LFC on the road - 2007-2008 season
Malaysia
By the time the new season had kicked off, I had been through China and Vietnam and arrived in Malaysia on my orang-utan volunteering program. First couple of weeks we were stationed in Taiping on the mainland, working in the local zoo, but weekends were free to escape to the islands and I was in Penang for the opening day of the season.
Date: 11/08/07 Game: Premier League vs Aston Villa (A)
Location: Holiday Inn, Penang
With the late kickoff and being a bit tired from the work and travelling, I caught the game in the hotel room before falling asleep. The great thing about travelling in Asia is that if you have any access to a TV, then generally you’ll see almost every game. Good start to the season with a late Gerrard stunner picking up a valuable three points.
Date: 19/08/07 Game: Premier League vs Chelsea (H)
Location: Apartment, Taiping
We made it back to Taiping on the Sunday evening from a weekend in Langkawi in plenty of time to catch the first big game of the season. Luckily we had satellite TV in the apartment and I had warned the girls many days in advance that Sunday night was football night. Local sensibilities meant we couldn’t drink beer in the apartment as our guides were Muslims, which just didn’t feel right for such a game. Nevertheless, Torres opened his account with a cracking goal and we dominated until a shocking penalty decision gifted the Londoners a point. Frustrating.
By the time the new season had kicked off, I had been through China and Vietnam and arrived in Malaysia on my orang-utan volunteering program. First couple of weeks we were stationed in Taiping on the mainland, working in the local zoo, but weekends were free to escape to the islands and I was in Penang for the opening day of the season.
Date: 11/08/07 Game: Premier League vs Aston Villa (A)
Location: Holiday Inn, Penang
With the late kickoff and being a bit tired from the work and travelling, I caught the game in the hotel room before falling asleep. The great thing about travelling in Asia is that if you have any access to a TV, then generally you’ll see almost every game. Good start to the season with a late Gerrard stunner picking up a valuable three points.
Date: 19/08/07 Game: Premier League vs Chelsea (H)
Location: Apartment, Taiping
We made it back to Taiping on the Sunday evening from a weekend in Langkawi in plenty of time to catch the first big game of the season. Luckily we had satellite TV in the apartment and I had warned the girls many days in advance that Sunday night was football night. Local sensibilities meant we couldn’t drink beer in the apartment as our guides were Muslims, which just didn’t feel right for such a game. Nevertheless, Torres opened his account with a cracking goal and we dominated until a shocking penalty decision gifted the Londoners a point. Frustrating.
For the next two games, I was in a part of Asia even the Premier League marketers had yet to reach. The Borneo jungle is pretty much as far from civilisation as possible without the hint of TV or phone coverage so we were completely isolated from the outside world. Even here though, LFC’s popularity penetrates as Francis, our Iban guide, was a devoted Liverpool fan. Arrived back in Kuching a week later to the good news of victories over Sunderland and Toulouse.
Date: 01/09/07 Game: Premier League vs Derby County (H)
Location: Kuching, Borneo
I had decided to stay on in Kuching for a few days before flying back to KL so on Saturday night headed out to what looked like a sports bar to catch the league game against Derby. Very strange place and a local girl, in all likelihood a bloke, joined me at my table just after I got my drink. I tried to be polite while making it clear I was here for the game before she eventually got the message. Still there was no atmosphere in the bar so for the second half I headed back to the hostel and its rooftop bar. The Singgahsana Lodge is probably the best hostel in the world with a fantastic bar, even if they’ve only got cans of Tiger to drink. I sank into one of their super comfortable chairs and enjoyed a nice 6-0 demolition with a Torres brace.
Location: Kuching, Borneo
I had decided to stay on in Kuching for a few days before flying back to KL so on Saturday night headed out to what looked like a sports bar to catch the league game against Derby. Very strange place and a local girl, in all likelihood a bloke, joined me at my table just after I got my drink. I tried to be polite while making it clear I was here for the game before she eventually got the message. Still there was no atmosphere in the bar so for the second half I headed back to the hostel and its rooftop bar. The Singgahsana Lodge is probably the best hostel in the world with a fantastic bar, even if they’ve only got cans of Tiger to drink. I sank into one of their super comfortable chairs and enjoyed a nice 6-0 demolition with a Torres brace.
