Away Day Tales: Episode 12 - Kenilworth Road (7th May 2022)
As far as Away Days go, Kenilworth Road is now up there with my all-time favourite trips. On this occasion, it was the final game of the season - Luton Town were in with a real chance of reaching the play-offs and Reading had nothing to play for, having avoided relegation with a few games to spare.
We didn't travel to the game expecting to get any points but as is customary for our final away game, it's inflatables day so the atmosphere is always a lot of fun.
The Journey
Luton's not the furthest journey and from Reading, it's pretty quick. From Eastbourne though, I was looking at about 3.5 hours on the train and with it being an early (12:30pm) kick off, I was ready early and on the 7:06am departure. With a change at Haywards Heath and another train through the centre of London (and the iconic London skyline causing so many memories to come flooding back), my train journey terminated at Harpenden in good time.
You'll notice that my train didn't go to Luton... As is customary for a British train journey, you don't get to travel solely by train and instead, get the pleasure of a replacement bus service. And as is customary for a football away day in England, by 10:30am as football fans are getting off a train, they're pissed off their tits and making proper dicks of themselves. So much so, that the security at Harpenden train station asked the Reading fans to stand to one side and gave them a bus to themselves.
As a Reading fan myself, the prospect of sitting on a bus full of pissed up 15 year olds didn't appeal to me, so I waited patiently with the non-dick heads.
)
Welcome to Luton
When I finally arrived in Luton in what was a fairly unexciting journey, I searched for some food and found the most amazing Sainsbury's I'd ever been to. At their pizza counter, they had plenty of half price pizzas and I bought a 14" meat feast for just £2.25 (roughly 8 STEEM). An uncooked pizza's not much use though and this is where the amazing part kicks in - for just £1 (roughly 3 STEEM) more, they would cook it for me. A fully cooked, 14" meat feast pizza for £3.25 (roughly 11 STEEM) - bargain! And to delight @eosxiomara, here's a photo of it.
Pre-Match
Wondering if the day could get any better, I made my way to Kenilworth Road where I discovered the most bizarre football ground I'd ever been to - given that I've ticked off more than 70 grounds now, that's quite something. It's been a long time since I've asked "is that the ground?" and meant it but this was one of those occasions. Making my way around to the away end, the entrance was located between 2 front doors where the residents had presumably sold off their living room and kitchen to allow access through their house into the ground.
I also wondered what the situation was with their back gardens and it turns out that apart from these 2 houses, they still had one.
Not exactly a sun trap and quite simply, bizarre.
What was also bizarre is that having travelled all that way for "inflatables day", the Luton stewards had decided that inflatables were not permitted inside the ground. The word "unimpressed" doesn't quite cut it. Neither do the words "kill joys". Fortunately, some still got in, including the blow up doll you'll see in my first photo. The customary inflatable penis and full sized rubber dingy didn't make it though ☹️
)
Due to the importance of the game for Luton and the lure of inflatables for Reading, the ground was a sell out with both sets of fans in good spirits. The usual rendition of "Sweet Caroline" by the Reading fans...
...was bettered by some moves, the likes of which I haven't seen since my clubbing days...
The Match
By the time the match kicked off, I already knew that I'd be going home a happy man. My pizza, the spectacular ground and the dancing had made my day already but I had 90 minutes of football to watch first.
From kick off, Luton should have been ahead. Cameron Jerome (who caused problems throughout the game) placing a one-on-one straight into Nyland's arms and soon after, Allan Campbell put a free header straight at the keeper again. After these early scares, it was a fairly even match with neither side looking particularly dangerous.
Then a moment, worthy of winning any match. On the stroke of half time, Nyland was waiting to distribute the ball and taking far too long for my liking. A Luton player was standing behind him and the feeling that Nyland didn't know he was there started to grow stronger. Too far back to be heard, my screams of "MAN ON" went unnoticed... Nyland threw the ball in front of him to kick it, allowing Harry Cornick to take control of the ball and score the easiest goal of his career.
You had to laugh but if we had anything to play for, nobody would have been laughing. How the keeper didn't notice, or why one of his team mates didn't tell him I'll never know.
This was the only goal in a 1-0 win for Luton - their play-off spot confirmed and a miserable season for Reading F.C. complete in what felt like an appropriate finish. Unlike at Kidderminster, the police were ready for a pitch invasion - not that I bothered hanging around to see it, knowing that I had a bus and a couple of trains to endure on my way home.
Match Highlights
Previous Away Day Tales
Episode 1 - Anfield (20th October 2012)
Episode 2 - The Manor Ground (17th March 1998)
Episode 3 - Griffin Park (20th April 2002)
Episode 4 - Upton Park (31st March 2012)
Episode 5 - Old Trafford (16th March 2013)
Episode 6 - Wembley Stadium (18th Apr 2015)
Episode 7 - Deepdale (26th Oct 2002)
Episode 8 - Hillsborough (11th Jan 2003)
Episode 9 - Highfield Road (26th Dec 2002)
Episode 10 - Ashton Gate (30th Mar 2002)
Episode 11 - Aggborough (8th Jan 2022)
All photos and videos are my own unless a Source is provided
I've also become a 5x Dolphin 🙂
Thank you😅
I'm actually wondering why such a thing happened? Situations like that have happened a lot in football and I think the keeper should've known better. He didn't even bother to look around him before! And his team mates, no one saw the player standing behind the keeper, even after all that shouting from the fans? Wow🤦🏿...
