6.00am - Left Barnsley with all the family. 8.30am ish - stopped at services on M5 for a "comfort break" 11.30 am ish - parked in Cardiff centre and got into a Reds designated pub. 1.00pm - got to stadium. 3.00pm -6.30pm Beat the Welsh Sheep Lovers 11.30pm - got home and watched the full game on the Tv Next day - up at 6.00am to go to Tenerife for week long celebration. COYR`s
I was in Icmeler, Turkey. My lad went, he laughed cos I had told him I didnt expect to reach the play offs thats why I had booked the holiday. I watched it in the bar Dream 3 Bells with a Swansea fan who left when the first goal was scored.
I was in Antalya. Got a TXT message in a packed restaurant "won 4-3 on pens, the Reds are going up" to which I then went & totally embarrass my two children. Got a little excited
I was on my stag weekend in Riga. Watched it from a bar there and was presented with a yard of ale to dispense with after the penalty shoot-out. There was a Swansea fan also watching it in the bar, so we were both going through roller-coasters of emotions during the game.
Watched it in a pub in York. Can't remember which one now! As an aside, I generally hate guided tours at the best of times - can't think of anything worse than having to do one the day before a big game.
Good memories drove down with all the family and stayed over on the way back. Remember the wife hugging strangers after the game.
Missed that one cos my stepdaughter got caught in crossfire from a gun fight outside a nightclub the night before the game. What a weekend that was!
Drove down to Cardiff from home in Swadlincote with my 2 sons, watched the game, celebrated in the stadium, drove back stopping off in Monmouth for a curry, celebrated with the many Reds fans in the town, then went home.
Was there and didn't watch one penalty. A superstition of mine. That I keep to this day. Unless 3 or more goals in front. Saw the missed ones at Donny and Forest Green. (Although scored from the rebound.)
We parked in some office building, went into town great atmosphere, really enjoyed the game although not the best view. Had to walk past all the Swansea coaches on the back to car (a little bit intimidating but fecking brilliant)
After that mazy run and dribble, how on earth did Lee Trundle miss that shot from close range, in Extra time. You sort of got the feeling then, that it was going to pens, and that it was also definitely going to be our day.
Went down with my mate, drove down and was late getting to the hotel (some hotel out a bit out of the centre near a roundabout with road sign art) as we’d tried to be clever and cut the corner off by getting off the motorway early - and there were a load of roadworks. It was either a holiday inn or a travelodge, pretty big and as non-descript as any chain hotel - think it was a holiday inn express maybe. Shared a taxi in to the city with some other reds, dropped near the stadium and went straight in, was maybe forty minutes to kick off. After the game, walked into ‘town’ - saw a Swansea fan whack a fellow red on the back of the head and two bouncers from a bar they were walking past ‘correct’ the Swansea fan and his mate for his misdemeanour, whilst welcoming the reds fans in. Me and the mate planned to have a couple of beers, go back to the hotel to get changed into ‘going out’ gear and go back into the city for a good drink and celebration - we both had reds shirts on, with jeans and trainers. Everywhere was allegedly no trainers and no football shirts after a certain time. We never got back to get changed. Not one single bar wouldn’t let us in. Door staff patting us on the back - and in most bars getting cheered. There were plenty of other reds in town who were well hydrated and with a lot of new friends from the Cardiff area. One particular group of very Welsh lads all in Barnsley themed attire, red wigs and the lot, accosted us in Walkabout - the one thing said I remember was (referring to Trundle) - ‘aah boys, you lot making that fat b*****d cry is the funniest thing I’ve seen all year, but’ - and they didn’t let us dip our hands in our pocket all night after that. From about 7pm to leaving at about half one/two - absolutely ballaxed. Me and the mate only spent £50 between us, including beers at the ground, a kebab each and £8 on a taxi back to the hotel. The next morning they had breakfast on in reception - we’d paid room only, lass on reception asked if we wanted breakfast, we said yeah, (think it was maybe about £8 each extra) - she asked if we’d paid, hungover to s.hit wearing out Barnsley shirts and joggers to travel in and looking horrendous generally, we said no - she just laughed and said ‘should I ask again or is that your final answer’ - followed by ‘help yourself lads nobody will notice, you look like you need it’ - so we got breakfast and coffee for nowt, even wrapped up some croissants and fruit for the car home. Absolutely amazing night - the bits I recall at least - and one of the cheapest I’ve ever had. Sadly I don’t remember that much about Cardiff as a night out other than everywhere serving only plastic glasses and bottles.
