watch Pompey, it really is happening!
Thoughts of pride, and almost overwhelming emotion went through my head, the pride that the club I love will be performing in a showpiece event that will be seen the world over and playing at the national stadium is unbelievable, yet now very believable. The emotion that we ‘could’ be about to see Pompey possibly 90 minutes away from the FA cup final had thoughts of what ‘might be’ rushing through my head, seeing images of the players and fans celebrating seeing the FA cup coming back to Pompey was almost overwhelming as I say, and ‘if’ we do win on Saturday then I feel that I might just crack, I am not sure I will be able to hide the emotion to be honest? But lets just see what tomorrow brings.
It is going to be fantastic travelling up from the area, I could have travelled from my end – for those of you that do not know, I was born and raised in Leigh Park, but have lived in Devon for the past 20 years – but the buzz of the atmosphere in Pompey was too much to pass up, and wanting to be a part of the area after the game was something that I wanted too.
It is almost time guys, Pompey will be descending upon the capital in numbers, is Wembley ready us? It better be! I cannot wait for the first singing of ‘the Pompey Chimes’ – 33,000 fans signing this will be incredible, just the thought of that now makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up!
Wherever you are, be it at Wembley or watching it with family and friends at home, in a pub at the club or whatever just enjoy the game, savour the moment and lets just pray that we can keep the cup dream alive, I am getting slightly nervous – but then again I honestly do before any game no matter how ‘big’ or ‘small’. I am not going to Wembley thinking that this game is ours without question, as it is not, but regular readers to this site will know that I have ‘had this feeling’ all season that this year is our year?
PLAY UP POMPEY!
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