As with our previous tours

We are organised, in an 'independent' sort of way, if I were putting it politely. Truth is we're not known as 'The Rabblers' for nothing, and we make our way across the Channel in dribs and drabs, hoepfully all meeting up in time for our football, or not, as the case may be. Sometimes people manage to make it to foreign climes, but are still mysteriously absent from the football, as happened to Paul Griffin not once, but twice, in Belgium in the past. In 2005 he appeared at the ground in the middle of nowhere on the outskirts of Liege, appearing out of the woods, halfway through the RFC Liege tournament. And a year later he got as far as Namur, but failed to get to the ground at CS Onhaye at all! But I digress..this is about 2008!

I was fortunate enough to be in the 'advance party' that arrived on the Wednesday, fortunate in that we saw not one but two football matches that evening. First up was no less than a European Champions League qualifier between Levadia Tallinn & Drogheda United, from the Republic of Ireland. The Irish were two one up from the home leg, which left the tie delicately poised with an 'away goal' for the Estonians. If you're unsure how an away goal works just ask Larry Marsh for an 'Oirish' explanation! Or maybe not...
Anyway a few of us went along to this match, which was enjoyable enough to watch, and it was Irish eyes that were smiling, with a one nil victory, an 'away goal' no less, to clinch the tie three one on aggregate.

This was followed by a dash to meet us with some of the others, who had been sampling the local ales, so to speak, as we went to the small ground next to the National Statium, where are opponents JK Jalgpallihaigla, from the fourth division, had an Estonian FA Cup match away to FC Elva, from the second division. Despite clearly being second best, they had a number of chances. and i thought did themselves proud in only going down by the odd goal in three.
There's a match report-again in Estonian-from their website HERE

Time now for my first photos of the trip...I warn you now there are a lot of them, so sit back and enjoy, or simply log off now! ;-)

This was the old scoreboard, at halftime, in the Kadriogu Stadium.



We were at the far end of this stand, furthest from where I
took this.



The Irish had about 150 fans with them, plenty of colours,
this was my 'pick' of their flags.



This local girl kindly posed for me, a snap for the majority of
our squad who have an eye for the ladies!


And here is the 'Rabblers' contingent at the match!



And so onto the less salubrious setting of the Sportland Arena!
Jalgpallihaigla are in the green.



Open seats, right in the shadow, literally, of the National
Stadium.



And here are some of our lot, supporting Jalgpallihaigla
naturally!



With Shaun Dooley, on his first ever tour, setting the scene
for his weekend, as he meant it to go on! ;-)



This poor girl was subject to a lot of his chat up lines,
which didn't seem to have much effect, I hope her
English wasn't too good, as I can't repeat some of
his choicer ones here on a 'family' site! ;-)