So Luke went off to Oz and left Sii and I his tickets to the directors box for the Portsmouth v. Liverpool match at the weekend. This was Sii’s first ever match and my first for years – the last match I actually went to was a rather entertaining affair in Munich on 1st September, 2001.
We turned up at the stadium 2 and a half hours before kick-off [dressed in shirt & tie on what felt like the hottest day of the year!] and were taken on a guided tour of the ground, including the home-team’s locker room and a stroll onto the [not entirely level!] pitch before sitting down to a delicious three course meal with a dozen or so other Barclays invitees.
David James was given an award from Barclays and one from the club [presented by Harry Redknapp], both for his impressive new clean sheet record just before the teams made their way onto the field. Kick-off was preceded by a standing applause observed by the whole stadium for the passing of Alan Ball.
I’m actually a Newcastle fan, but it wasn’t hard to be ever so slightly biased towards the home team, what with the deafening Fratton End fans just 40 yards to our left. Although Pompey scored twice without reply the first half wasn’t great – Liverpool didn’t really seem interested and neither did their fans: that might have something to do with being stood in the Milton End stand in the baking sun with no roof for the best part of the afternoon. 
The second half was a bit more entertaining as Liverpool decided to make a game of it, scoring once and coming close a couple of times [including an impressive strike from Zenden that nearly broke the crossbar!] but it was too late, Pompey won and the crowd erupted.
We then went back to the lounge area for the Man of the Match presentation to Linvoy Primus where we all had our photos taken [will post them when we get them,] and were plied with alcohol by Howard [our Corporate Relationship Manager from Barclays] for a good few hours before heading off home to meet some friends and…erm…celebrate in Tiger Tiger!
Pretty good day out really! If only Luke went off round the world more often…
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