Us and them and them and us…
As I reflected on the Korea v. Poland game, some thoughts began to take shape in my mind – and right now I just want to get them out in the open. Pat Nevin’s comment that travelling with a football was like carrying a second passport, so I’ll write this with football as my nationality and see what happens…
We’re just about to head off to the stadium to see our first live game of this World Cup. Rob’s first game ever! Ole ole ole ole…
Rob’s first ticket to a live game of football
Big thanks to (name withheld) for the tickets! You’re a gentleman and a scholar, and Football’s Leaving Home is very grateful.
NEWSFLASH: The first batch of video vignettes of our trip is ready to roll… we’re going to wait for the Windows Media Player version to go online before we post a link to the first one – so you PC folk don’t have to install Quicktime just to see them. Big shout to Dirk and Monika at Berlin-Bristol Mediawire and Films at 59.
Phil and Chris pose for a press photo
With our arrival in Korea, the nature of our journey has changed from just doing it to reflecting on it and trying to pitch the idea to as many press folk as we can. This photo is for the Korea Herald, and possibly other papers, depending on whether the story that has been written about us gets syndicated. Most of the journalists that we have met have been enthusiastic about our story, and have given us what assistance they can. We look forward to seeing the results.
Te Hamin Gwo! A Korean supporter looks forward to the game
Phil, Rob and I joined about a million Koreans in Seoul’s main square to watch their opening game against Poland. As we wandered through the streets on our way to the centre, we paused in many a soju tent – where people go to eat tempura and drink soju, the brutal local spirit – to wish the locals well, though none of us rated their chances much. Famous last words, as it turned out…
As we made our way across Europe, we were still reading the camera manuals trying to familiarise ourselves with the vast amount of functions that Sony have packed into the little video cameras that we are carrying…
click here to download the MPEG of Phil showing his grasp of the technology
By the time we arrived in Urumqi, we had travelled through 12 countries in eight weeks, encountering more than 15 languages along the way…
click here to download the MPEG of Chris showing his grasp of geography
The beautiful game unites.
click here or on the image to download the MPEG movie clip
Chris adds: the Senegalese drumming turned the subway into our pre-club club… a prelude for Fat Boy Slim’s gig in Seoul tonight…
Fat Boy Slim flyer
Ole ole ole ole…
A fervour was whipped up after the opening game as a couple of hundred Red Devils – a posse of Korean supporters and their two drummers – chanted, danced and sang in the park outside the stadium.
click here or on the image above to download the MPEG clip of the Red Devils
The Ball arrives at the stadium
The trans-continental odyssey reached its first point of closure with the Ball’s arrival at the World Cup stadium in Seoul. We had high hopes of getting inside as the opening ceremony started, since we had heard that there were still tickets for sale at the box office…
Pat Nevin signs the ball on air
Chelsea fan Phil meets ex-Chelsea captain and Scotland international Pat Nevin during an appearance on Radio 5 Live just before the opening ceremony…
The Embassy teams
The day of the Opening Ceremony, the Ball was invited to the British ambassador’s residence for a little kickabout between Chris and Phil on one side, and the combined talents of the Foreign Office Minister, Dr. Dennis McShane and the ambassador himself on the other…
