Match Day 38 a trip to Goodison Park

Aargh 8 o'clock alarm why did I get tickets for this non game   I could be having a lie in

Why do I meet friends and make it a social outing and not simply watching football where I drive in at the last minute, watch and then go home.  Oh that's right because it is boring and it is a bloody good laugh down the pub   So wife up, kids up nice drive to Preston station to be dropped off for the 10.15 train to Liverpool Lime Street, spent the journey on the phone texting everyone to find out what, when and where - The Delaney Brothers (Francos Bruvva and Franco Duff) were in town, they stopped in The Liner had arrived the night before, Trev (BSB) was driving up with Scott (Number 1 was Robert Fleck) and Val, and Hayley (MrsJoeyCole) is at Uni in Liverpool but was revising and would meet us later (good job I'd got her a ticket even though she didn't want one ).  Arrive into Lime Street about 11.20, just got a text from Pirate advance party (we decided at Man Utd to do the last game in Fancy dress) aka Trev, Scott and Val they will be in the Fly In The Loaf at 12.15, big question is what shall I do for nearly an hour in the City of Culture - oh sod It lets go to the pub and have a flyer

Quick walk to the Fly in the Loaf (one of the three pubs we affectionately call the Eternal Triangle - although Mark (celerycelery) announced later a fourth pub has been added so it must now be a square) to find it didn't open till 12.00, so as it was only 11.40 went to the Philharmonic Dining Rooms just up the road (another of the eternal triangle and it was open) so thought it was a shame to not go in and enjoy the decor.  For those that have never been it is described in one review as designed by Walter Aubrey Thomas for the brewers Robert Cain & Company, it opened in 1898. The exterior is in Art Nouveau style.
By the 1960s, the hotel had become a Liverpool institution. The Beatles used to go there, and John Lennon once complained that one of the prices of fame was "not being able to go to the Phil for a drink". The interior has dark wood-panelled walls with copper reliefs, Art Deco lighting and mosaic floor and bar. The main bar is highly decorated with glass grapes and a nearly life-sized golden eagle. As well as the main bar area, the pub also has the spacious Grande Lounge at the rear of the building, and two smaller drinking snugs named Brahms and Liszt. The Grande Lounge has just been restored to the way it was meant to be when the pub was first opened. The current dining room is located on the first floor. The men's toilets are famous for their original, ornate marble urinals, Women are permitted to visit as part of organised tours. The building is a Grade II* listed building.  It is always interesting in the Phil as you just sit there and watch tourists wander in, take some pictures, wander into the mens toilets (men and women) and then leave without buying a drink, some City Centre pubs you would be suspicious of the goings on in there, but completely normal in the Phil, quick read of the paper, sampled one of the 10 real ales on tap, then sauntered to the Fly for just after 12.00.

The Fly in The Loaf hasn't the grandeur of the Phil but another pub with 10 or so real ales, and 50 or so draught/ bottle lagers from all over the world, there is plenty for everyone to choose from.  The Pirate advance party had beaten me in, there room wasn't available to check in so had come straight in.  Trev had apparently asked the receptionist, since the room wasn't ready was there somewhere for a Pirate to get changed, the girl said they could use the toilets in the Beefeater next door.  Imagine the surprise on her face when five minutes later Trev, Scott and Val actually walked back in dressed as pirates , they then got into a taxi and came to the Fly dressed as Pirates (Hayley had assured me that everyone in pubs and taxis, etc was fully used to it as the students and even some locals were always out in fancy dress - don't know how many of them are at 12.00 on a Sunday though   So we decided to get stuck into the 'Grog' as we were pirates, I managed to make my way through half of the Ales and some in multiple quantities (only for research purposes so I would know what some tasted like for the bar at work).  Trev's wig was faulty so he was having to be a bald pirate, it made him look more like Neil from the young ones, our numbers swelled as we drank our Grog and we were soon joined by the Delaney Brothers, Graham (Marco's Highlights), Little Tim (Harry the Wasp), Mark (celerycelery) and Darren and Darren's friend who just wanted to go to Jamie Carragher's bar as he'd pulled the night before Hayley arrived shortly after and we had a few more beers before dividing up into taxi sized groups and heading to the ground.

When we got into the ground, as well as Pirates, there were knights in armour, cavemen, soldiers and even the Stig, clearly we had come for a party.  Good job as the game was dire, both teams seemed to be on the 'beach'.  Not much to report upon, JT hit the post from 35 yards, Ivan scored but was dissallowed, Coleman was sent off (probably harshly) for them then the 10 men stole it after Lamps fell over in the box Beckford ran 90 yards, chipped Cech and scored the only goal of the game.  So all in all that was that for the match, most of the players pissed off straight down the tunnel (maybe a sign some of them won't be seen again) The English boys plus Cech and Ivan, led by Ashley Cole came to the fans to clap them, JT did his usual get nearly naked and gave someone his entire kit. So we headed across Stanley Park to the Arkles, our post match agreed meeting point, we watched SAF and his merry men wandering around Old Trafford with 'Our' trophy, funny to think that a year ago that was our boys and we were the fans partying, but such is a year in football.  Then up flashed the announcement that Ancelotti has been 'sacked', hardly a shock (we are used to dispensing with managers at the drop of a ushanka) but still a surprise and a talking point, we had a few more pints of grog (but now it was the fizzy keg stuff called Fosters - no decent Ales in the Arkles) before I took my leave, having no FA Cup Final (although strangely this year it has already been played) and no Champions League Final, that was it for the year, to head off home, dropping Hayley off back at home en route to the station ( I had given her £10 for a taxi, and as we went together I paid, bloody students)  Got into Lime Street about 9.00 and had 45 minutes to kill before the train so nipped upstairs for a quiet drink and a bit of reflection.  Arrived home safe and sound about 11.00, fully watered and in a 'good' mood according to the wife the next day.  Although she wasn't as I snored and she had to move into the spare room

Well that is the end for this season and as we didn't win the League or the Cup, no Community Shield in early August we will have to actually wait for the season do start all over again at Match Day 1.  New Manager, some new players some old players and new hopes, dreams and expectations, but still with the same friends who you know you can always trust for a good day out