The day was finally here!!!! I finally get to see a Fulham game at Craven Cottage! The morning consisted of super exciting tasks like laundry and making breakfast. This was ok though because the only thing planned for today was the game. We enjoyed the park on the way into the game and even sat down and relaxed for a little bit. I was anything but relaxed though. I for some reason felt nervous, just like the day before. I think again it was me worrying about how fans would react to us being Americans.
Getting into the stadium was easy enough. It is definitely an old stadium made for much smaller people than I am. But when we walked up the stairs and came out of the tunnel it was a beautiful sight. The grass was so green! There was barely anyone in the stand yet so you could see the writing on the seats around the stadium. It was awesome! I was just so happy to be there, you couldn’t wipe the smile off my face. I think with Fulham having won the previous two games it helped the mood around the ground.
As the first half kicked off you could feel the excitement. Definitely a different crowd then at our American sporting events. Very few people wore team gear. It was more like they came in their normal clothes, whereas Americans go over the top with what they wear to most games. I thought it was a really fun first half. Even better was seeing young American Emerson Hyndman (no longer at Fulham) get the start and I thought he played really well. Unfortunately though the other team (Cardiff) scored with not much time left in the half. The goal deflated the crowd a little bit, but I thought we had some bright spots. At the end of the half I made my prediction to my wife, “We are going to score 2 and they won’t score at all.”
The 2nd half started with a bang as we got a goal right out the gates. Good ol’ Scotty Parker with the goal, funny enough now Fulham’s manager. What a feeling being able to celebrate a goal with the home fans. Normally I have to be pretty subdued and quiet as I lie in bed in watching or listening to the game early in the morning in California. The joy and excitement the goal brought really brought the crowd back into the game. This made the 2nd half all that more fun! Then came the ultimate awesome moment. After a couple of missed chances the game was winding down when McCormack had a shot deflected just over the goal. The subsequent corner saw some great hustle, two great passes and pure joy from all over the stadium as that Young American Emerson Hyndman put the winner into the new!! IT WAS AMAZING!!! The perfect game to go to, I really couldn’t believe it!!
WHAT A GAME!!! SO MUCH FUN!! Dot even enjoyed it quite a bit Even on the walk and ride home I couldn’t believe what we just saw. I will always remember that game!! I don’t know when we will get back for another game, but I doubt we will be able to top that.
Nice ride back and enjoyed some delicious pizza for dinner to top off a wonderful day. Has to be one of my favorite days on the trip. I’m so glad it went so well! It would still have been fun if we had lost, but this was just such a perfect first experience at Craven Cottage.
Travel Tales From BB-8 