India
By the time we were in action again after the international break I was in India and as part of my teaching volunteering program I was now located in a village in the northern state of Himachal Pradesh. A beautiful area and one of the highlights of my trip but not the best place to catch any football. This is cricket country and at Camp Bindraban (the volunteers home) there was no football and only a painfully slow internet connection to stay abreast of developments back home. It was a frustrating time for the team as well, both in the league and Europe with a series of draws and a home loss to Marseille. During a weekend trip to Manali though, I did manage to catch the highlights of a win at Wigan thanks to a Benayoun goal.
Date: 07/10/07 Game: Premier League vs Spurs (H)
Location: Agra
The volunteering over, an overnight train took us back to Delhi and onto Agra to visit the Taj Mahal. We were staying in a reasonably nice hotel (by Indian standards) and arrived in time to catch the Spurs game on the hotel TV. Another frustrating game, but at least a late Torres header spared us from a home loss.
Date: 20/10/07 Game: Premier League vs Everton (A)
Location: Smuggler’s Inn, Palolem, Goa
Before the next game I had spent a week chilling out in Kerala and was making my way up to Mumbai. For the Goodison derby, I was in Palolem in Goa and found a British pub, the Smuggler’s Inn, for a most amusing derby game with two Kuyt penalties earning us a 2-1 victory and David Moyes apoplectic with some refereeing decisions.
Date: 24/10/07 Game: Champions League group game vs Besiktas (A)
Location: Mumbai
After a poor start to the Champions League campaign, a victory was much needed in Turkey. Time differences meant a very late start in India, but luckily the local sports channel had chosen the Liverpool game to broadcast (based on viewer demand over the Madrid game!). A dodgy hotel TV, couple of Kingfishers and another disappointing result left us on the brink on an early exit from Europe.
Location: Smuggler’s Inn, Palolem, Goa
Before the next game I had spent a week chilling out in Kerala and was making my way up to Mumbai. For the Goodison derby, I was in Palolem in Goa and found a British pub, the Smuggler’s Inn, for a most amusing derby game with two Kuyt penalties earning us a 2-1 victory and David Moyes apoplectic with some refereeing decisions.
Date: 24/10/07 Game: Champions League group game vs Besiktas (A)
Location: Mumbai
After a poor start to the Champions League campaign, a victory was much needed in Turkey. Time differences meant a very late start in India, but luckily the local sports channel had chosen the Liverpool game to broadcast (based on viewer demand over the Madrid game!). A dodgy hotel TV, couple of Kingfishers and another disappointing result left us on the brink on an early exit from Europe.
East Africa
It may not be as isolated as the Borneo rainforest, but catching games whilst overlanding through East Africa and staying at campsites was always going to be challenging. Satellite TV wasn’t available at most campsites and the relentless truck travel frequently clashed with match times. On the plus side, results improved during the African trip, both in the league and in pulling off a miraculous escape in the Champions League to qualify for the knockout stages.
We were travelling from Nairobi to the Masai Mara during the home game with Arsenal so we arrived to hear the news of a 1-1 draw. The following weekend I managed to catch the highlights of the away trip to Blackburn at a bar in Kabale, Uganda on our way back from seeing the mountain gorillas in Rwanda. Turned out to be another frustrating draw however as we fell further behind in the league.
A few days later we arose early in Jinja to drive back to Kenya and I woke up to a nice text saying we’d beaten Besiktas 8-0 and set a new Champions League record. It took a while to convince some of the other lads on the truck that the score line was accurate but that was a much needed boost for the long drive ahead. There was no chance to see the following victories against Fulham and Newcastle but for the must-win Champions League tie at home to Porto in late November we had made it as far south as Zambia.
It may not be as isolated as the Borneo rainforest, but catching games whilst overlanding through East Africa and staying at campsites was always going to be challenging. Satellite TV wasn’t available at most campsites and the relentless truck travel frequently clashed with match times. On the plus side, results improved during the African trip, both in the league and in pulling off a miraculous escape in the Champions League to qualify for the knockout stages.
