Friday 14 September 2007

More Estonian thoughts...

this time from team organiser Andrew Tucker, who was instrumental in setting up the tour:

"The tour to Tallinn was one of my favourites. Having been involved with running the team, and subsequently doing a lot of the organisation for the tour, for about three years, this was undoubtedly one of the best! I was quietly pleased with just how smoothly most of it went. Eight (I think) of us picked up a taxi from Champion Hill at some ungodly hour in the morning on the Thursday and got to Stansted within about fifty minutes. We then had the traditional fry-up at the airport before strolling through passport control, wandered round the shops then on to the gate.
The flight left apporximately on time, and before we knew it we were in Estonia. We then all got cabs to the hotel. And were greeted by Hutty and Big Nose wondering why their name wasn't at the hotel. Read your e-mails you buffoons! Anyway, we all checked in with little fuss and were up and running. Madis kindly came and joined us for some lunch/dinner before taking us to a UEFA Cup game that FC Flora Tallinn were playing where we saw some more of our friends from JK Jalgpallihaigla. The next day saw a few more join us and then that evening, the first major problem. Lucas Green was stranded by the floods in England and had missed his flight. Whilst everyone else enjoyed the food and company at the pub we were at, I spent most of the time on the phone or texting to work out what could be done. Could we change kick-off time, as he may be able to get here for 1 0'clock if he goes via Prague? Hang on, what about a flight to Helsinki, then a ferry? A quick stop at Kiev before boarding? As the price and air miles racked up, it became increasingly apparent it wasn't going to happen. When all of a sudden, he says 'Hang on' and hangs up! The next thing I know I get a text saying he will be on the Easyjet flight from Stansted the following morning as someone has dropped out. One of those 'happenings' which are a pain at the time, but will live long in the memory as 'making the tour'. And I settled back to the strange concoction of food in front of me, relaxing in the knowledge we now had thirteen players again!
So onto the game itself the next morning. I was very proud of our boys (& girl) who worked incredibly hard throughout. Six goals for Gaffer Marsh-surely a Club record that will never be beaten-,the greatest own goal of all time by Mr Griffin, and a water bottle in the balls for our very own Belgian Admiral! Despite the result, we all enjoyed the game and enhanced our friendship with the Estonians which was the real point of the tour! A good night out was had by all, including Lucas providing more entertainment by getting into a fight with the Russian taxi-driver. Bloody drunken tight wad!
I don't remember much about the Sunday except for the evening where the squad went out for a meal together. Both Lawrence & I were very grateful for everyone paying for our food that night-it really was appreciated. The evening got better as we reitred to the hotel back yard and entertained the rest of the hotel with Daddy O'Shaughnessy's collection of punk rock, heavy metal & assorted jurassic tunes from the seventies, the pick of the bunch being 'Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me' by those shy, retiring lads from 'Rage Against The Machine'. Due to the amount of noise we were making we were forced to adjourn indoors to the hotel bar, where the chap behind the jump kept us entertained with a Shakin' Stevens album(I kid you not!) and we entertained ourselves with a rather childish but very funny peanut fight. Then it was time to say goodnight. Apparently Mick spent a good thirty minutes throwing up in the toilet later, much to Shailer's disgust as Mick had their room key. Hutty provided the cabaret in the corridor for Vern, the Gaffer & me by announcing to the world 'Farewell comrades!', turning to his bedroom door and squealing 'Oooooh, I've locked myself out!'
Monday saw the majority of the squad leave, thus the tour 'proper' ended. I was very pleased with how it went-very little in the way of hiccups (at least ones we could have avoided) and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. We look forward to hopefully returning next year, at the same time conquering Latvia, as we also hope to play a match in Riga."

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