Summer season - August 2009

First Post - Neil
En route to yet another tough European away fixture in San Sebastian cathedral. Limited travelling supportand suspect the locals have some experienced wily performer.

10 minutes later - Pat
In the intertoto ourselves tonight. (For the less experienced players). Totally stuffed in Florence on Thursday, usual amatuer mistakes, attendance at non-service hours (should have known the big teams only play on a Sunday).
Practised a few late runs from the rear of the cathedral just to get a feel fro the big time (the plating area is huge and a single run to the front alter could take up to 45 seconds). Great experiencebut we realised the Florentines would take us in a competitive match.
Going to a small provincial town for our intertoto fixture but the team are tense and we are wary of the Italian's tactical superiority.

10 mins later - Pat
Is your match being televised?
Kate wants to go for the full immersion in the baptistry in Pisa. There hasn't been an away move like that since Paddy the cripple was last man up in Milan in the late sixties. That was before Neil and Maurice made us aware hat away wins were possible with a series of podium finishes across Europe during the great 90's



1 hour later - Neil
An historic European victory. Despite a cacophony of hymns from partisan locals. And an attempted kiss at home-nations handshake time which had to be repelled with folded arms and a surprised expression. These dagos will use every trick in the book. Made a late run from mid-church watching out for their wingers in the side naves. Wasn't sure I had scored the winner until I turned and saw a small pocket of loyal fans going wild in the pews. Unbelievable!


10 mins later - Pat
Great result!
Feckers and their kissing - they will try anything. Sounds like you held our nerve, the surprised expression is a new move (the same one Joanna's mother used on you? - It pays to play away sometimes). Still worried about the match tonight - loads of cripples collecting money at traffic lights, any one of whom could readily take you from behind during the game. Even saw a man wearing a Lourdes t-shirt - must be their star player. Not a huge crowd expected but it could be rough in the back near the sixth station where the local fanatics and the nuns gather.

20 mins later - Neil
Stay strong - get in early and take up a good position. But be prepared to move. One of the locals here moved 4 times before the kick-off. And another one seemed to get away with a positional change post the whistle. Kneel when you want - play your own game and don't be sucked in by their strange standing-up ploys.

10 min later - Pat
Thanks for tips. There's talk here of a few Africans playing tonight (art dealers lured to Europe in the hope of falling in with one of the great collectors but they were devestated to discover that the McAleese-Gallaghers were summering in Lay La Playa. Meagre picking remining from Jay Lo and Gorgeous George in Tuscany.
Warming up with a few dummy genuflections abd the old last minute lace-tie. Hope it will be enough.

That night - Pat
Bottled it! Not even close. Don't want to talk about it!!
Had a great chance - even thought I had it but some new away rule allowing over-90's to have individual servings after the last man at the rails scupperred us. If we had properly scouted the opposition we would have seen this move and could have had them man-marked with someone in the front row. The Africans didn't turn up by the way. Probably all on the train to Spain. there's always next year!

10 mins later - Neil
Tough luck - did you have a full squad? With the exception of the grande hombre (on tour in Canada) we had a full compliment. Albeit only the 2 seniors togged out for today's match .... and one of them kicks with the wrong foot!

2 days later - Pat
In the airport on our way home. Squad deflated. Will hope for a more favourable draw next year. Some of the French cities are very weak with aging congregations and apathy among the youth offering opportunities for a high finish even at some of the great venues.