6am was our rising time today so we could quickly pack and enjoy a good hearty breakfast downstairs in the nice quiet restaurant. (We’re starting to feel the kilo’s stack on from breakfast alone. Damn pants). We checked out then got a cab to Paddington Station, which we thought was a train station, but it turned out to be a bus station. Our cabbie wasn’t very talkative and just pointed and grunted when we pulled up at our destination. He was lovely. The bus left at 8am and we were due to get in around 1:20pm. The game starts at 3pm and we were a bit concerned we would be really stretched for time. The bus stopped off for a break about 2 hours in. It rained for most of the way but it was great to see the scenery without the stress of driving the whole way. We got to Liverpool at 1pm and got a cab straight to the hotel. We had trouble understanding the scouse accent of the cab driver but managed to have a good chat with him.
Unfortunately the hotel was about 15kms from the centre of Liverpool which was really in the middle of nowhere. We got to the hotel at around 1:45pm and quickly checked in. The cab driver was good enough to turn the meter off and waited for us to take us to the game. We gave him a generous tip when we got to Anfield at about 2pm and were surprised that we had made such great time. Dan was getting excited now as we passed the vendors with all of the Liverpool merchandise. Dan decided he wanted a jersey, because 6 already weren’t enough. We went to the only ATM machine in the area but it was out of money. Oh well, we ended up getting a scarf commemorating the day plus a Game Day programme.
We weren’t really sure what to expect with our tickets because we received an email from our travel agent, Karen, about a week before hand that our tickets had been upgraded for free. We went to our gate and the usher led us to a large dining hall. We had no idea what was going on and the concierge asked for our name but it was not on the list. He gave us passes to get in though and sat us with a table in an adjacent room. We were seated with another couple from Liverpool and the waiter took our order for drinks. Still confused and not sure if we had to pay or what, Ev ordered coffee and Dan water. We thought we were going to be shown to our seats but this was weird, the waitress directed us toward the buffet table and told to help ourselves. The food was amazing, we both had fish, potatoes and meatloaf.
There were 2 free Game Day guides to go with the one we bought for 7 pounds earlier, go figure. The couple across from us told us it was all complimentary with our ticket (High five Karen). The time was 2:50pm and Ev took her time while Dan was getting edgy, he didn’t want to miss a thing. Eventually Ev relented and was ready to leave after much pleading from Dan. As we walked up the stairs to our seats in the Centenary Stand, the hair on our necks stood up as the ground was now in full view. Our seats were amazing in the second tier up on the sideline, midway between the halfway line and the goal. The atmosphere was incredible and Dan was finally realising a lifelong dream seeing Liverpool play at Anfield.
The crowd warmed up with a few songs as the players made their final preparations. When the players walked out onto the pitch the crowd and Dan sung along to the official Liverpool anthem, ‘You’ll Never Walk alone’. He had goose bumps and for the first time actually felt a real connection to the team and town.
The referee blew his whistle as the game kicked off. Dan was glad to be able to see Stephen Gerrard, Fernando Torres and Jamie Carragher play in person. The game itself was fairly dour but the atmosphere was electric as the crowd rode every tackle and every whistle. At half time we went to get some drinks. The line was long but Dan waited for about 20 minutes to hopefully get a beer and Ev a coke. Dan didn’t get served until the 2nd half had started just as they stopped serving alcohol. We got coke instead.
We had been to some wonderful sporting events but the noise and passion that emanated from the 30,000 people at Anfield today was like nothing Dan had experienced before, maybe because it meant more, not sure. Either way the boys had won. Liverpool 1 - West Brom 0.
After the game we went back to the Centenary Lounge for complimentary tea and dessert. The couple we had lunch with were there again and we chatted to them about the game and our honeymoon. They had travelled themselves a fair bit and told us about Orlando. They also wanted to know more about Australia as they are planning a trip. Dessert was beautiful. We had little tarts and cake. We ended up leaving at around 5:30pm and grabbed a cab back to the hotel and stopped into the liquor store on the way. The cab driver told us about a Beatles festival in the city that was on at the time. It had bands from all over the world and locally paying tribute to the Beatles but unfortunately our hotel was too far out of town and we didn’t have a car, plus a cab cost around 20 pounds, 1 way to get in. It would’ve been good but we decided to go back to the hotel instead.
