My very first European game experience was against Lokeren, and subsequently Groclin in the same season, when we sneaked in through the Fair Play league. It was lashing it down on at least one of those nights and I remember thinking: why the hell am I here watching 50p-head David Sommeil and Steve McPointyspice when I could have watched it on TV in the dry? But there I was, having just finished work I walked to the stadium passing by Toys R'Us and Currys, still wearing a shirt and tie under my massive raincoat, grumbling something about not doing this again.
Fast forward to Tuesday. Weather still pishing it down but what a contrast on the pitch. It was so enthralling that I didn't notice the rain that night. Our performance was close to perfection and still has the media waxing lyrical about us. Can we sustain this to the summit? Time will tell. Right now, I'm still buzzing. To coin a phrase: "I'm so happy, no?".
C'mon City.
My first European game
posted on 13/4/23
Having re-read it. I'm not even sure those games were available on TV at the time...
posted on 13/4/23
God I remember those. Just after we moved to the new stadium. We scraped in on fair play and lasted just the two games as I recall. The last great European night I remember before that was when we ran AC Milan ragged at Maine road (Peter Barnes!!!) - before we went out to Borussia Mönchengladbach.
I queued for hours at the stadium to get a ticket for the Groclin game. I think the queue was more fun than the game. We've come on a lot since then!
posted on 13/4/23
To coin a phrase from a famous City fan on about having it all.
"Am I happy? No! I want more!"
More apt
posted on 13/4/23
Went to TNS, Lokeren and Groclin away that season.
Not exactly the Grand Tour Victorian gentlemen went on in the 1800’s
posted on 13/4/23
comment by Boris 'Inky’ Gibson (U5901)
posted 2 hours, 25 minutes ago
Went to TNS, Lokeren and Groclin away that season.
Not exactly the Grand Tour Victorian gentlemen went on in the 1800’s
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I think that when you've actually heard of your opponents, you know that your European profile is on the up and up. Why is it so many European sides sound more like a scrabble hand than a football team?
posted on 13/4/23
comment by Kamikaze Blue (U7450)
posted 6 hours, 57 minutes ago
God I remember those. Just after we moved to the new stadium. We scraped in on fair play and lasted just the two games as I recall. The last great European night I remember before that was when we ran AC Milan ragged at Maine road (Peter Barnes!!!) - before we went out to Borussia Mönchengladbach.
I queued for hours at the stadium to get a ticket for the Groclin game. I think the queue was more fun than the game. We've come on a lot since then!
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So if you can't remember the rain whilst queuing, then it was Lokeren when it was lashing down.
posted on 13/4/23
comment by Boris 'Inky’ Gibson (U5901)
posted 3 hours, 6 minutes ago
Went to TNS, Lokeren and Groclin away that season.
Not exactly the Grand Tour Victorian gentlemen went on in the 1800’s
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So no monocle and Bentley then?
I can't remember the reason why I didn't go to TNS at home...
posted on 14/4/23
comment by mancWoohoo - 🧘 (U10676)
posted 18 hours, 43 minutes ago
comment by Kamikaze Blue (U7450)
posted 6 hours, 57 minutes ago
God I remember those. Just after we moved to the new stadium. We scraped in on fair play and lasted just the two games as I recall. The last great European night I remember before that was when we ran AC Milan ragged at Maine road (Peter Barnes!!!) - before we went out to Borussia Mönchengladbach.
I queued for hours at the stadium to get a ticket for the Groclin game. I think the queue was more fun than the game. We've come on a lot since then!
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So if you can't remember the rain whilst queuing, then it was Lokeren when it was lashing down.
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I just remember the queue being achingly slow. Our ticketing is a bit more slick these days!