SFC Uefa 03
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UEFA 1st round, 2nd leg.  
Saints rock Bucharest!  For those about to drink we salute you...ahhhhh.

Drinking atmosphere 5/5, Game 5/5, Northam/Saints fans 5/5 fuckin awesome, Steaua fans 5/5, Pies -none available, Skate chants 5/5, toilets -3/5, Hotel ( Best Western Parc) facilities 5/5 great bar, restaurant, television, mini bar) Taxi 5/5 fantastic experience given the risk of a crash or the wheels falling off, cheap, cracked windows and broken seats for that roller coaster effect, like putting a Ducati engine on a CB125 fuckin get yer motor running. Coach 2/5 it went forward, lost the electrics if it stalled, leaking roof and fucked the front axel, did stop to pick up Saints fans.

So its 4.30 am and Terry and I are off to Bournmouth airport after the night before getting some grub and drinking a few beers to get in mood for the Euro Tour of Bucharest.  We get there only to find no one has arrived from the travel agents who incidentally had changed the airport, originally advertised to go from Eastleigh. There is talk of 3 flights going at 8.00am, 10am and 11am, well you can see why some fans were totally pissed off as if on the 11am flight then you would not be able to get `pissed` and meet all the fans in downtown Bucharest, only enough time to get to hotel then ground.

I find we are on the 8am flight and its off to the bar to get some beer, there was some bacon rolls that looked like buns were made from a used rubber from a plane wheel, I took the bacon out and hey are these free! In the rush for the beers the rolls go flying. The flight took off at 8.30am and when over Bucharest you could clearly see `Parliament Building` the second largest building in the world, the rows of blocks/flats could also be made out in this French influenced former communist eastern European city. The airport was, well shall we say basic. There didn't appear to be any rules or H&S issues as gangs of workers casually walked along the runway as our plane landed. The coach was old and it moved so that's not a bad start, and we had a tour guide who did his best to welcome us all to Romania. On the way we saw amongst the run down flats a flat with a wooden frame work for scaffolding. This was constructed of bits of wood and what looked to be pallets, anyway perched on the roof was someone sawing away at the rafters with nothing to secure him to or no platform to work on. I get the feeling that this is a city with no rules on anything as nut case drivers swerve in front of our coach and in and out of lanes. Driving here is like world super bikes, the same speed, same overtaking tactics but in cars.

We get to the hotel and the Best Western Parc Hotel turns out to be of very good standard. Some Saints fans don't bother to check first and head for the bar which is in the foyer next to the reception desk so why bother queuing to checking when you can get a drink.  The staff at the hotel are all very efficient and soon the bar is the main concern and we all get a few beers in. Now the scramble for taxis begins. With a possible 6 hours drinking, drinking/services or drinking and sight seeing some head off for downtown Bucharest. The queue for the taxis is to big so Terry and I go off down the road to see the `Press House `which is an impressive large
building. On the way we talked to some Romanian Dino fans who are looking for a Saints win, there is also the first stray dog we encounter, Terry tries to say hello but its not interested in attacking us, great perhaps it was the smell of beer? We eventually get in a taxi after another beer, and I negotiate a price to the `Dubliner pub`. Now the taxi is a strange beast, its got wheels but are they secure, a steering wheel with a mind of its own, a nice cracked windscreen, broken seats and looks like its been purchased from a scrap yard. 

The driving was just like the wacky races from the 70s, we start to sing `oh when the Saints..` to Steaua fans in adjacent taxis and our taxi driver joins in, great but he also claps his hands leaving the car to guide it self to the pub. he also shows us the local paper detailing his team Dino and their Euro success, great and he gives me the paper only he has to keep changing his glasses to read. We get to the pub and get a few beers in, and the pub is full of Saints. Terry gets some grub in and I go out to negotiate the next taxi, I come back in the be followed by a bull dog snapping at the air, he soon legs it out the pub as we all stare at it. As the taxi from the hotel to the Dubliner took an age and the traffic was building up nicely, we decided to get to the ground before the rush and get a beer in near the area. Another mad crazy taxi driver drove us at the speed of light a few fet at a time due to the now chronic traffic jams. Eventually he dropped us off right at the ground and for 5$ thats not bad seeing it took bloody ages. We walked around and asked the riot police where the away fans was or to find a pub, nothing was around as the ground is just in a large park. We were told to go through the turnstiles at the front of the ground, here there was loads of riot police on horses, but with no saddle and little control over the beasts, we had to dodge a few in the mud and a few did the side step, Terry had to shift to avoid getting trodden on. Steaua fans came up to us as soon as they realized we were Saints, some just to shake our hand, some to exchange shirts/scarf's, some looked a bit dodgy. Any we went in to the ground with the Steaua as no other Saints around (later found out taxis would only drop them off near the ground) on getting in there was about 1200-1500 riot police, loads of riot vans and again more horses, we walked one way the the other just like Run DMC `walk this way` the police were in confusion and sector 5 was not to be found. Eventually we find the right area, go for a slash in what has to be a very basic bog, I have seen better ar Reading Festival circa 1980.

