Away day - Chasetown 20.01.24

Some away days are just better than others, for whatever reason. Normally, the team winning helps but the trip to Chasetown was a belter and we got spanked 4 nil! 

It started out with a sore head for yours truly after a few too many the night before but I arrived just before the 11am departure time and parked myself next to Matthaus Braun. Then just in the nick if time, Liam made it onboard with a hangover that made mine laughable.

Liam struggling some what with his hangover.

We were making good time on the journey there and we even had time for a 20 minute service stop so the players could benefit from stretching their legs ahead of the game - I hate to think what the score line might've been had they not had this luxury.

You can't spy on me: covering the coach camera with a glove.

On previous trips where fans travel on the players coach, we have purchased a 'present' that is to be given out to the player of the match. Previous 'prizes' have included a water gun and a charity shop vinyl record. Todays was a squidgy light-up ball with a dinosaurs head in it!

The man of the match prize. 

Mugger getting into his car.

Once back onboard, we arrived in Chasetown around 40 minutes later. Fans were dropped off in between two boozers. Everyone bar Mugger, Matthaus Braun and myself went to the Miners, whilst we went to the Uxbridge Arms - mainly because Mr Braun had brought his own darts and was very keen to have a game, so Mugger and I amused him, even though I'm terrible.

Mr. Braun strutting his stuff.

Believe it or not, but despite my shocking scoring, I some how managed to win this game. It only took me 45 darts!

The Uxbridge itself was an absolutely cracking pub, one of the best if not the best away day pub I've visited.

A superb array of beers on offer.

Having sampled a couple, I chose No.5 on the board. It was a lush pint!

Having licked his wounds, Matt managed to whoop me in the next game just in time for the rest of our motley crew to see as they piled in after their pint in the Miners. Killer darts now ensued with about 15 people taking part plus one of the locals who we invited in. 

Killer darts. Charlie the Whore Morton proved to be quite the arrows men. 

After one last pint, this time No.11, Matt and myself made the 400 yard walk to the ground. Beers and scran purchased, we set up camp behind the goal to which we were shooting. We were in good form; pretty much 45 minutes of non-stop singing and being told to be quiet by some Chasetown yoot and another local telling us that he could no longer listen to the Stone Roses again after our rendition of 'I Wanna Be Trafford'. Half-time came and went. We walked around to the other end of the pitch ready to belt out some more support. Matt B had positioned himself in the stand directly behind the goal. Then we looked at the other stand, known as 'The Stag Bar'. Even though it was further away from the pitch, we decided we'd make it our stand. 

We took over the stand and made some great noise and had some even better laughs up there!

The only issue was to get more beer, you had to keep going down and back up a set of stairs. Very inconvenient. Fear not, I had a plan that Muggsy aimed to execute. We wrote a note, and with some string that Muggsy had in the flag bag, attached the note to it and then lowered it down to the barman below.

Our polite request...

 

… and the barman's brilliant response 😂

So it was down and back up the stairs after all. Never mind. 

We were then joined on the top terrace by a group of foul mouthed kids with thick, Brummie accents. They were harmless enough though and whilst we couldn't understand most of what they were saying, the F-word was definitely one of the verbs used in telling us to go home.

As the teams performance got worse, ours got better. We weren't going to leave with our tails between our legs. We're Trafford and proud! More goals went in for Chasetown and then the final whistle. 

Whilst we didn't like what it said, the scoreboard at Chasetown is impressive.

We headed to the bar for some consolation pints, but it was heaving! Like queues all around Chasetown. So, we quickly made the call, and against Foxxy's wishes, to head back to The Uxbridge Arms. Muggsy was then given strict instructions that we all had to be outside the pub for 18:00 hours, sharpish!

More games of killer darts later and some pints of a new chocolatey beer that appeared on the menu later, it was time to go. The coach was late, so we entertained ourselves by belting out some Trafford songs for the locals to hear. It was all harmless fun, but at one point the bar manager came bursting out to tell us to get down from the outside benches!

Waiting for the coach.

Still waiting for the coach.

Then, in the distance, we saw the coach coming, so we decided to cause a road blockade... we wanted to make sure it stopped for us! Although, I'll be honest, I don't think we would've minded getting left behind - Chasetown was ace. The boozer was ace. The whole day was ace (despite the result). I'd go as far to sat that Chasetown is the best away day in the league along with Clitheroe. 

Trafford road blockade.

As I got on the coach, the players started getting off - what's going on? There was a shop just across the road, and as way of saying sorry I guess for their performance, they were going to buy us all some beers for the trip home! Top guys! The trip home had the coach giving out renditions of 'Trafford Don't Worry' and many other songs. All the new players completed their initiation songs - Jerome Wright was particularly class on the wine microphone! 

Liam The Fire Maguire decided to take his top off at some point, then when he went to put it back on, it was nowhere to be seen. Kindly, Seany Higgins is a white saved his blushes by giving him one of his training tops.

The Fire Maguire after nearly being arrested for indecent exposure.

We were then treated to an absolutely wonderful duet with Jack Donaghue and Niall Jordan and Jack announcing that 'Niall is my best fwend!' Awwww!

Falks, the Trafford hooligan, then shared that he had got up on stage at the clubhouse (after we'd left for the Uxbridge) and gave a rousing speech which recieved a round of applause from the Chasetown locals. I've no idea what he said, but what a legend! Then, after one or two turns around some corners, Muggsy fell and somehow cracked/broke his ribs, as a result, he spent a lot of Sunday afternoon in A&E... ooops! Liam then closed proceedings with his version of 'My Way', before the coach arrived back at Trafford FC. 

Liam mid-way through 'My Way'

Most of us piled into the Bird for a few more and some chat about tactics, times gone by and picked the squads for an upcoming players/fans match (if Foxxy allows us). In Muggsy's absence, Charlie the Whore Morton took turns with me in picking a player and a fan each. 16 in total. I've no idea who I picked, but luckily Bob Worrall took down the details.

CAN NOT WAIT!

Overall, what a day. Result a side. The players are wonderful and our supporters are even better. I love my club! Viva La Trafford!