One of the HJK number, Sansom (almost certainly spelt wrong, sorry mate!) met our lot as we got off the boat. We were then delayed, as some were late from their hotel, and then we had to wait for someone else who had dashed off to book in their hostel! The result of which was we only palyed 20 minutes each way, instead of the pre-arranged shortened game of half hour each half. But that didn't detract from a close game, played in great spirit between two evenly matched sides. With plenty of rolling substitutions so everyone could partake in the fun. David O'Shaughnessy scored our goal in a one-one draw, Larry Marsh 'diplomatically' blasting a penalty wide over the bar, that would have clinched the match for us! And they even did a programme! And the pitch was superb, played on the all weather surface of their Junior training ground, right next door to their main Finnair Stadium! We were impressed!
Dawn Taylor was again voted our player of the match, and she also got the same award from their team. so it was rather fitting that she had been our captain for the day!
After the match, rather than use the changing rooms we strolled round to the open air swimming pool by behind the adjacent Olympic Stadium, where the 1952 games were held. Presumably this pool was part of those games. Apparently Mishi screeched a bit when he got in the cold water, and half the pool heard him!
After a hot, but relaxing naked sauna (yes, really, it's the local custom; though Larry refused!) we headed to their local, the aptly named Pub Fidel! It was almost if they knew Hutty was with us!
Not only had they got free tickets for the evening game, they presented us all with membership cards for their Supporters' Club, which they had signed us all up for!
After a few drinks we headed to the match, but not before we'd been shown round their trophy room! And the small gift we'd presented to them they said would go on display there, as they were the first HJK side this season to have had a European fixture!
After a quick visit to the club shop we went to the game, where their First Team put on a bit of a show for us, winning four nil. And then it was back to Pub Fidel for a quick post match pint, before dashing in taxis back to the port, for our boat back to Tallinn. It was with real, genuine sadness that we bade farewell.
I hope that the Forza HJK brigade will one day play us in London, if it is logistically possible & affordable for them. I know that, after the start of a friendship like this, we will certainly return in a few years time to play them again.
Wonderful people from a great club.
I didn't take as many snaps, you'll be pleased to know, as I did in Estonia. Here are the ones from the supporters' match:
The boat's arrived, now all we need is Darren to return from
his hostel & we can go!
hopefully the tram will be here soon!
A bit of history for us...not only our first ever match in Finland;
but the first time a woman has captained us, and also the only time
both captains have been girls too.
Dirty Dulwich!
Penalty! Oh dear...
Dawn appears to be leaning in on the keeper a bit too much!
And so to the team snaps at the end!
Lucas can't speak the local lingo. Any idea what he's trying
to convey with sign language? ;-)
Our gaffers present a Hamlet shirt to their man of the match.
The chap in the blue is Vellu. the man from Forza HJK
who made the game possible.We are indebted to him.
Dawn has her hands on a HJK shirt, presented to her as their
choice for our player of the match. She also won our team vote.
Now if i was a crude person I'd suggest they were talking about
kit-kat chocolate fingers, but I'm not, so I won't! ;-)
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