More photos to follow!

We get in to the Saints area to find we are the first, some Steaua fans walk in and I get the feeling we are in the wrong area but they are only lads after a shirt and no trouble, just as well as loads of riot police in our sector. I hang up my `Saints Bikers St George` flag as the Saints fans now start to stream in. Its no pissing down with rain just like at Cardiff for the FA cup final. More flags are put up and I ask the head riot man if we can put flags up at the first fence closer to the pitch, he says ok and I head down to the front, some of the police look on edge and move forward thinking I'm gona run em or get on the pitch. I set my flag up towards the corner and soon the whole fence and two side are full of Saints flags...nice one!

The Bucharest fans sure do make a lot of noise and create a great atmosphere, but you go to hand it to Saints fans roared Southampton FC on even if at time the front were singing a different song to the lot at the back. The large Saints flag gave us some shelter from the rain and the Steaua fans booed and whistled when they saw the flag and each time we got above there noise level. The players can out for a knock about and Saints fans went crazy giving them a reception they deserve, the Steaua fans booed in disapproval. We give em the `who are ya who are ya` in unison and the atmosphere now really builds up. A few Saints make it in time for KO as they get held up in the pubs and traffic.

The Steaua fans now with a large flag and balloons covering the goal end are jumping up and down and waving scarves, just like the 70s in the Milton End, Saints fans are now just soaking up all the atmosphere and the rain. 

Saints really should have won this game and I'm not saying that just because I am a Saints fan, but we did play well and looked really fit. Phillips headed over the bar, Delap ballooned over the top (may be it was all the balloons in the stadium), Phillips then on a 1 on 1 with the Steaua keeper looked to put us ahead but tapped it to the keepers left hand ( I really thought that was in). Higginbotham put in a great cross for Beattie to do his usual knock down the ball went to Delap but he couldn't convert it to a goal ( was that an easier chance?) Saints kept going and competed well ( why we couldn't play like that against Boro I don't know) Fernandes who had a good game being able to skin the defenders put in a good free kick and M Svensson headed just wide of the right hand post, we sure got a good view of that one. A few more shots were whacked over the top and Phillips had a good effort go just wide. But it was not to be and Steaua scored a good goal on the break that put an end to Saints Euro Tour.

The final whistle went and Saints fans gave the players a good reception as they walked towards the Saints contingent, the steaua fans celebrated and applauded Saints fans too. The riot police said that the Saints fans were the best away fans they had seen for some time with great support for their team.

Saints drank all the booze available at the airport near our hotel and I heared that some fans got a taxi to the wrong airport as two are close by, also as the coach was leaving the hotel there were still many Saints just getting back from getting a pizza, drink, fags from down town Bucharest so I hope there aint someone left still out there!

Good to see Bikers Gordon Wong, John Piernicki, Dave Dewing also Mark, Rich, Winchester lot, Chris the list goes on. That was my second Saints Euro Tour, bring on the third next season!

Saints: Niemi, Dodd, Lundekvam, M Svensson, Higginbotham, Fernandes, Telfer, A Svensson, Delap, Beattie (Tessem 86), Phillips. Subs: Prutton, Ormerod, Hall, Griffit, Folly, Jones.

Steaua Bucharest: Hamutovski, Radoi, Rachita, Aliuta (Falemi 56), Stoica, Bostina, Dumitru, Oprita (Dinita 69), Raducanu (Ogararu 88), Mutica, Paraschiv. Subs: Pitu, Nanu, Tudor Martin , Curt.

Referee: Stefan Johannesson (Sweden).

UEFA 1st round, 1st leg.  
Saints 1 Steaua Bucharest 1
Drinking atmosphere 0/5 (stuck in traffic,) Game 4.5/5, Northam fans 5/5, Steaua fans 4/5, Pies -no thanks, Skate chants 4.75

A great memorable night as Saints are back in Europe for the 7th time ( Europe is just passed the IOW and 7 is a number higher than 0 skates) all the expectation and build up was now over and the battle was here.

The Saints fans made a tremendous noise and the Steaua fans complete with drums also contributed well. 
Saints started nervously and not in control there were 2 instances of crossed going in front of Jones and then Saints were caught napping on 20 minutes when Steaua broke and scored with a surprise goal.
The ball was whipped in on the run from the right by Dumitru and RADUCANU was unmarked as he ran in to  score with a diving header. From then on the technically very good Steaua rallied behind the ball well and tried to attack on the brake as they had the pace.
Svenson, Oakley and SKP all then followed with long range and close quarters shots but all went too high or blocked by the keeper.

The best chance at the Northam was when Anders had a blast which hit the back of Beattie and fell for SKP. SKP side footed shot was blocked by the keeper's legs with the rebound giving him a second chance, but he was off balance and scuffed the shot.

It was now 51 minutes and Saints got what they deserved ,a  Steaua pass went to  SKP who took it on to the right of goal. He was closed down and pushed out further but SKP skill and agility meant he could  hit an angled drive through the keeper and into the far corner, GOAL and St Mary's goes mental. The Northam erupted and the players where boosted and upped the gear. Saints then continued to have most of the play and possession but couldn't break the Steaua defence down to get clear sight of goal. It looked like a second goal from Saints was inevitable but it was not to happen on this Euro night.