We were travelling from Nairobi to the Masai Mara during the home game with Arsenal so we arrived to hear the news of a 1-1 draw. The following weekend I managed to catch the highlights of the away trip to Blackburn at a bar in Kabale, Uganda on our way back from seeing the mountain gorillas in Rwanda. Turned out to be another frustrating draw however as we fell further behind in the league.
A few days later we arose early in Jinja to drive back to Kenya and I woke up to a nice text saying we’d beaten Besiktas 8-0 and set a new Champions League record. It took a while to convince some of the other lads on the truck that the score line was accurate but that was a much needed boost for the long drive ahead. There was no chance to see the following victories against Fulham and Newcastle but for the must-win Champions League tie at home to Porto in late November we had made it as far south as Zambia.
Date: 28/11/07 Game: Champions League group game vs FC Porto (H)
Location: Somewhere on Lake Kariba, Zambia
Our penultimate stop in Africa was an excellent campsite on Lake Kariba in Zambia, complete with satellite TV for the crucial European tie. Unfortunately before kickoff we were booked on the sunset Zambezi cruise, also known as the “Booze Cruise”. Between 4pm and 6pm the boat sailed up and down the Zambezi with a help yourself bar on board. By the time we disembarked we were pretty boozed up, by kick-off I had trouble focusing on the screen. I do recall getting stroppy with the bar owner when he switched off the game to put on some awful music which resulted in me missing some of the goals as we stormed to a 4-1 victory and it took me a while the next day to remember what happened and be sure I hadn’t dreamed the score.
Location: Somewhere on Lake Kariba, Zambia
Our penultimate stop in Africa was an excellent campsite on Lake Kariba in Zambia, complete with satellite TV for the crucial European tie. Unfortunately before kickoff we were booked on the sunset Zambezi cruise, also known as the “Booze Cruise”. Between 4pm and 6pm the boat sailed up and down the Zambezi with a help yourself bar on board. By the time we disembarked we were pretty boozed up, by kick-off I had trouble focusing on the screen. I do recall getting stroppy with the bar owner when he switched off the game to put on some awful music which resulted in me missing some of the goals as we stormed to a 4-1 victory and it took me a while the next day to remember what happened and be sure I hadn’t dreamed the score.
North & Central America
It was mid-January when I went back on the road, this time travelling around the southern US then into Mexico, Guatemala and Cuba. Results had been poor over Christmas – despite a magnificent victory in Marseille to seal qualification to the Champions League knockout stages, in the league we lost our first games and then suffered a frustrating series of draws. Bars and satellite TVs are obviously much more readily available in North America compared to some of my previous destinations but the time difference and the lower popularity of the Premier League in this part of the world meant it was just as challenging to catch the games.
Date: 21/01/08 Game: Premier League vs Aston Villa (H)
Location: Fado Irish Pub, 214 West 4th Street, Austin, Texas
It was mid-January when I went back on the road, this time travelling around the southern US then into Mexico, Guatemala and Cuba. Results had been poor over Christmas – despite a magnificent victory in Marseille to seal qualification to the Champions League knockout stages, in the league we lost our first games and then suffered a frustrating series of draws. Bars and satellite TVs are obviously much more readily available in North America compared to some of my previous destinations but the time difference and the lower popularity of the Premier League in this part of the world meant it was just as challenging to catch the games.
Date: 21/01/08 Game: Premier League vs Aston Villa (H)
Location: Fado Irish Pub, 214 West 4th Street, Austin, Texas
The Monday evening kickoff meant a nice lunchtime game in Austin. This pub seemed to be the location of choice for Austin-based LFC fans to watch games and there was a decent crowd. One of the guys there mentioned that Tom Hicks had occasionally come in to watch games and speak to the fans. Thankfully he didn’t make an appearance that day or I might be on Texas Death Row now. The game started well but two Villa goals left us requiring a late Crouch effort to achieve yet another draw.