There was no ATM at the hotel so for some strange reason we got a cab to go and get money but also ice for drinks. We were able to get some money but no ice. Back at the hotel we went to the bar to ask where else we could get ice from. The barman pointed us in the direction of a free ice machine in the hotel. Far out, that cab ride was a waste of time. We went back upstairs ready to write more of the blog but had a few drinks instead and ended up watching ‘White Chicks’ and ‘Panic Room’ before crashing for the night. Tomorrow we board a train to Milton Keynes to stay with Sam and the boys. Can’t wait!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dan-ev/collections/72157624677997272
Unfortunately the hotel was about 15kms from the centre of Liverpool which was really in the middle of nowhere. We got to the hotel at around 1:45pm and quickly checked in. The cab driver was good enough to turn the meter off and waited for us to take us to the game. We gave him a generous tip when we got to Anfield at about 2pm and were surprised that we had made such great time. Dan was getting excited now as we passed the vendors with all of the Liverpool merchandise. Dan decided he wanted a jersey, because 6 already weren’t enough. We went to the only ATM machine in the area but it was out of money. Oh well, we ended up getting a scarf commemorating the day plus a Game Day programme.
We weren’t really sure what to expect with our tickets because we received an email from our travel agent, Karen, about a week before hand that our tickets had been upgraded for free. We went to our gate and the usher led us to a large dining hall. We had no idea what was going on and the concierge asked for our name but it was not on the list. He gave us passes to get in though and sat us with a table in an adjacent room. We were seated with another couple from Liverpool and the waiter took our order for drinks. Still confused and not sure if we had to pay or what, Ev ordered coffee and Dan water. We thought we were going to be shown to our seats but this was weird, the waitress directed us toward the buffet table and told to help ourselves. The food was amazing, we both had fish, potatoes and meatloaf.
There were 2 free Game Day guides to go with the one we bought for 7 pounds earlier, go figure. The couple across from us told us it was all complimentary with our ticket (High five Karen). The time was 2:50pm and Ev took her time while Dan was getting edgy, he didn’t want to miss a thing. Eventually Ev relented and was ready to leave after much pleading from Dan. As we walked up the stairs to our seats in the Centenary Stand, the hair on our necks stood up as the ground was now in full view. Our seats were amazing in the second tier up on the sideline, midway between the halfway line and the goal. The atmosphere was incredible and Dan was finally realising a lifelong dream seeing Liverpool play at Anfield.
The crowd warmed up with a few songs as the players made their final preparations. When the players walked out onto the pitch the crowd and Dan sung along to the official Liverpool anthem, ‘You’ll Never Walk alone’. He had goose bumps and for the first time actually felt a real connection to the team and town.
The referee blew his whistle as the game kicked off. Dan was glad to be able to see Stephen Gerrard, Fernando Torres and Jamie Carragher play in person. The game itself was fairly dour but the atmosphere was electric as the crowd rode every tackle and every whistle. At half time we went to get some drinks. The line was long but Dan waited for about 20 minutes to hopefully get a beer and Ev a coke. Dan didn’t get served until the 2nd half had started just as they stopped serving alcohol. We got coke instead.
In the 2nd half Torres managed to score the only goal of the game in the 68th minute with a wonderful strike and the crowd was in frenzy. Ev snapped at just the right moment.
 |
| The winning and only Goal |
We had been to some wonderful sporting events but the noise and passion that emanated from the 30,000 people at Anfield today was like nothing Dan had experienced before, maybe because it meant more, not sure. Either way the boys had won. Liverpool 1 - West Brom 0.
After the game we went back to the Centenary Lounge for complimentary tea and dessert. The couple we had lunch with were there again and we chatted to them about the game and our honeymoon. They had travelled themselves a fair bit and told us about Orlando. They also wanted to know more about Australia as they are planning a trip. Dessert was beautiful. We had little tarts and cake. We ended up leaving at around 5:30pm and grabbed a cab back to the hotel and stopped into the liquor store on the way. The cab driver told us about a Beatles festival in the city that was on at the time. It had bands from all over the world and locally paying tribute to the Beatles but unfortunately our hotel was too far out of town and we didn’t have a car, plus a cab cost around 20 pounds, 1 way to get in. It would’ve been good but we decided to go back to the hotel instead.
There was no ATM at the hotel so for some strange reason we got a cab to go and get money but also ice for drinks. We were able to get some money but no ice. Back at the hotel we went to the bar to ask where else we could get ice from. The barman pointed us in the direction of a free ice machine in the hotel. Far out, that cab ride was a waste of time. We went back upstairs ready to write more of the blog but had a few drinks instead and ended up watching ‘White Chicks’ and ‘Panic Room’ before crashing for the night. Tomorrow we board a train to Milton Keynes to stay with Sam and the boys. Can’t wait!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dan-ev/collections/72157624677997272
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