A very good display by saints in the second half, but a lot of time wasting and a formation of 1-9-1 will mean a tough second leg away in Romania.

Romania here we come, I and all the rest of the Euro tour fans will be ready to give 300% for the Saints.
Come on you Reds!!!

Southampton: Jones, Dodd, Lundekvam, Michael Svensson, Le Saux, Fernandes, Oakley, Anders Svensson, Marsden, Beattie, Phillips. Subs: Niemi, McCann, Higginbotham, Delap, Tessem, Telfer, Ormerod.

Steaua Bucharest: Hamutovski, Dumitru, Rachita, Radoi, Stoica, Mutica, Aliuta, Falemi, Bostina, Raducanu, Oprita. Subs: Tudor, Paraschiv, Pitu, Neaga, Ogararu, Nanu, Niculescu.

Referee: Tommy Skjerven (Norway).

Revolution Square here I come !

I'm off to Bucharest on my second Saints European Tour as just booked flight and hotel, £349-00 squid.

As dori patru bere (I`d like four beer)
As dori un bilet football (I`d like a football ticket) in case I dont get one in the Saints allocation..

that's all you probably need to know, I suspect Saints will be in the bars most of the time

SFC are running trips for this game and possibly for 600 fans, that would leave a good 1600 for those who have made their own travel and hotel arrangements. More details from the club w/c 9th august.

Many fans have booked up already going from Southampton or Bournmouth for £220, £299 or £329.

Not sure on what the place is going to like but guides say that it is a scenic and mountainous area which has monasteries, parliament, civic offices and museum to visit. Accommodation is expensive and you could get hassled a lot from beggars and the like. Transport, water and electric facilities have improved (whatever that means) so we could be in for a survival session. Mind you bottled beer and packaged food  will do for me. With a population of 2 Million the country appears to be a concrete jungle recovering from the Communist days will it live up to its name of the `Paris of the East`? I suppose we will find out if westernization has developed the Bucharestians into material capitalists. There will be a lot of money flowing in from 2200 Saints fans who will no doubt drink eat and purchase so that should help. Transport is said to be a problem so places of interest will have to be restricted to walking and pub distances! Watch out for pick pockets, taxis could be dodgy if not official ones, don`t exchange your cash in the streets as will get ripped off with dummy wads of notes.

Romanian are said to be generous, but if someone fills your glass half way then that means they want to kill you!! There are many superstitions and legends in this country, dont greet over the threshold of a house,  your like a spider entering the house and the bigger the better, it is said that Romanians inner strength and power comes from alcohol! The Northam Boys should like that then!!

Take a torch, toilet paper, bottle opener, cash £ and off you go!

 
Well here we go..`where all going on a European tour, a European tour` ha ha how often do you here of Skates in Europe, fuckin never. Saints are yet again in Europe and remain the South Coast's top team.

Saints will play Steaua Bucharest of Rumania with the first leg at the Friends Provident St Mary's Stadium on Wednesday September 24 with the return scheduled for October 15. There is already a rush for the home tie tickets and when I went to the travel agents they said they have been inundated with requests for flights and hotels from Saints fans. Steaua Bucharest's ground holds around 28,000 so I would expect a minimum of 2800 tickets but there could easily be 3000 Southampton Boys going over for the away trip.

Steaua won the European Cup in 1986 beating Barcelona 2-0 on penalties in what apparently was a dismal game they then finished runners-up three years later losing 4-0 to AC Milan, but have always been a very good side. I am not sure how they compare to a top 5 team in the Prem but suspect the away game will be very very tough especially with the fans they have. yes this will be one hell of a game to go to, Hamburg in 84 was a superb trip with the Southampton Boys and this will be another make no doubt about it. 

Only 100 tickets from the 2,200 allocation available so if you want to go on the Saints Euro tour and you haven't got a ticket when reading this your probably too late, so get down there now. the home leg has now sold 25,000 and looks to be a sell out.

The ground at Rumania

Looks like an athletics ground and not sure about the DIY roof on one side. But the angle of the seats looks good and its compact so should get a good view.

So hope to add some great action shots of Saints winning the home leg 2-0 and then the away leg drawing 0-0.

Saints are the only club in Hampshire and the only team who can carry the south into Europe and bring some Pride to us southerners.

Its going to be a great night and I can just see the Saints fans giving 100% just as they did in 1984/85 when they lost to Hamburg. I went to the away leg with the `Winchester Boys` and the atmosphere was superb just Saints all over the place in the bars. One bloke went to a night club and we didn't see him again not even on the coach back. A Southampton lad took the shower out the hotel as a souvenir, clever these plumbers, think it was a Mira! 

The Steaua away leg is just a fantastic opportunity for all the new Saints fans to see their club and the Pride of the South in Europe. With 32,000 for the home leg and 2,200 for the away leg its all Southampton on the South Coast.