For the next few games I was stuck on some long Greyhound journeys so wasn’t able to see a defeat at West Ham, comfortable victory against Sunderland or the bizarre FA Cup game against Havant and Waterlooville. By the Chelsea game I had reached San Diego, staying in a friend’s apartment on Ocean Beach, so was able to rise early on Sunday morning to watch the game on their TV. Pretty monotonous affair though and ended goalless.
For the next few games I was stuck on some long Greyhound journeys so wasn’t able to see a defeat at West Ham, comfortable victory against Sunderland or the bizarre FA Cup game against Havant and Waterlooville. By the Chelsea game I had reached San Diego, staying in a friend’s apartment on Ocean Beach, so was able to rise early on Sunday morning to watch the game on their TV. Pretty monotonous affair though and ended goalless.
Date: 19/02/08 Game: Champions League 2nd round vs Inter Milan (H)
Location: Melaque, Mexico
Mexico proved just as challenging. I was (thankfully) stuck on a day long bus trip to Guadalajara for the embarrassing defeat to Burnley in the FA Cup. For the crucial Champions League tie against Inter Milan, I was in the small beach town of Melaque, chilling for a few days. Not the kind of place with bars showing European football so I ensured the hotel had satellite TV and watched the game on Mexican ESPN. The small screen TV and Spanish commentary wasn’t ideal but it was nice to sip a beer and relax in the pool after the game, basking in the 2-0 victory over the Italians.
Location: Melaque, Mexico
Mexico proved just as challenging. I was (thankfully) stuck on a day long bus trip to Guadalajara for the embarrassing defeat to Burnley in the FA Cup. For the crucial Champions League tie against Inter Milan, I was in the small beach town of Melaque, chilling for a few days. Not the kind of place with bars showing European football so I ensured the hotel had satellite TV and watched the game on Mexican ESPN. The small screen TV and Spanish commentary wasn’t ideal but it was nice to sip a beer and relax in the pool after the game, basking in the 2-0 victory over the Italians.
Lake Atitlan, Panajachel, Guatemala
Date: 11/03/08 Game: Champions League 2nd round vs Inter Milan (A)
Location: Panajachel, Guatemala
After the Inter game, we went on a bit of a roll, winning four straight league games, though I was only able to catch the win at Bolton on a delayed live stream at a hotel in Cancun. For the return leg at the San Siro, I was in Panajachel, Guatemala on the banks of Lake Atitlan. Determined to see this crucial game, I checked a sports bar in town to see if they were showing the game. They assured me they were (from the crude “Spanglish” conversation we had) but when I turned up for kickoff, the bar was closed. Had to run back to the hotel, collecting a few local beers on the way, and see another game on small screen Mexican ESPN. Not ideal but a beautiful Torres goal sealed a great victory.
The final game on my travels was an away trip to Old Trafford. Luckily as it turned out I couldn’t find anywhere to watch the game in Havana on a Sunday morning and so missed the 3-0 defeat. A week later it was back to the UK for a great run of fixtures that included the Champions League quarter final against Arsenal before the season petered out after the semi-final exit at Stamford Bridge.
Location: Panajachel, Guatemala
After the Inter game, we went on a bit of a roll, winning four straight league games, though I was only able to catch the win at Bolton on a delayed live stream at a hotel in Cancun. For the return leg at the San Siro, I was in Panajachel, Guatemala on the banks of Lake Atitlan. Determined to see this crucial game, I checked a sports bar in town to see if they were showing the game. They assured me they were (from the crude “Spanglish” conversation we had) but when I turned up for kickoff, the bar was closed. Had to run back to the hotel, collecting a few local beers on the way, and see another game on small screen Mexican ESPN. Not ideal but a beautiful Torres goal sealed a great victory.
The final game on my travels was an away trip to Old Trafford. Luckily as it turned out I couldn’t find anywhere to watch the game in Havana on a Sunday morning and so missed the 3-0 defeat. A week later it was back to the UK for a great run of fixtures that included the Champions League quarter final against Arsenal before the season petered out after the semi-final exit at Stamford Bridge.
