Semi Final Day
Please forgive this terribly image heavy post but I feel a need to populate it with as many pictures as possible. Yesterday was the FA Cup semi-final which here in the UK is quite a big deal. For G it was an even bigger deal as for the first time in something like eighty years, his boys, Cardiff City Football Club were in it, with a chance of going to the final. So when yesterday dawned with a more than faint covering of snow we were all rather horrified.
However, by the time the tube pulled out out of the darkness the clouds were on the way to clearing to a bright yet cold day.
I had never been to the old Wembley Stadium so I can’t really compare but the new place is fantastic!Made even better if I do say so by the addition of a very large banner!
I’m not Welsh, I’m English and proud but even I felt a sense of pride when I saw this banner knowing that I was there to support the Bluebirds. Their fans are giving a rough reception at a lot of places due to their reputation for being somewhat unpleasant but yesterday there wasn’t a sign of it to be seen.
I did feel the most incredible shiver of excitement when I saw this too. The inside of the stadium is quite dark and when you look through the doors to the pitch itself it seems even more vibrant!
We were on the ground level with amazing seats and an incredible view.
And when it started to fill up our side was a sea of blue.
G was beside himself with nerves and excitement.
I can’t actually remember much of the match. Cardiff scored after nine minutes and there was much excitement and jumping about. I remember that. I remember the two semi nekid men in our row who really shouldn’t have been. I remember singing, oh much singing! Other than that it is pretty much a blur. An ecstatic one that seem doesn’t real due to this:
THEY DID IT! They won! They are in the finals! On the train on the way home, G, his Mum, Brother and I were all saying how it really didn’t seem real. How after all this time of supporting quite a poorly performing team that causes them so much heartbreak that they actually produced the goods.
I’m thrilled and excited too obviously. But not so much for the same reasons as them. I’ve only been following City since I met G and even then I have a lukewarm relationship with them as they do seem to take over our lives at times. But to see this
was indescribable. He was so overjoyed that I had a tear in my eye. I love Cardiff City in spite of myself these days and it is because they do this to my boy.
I never understood the relationship between people (mostly men) and their sports teams. But I agree, that look of joy is worth a train ride and a game in the snow.
I watched the match on the tv in sunnier climes, having scored so early we were left with the remaining eighty odd minutes in a state of… well words cannot describe the tension, had to leave the room on several occasions !! Yes a tear was shed here too, of relief and happiness for G !!
I’m a bit indifferent to footie too but I can see how exciting it must be to go to a match like this one. I’ve watched plenty of amateur games supporting my son and you do get caught up in the football fever. Great day out for you!
i’m a football sufferer – wayne is a supporter, i’m the sufferer; sadly our team is newcastle, who seem to do appallingly and just hover around 11-14th place.
i relish the times, scarce as they are, when the team do well and he relaxes for a day or two… til the next match.
good luck in the final, cardiff!
OMG I am sooo jealous ;-) I love football!
I watched it all on tv.
For my sins, I support Torquay United (don’t you dare laugh! Someone has to!)
We are already scheduled to appear at Wembley in the FA Trophy final..and hopefully we will get to the play off final and win back league status.
What a great day for you! I assume you will be going to the final as well?!! Sal;-)
I am not a big football fan but do live with 2! Wembley must have been quite an experence, I went to the old wembley and have only got as close as Ikea to the new one!
Here via Bellsknits blog.
How exciting to have been to Wembley. And happiness for Cardiff.
Being in the Great South Land, I tend to sleep lots on Saturday afternoon to prepare me for late night sittings in front of the tv for the direct EPL telecasts. I didn’t grow up in (as we say) a soccer environment, and I can’t watch any old match, but the top flight matches are worth being awake at 3am for.