But in all, everything about your journey is fascinating, and I wish i could do that. I don't think people do that a lot here, travelling 3.5 or so hours to watch a match; it doesn't happen a lot.
...I keep coming back to edit
But why do they not cook the pizza? I mean the £2.25 pizza ?
And did the securities have a reason for not allowing the inflatables in there? Is it harmful in anyway?
Let me end it here, I got a lot of questions but I think these will suffice for satisfying my curiosity.
By the way, I hope Reading bounce back next season, just like Manchester United, GGMU
No professional footballer should ever do what our goalkeeper did... like you say, "wow". This will always be a memorable away day!
Sainsbury's is a supermarket so they only really sell food that you prepare at home... which is why it was such a surprise! A takeaway pizza that size would normally cost 3 times that price, if not more. I would eat so much pizza if I lived near there.
I guess with the inflatables, they didn't want them going on the pitch. Which is a shame. They normally get thrown around before kick off and then they all get pushed to one side once the game starts. They sometimes forget that people go to football to have fun and we're not just there to give them all of our money.
I think Reading are going to have a very difficult season next year but this will depend upon who we appoint as our new manager and which players we're able to keep. A lot like Man Utd, next season could be one of significant change and perhaps one to prepare for the season after.
Yeah, always.
Yeah, that's true and sad. But I'm glad you said you had fun. People like you make the football world better, you really appreciate the game.
And I kinda like the team, Reading. I remember the first time i saw the name, I said reading, as in reading 📚😄..
And I have some friends there too. Also, I've realised the team has quite a number of Ghanaian players, makes me proud😁😁 but Yiadom must go😒😒😑😑😑
I hope so too. Good luck, man👍
You're not alone. I think that most people from the UK pronounce it correctly but every American I've met calls it reading 📚 I'm pleased to hear you like us now - you're probably liking them more with each moment that I dislike them more 🤣
I think Yiadom's been one of Reading's better players this season so perhaps he does need to go for the good of his career 😆
hahaha. I know it's hard for you. We watch these matches on Tv so the pressure isnt that great. But going to the stadium and watching your keeper giving easy goals to the opponent, it can be traumatizing..
Thanks to God you arrived at Luton safely, getting an uncooked pizza been cooked for you is great 😃😃. It simply means you choose what you want to eat as fresh as it it. After cooking I hope it came us hot as it should be. Anyway I am salivating😋😋 just as the sight of your pizza.
I have watched three game of Luton Town and most of those games, they normally miss chances particularly in the first half. I was therefore not surprised to have read from your entry that they missed a lot of chance right from the start where they could have been in front.
I am however glad that they could find the back of the net but likewise sorry Reading couldn't do that. I hope their conlification for the play off will be made useful. For Reading, better luck next time and for Luton Town wish them the very best and not to miss chances in the first half again in their next match.
What country are you from? I didn't realised that the EFL was watched much outside of the UK.
I haven't seen a lot of Luton this season. They weren't great against us and I'm surprised they finished so high in the league. Having watched them against Huddersfield on Friday night, I think they'll lose the 2nd leg.
Yes it is been watch by many across the globe.
You are right on the fact that they haven't been great but I guess they will do their best to win that game. However you guys were good on that day. By
Greetings @the-gorilla and congratulations for becoming five times a dolphin 🥳 Your interesting post has been upvoted by @petface, who is on the hunt for unique, quality content here in the WORLD OF XPILAR. I like how you quoted the price of the pizza in Steem! Maybe I should start doing the same when giving costs of meals so people across the globe get an idea of how much it actually is regardless whether they know the exchange rate of the Pound sterling to their own currency.
I doubt that many people know the value of a pound and probably don't have the time to look it up so I thought that it's a nice way of doing it. I forgot to include that the match ticket was £32 so I had to save money everywhere I could!
90 minutes of football = 10 cooked pizzas from Sainsbury's
I should've spent my money on pizzas 🤣
Hello Boss, Congratulations on your New achievement of 5 dolphins. And i wish you many more Dolphins in the future..😊.
And i'm glad you had good time watching your match...
Unfortunately, i don't know much about sports especially football🥲. The more reasin why i didnt talk much about the match.
Thank you 👍
You are welcome Boss🙏😊
Good morning sir
Nice match
It wasn't the best match I've been to. Other than the goal, what was your highlight?
Things like that have happened in other match sir.
How can I be a successful steemians.
I suggest that you read this post, including all of the comments and tell me what you think…
https://steemit.com/hive-185836/@the-gorilla/why-is-steemit-so-unfair
I have read the post and i will do well to
To follow the rules by commenting on people post also, write contest and to be a member of club5050
I'd say that more important than all of that is to enjoy yourself. If you enjoy it, then if the rewards don't come, it won't matter because you'll be happy anyway. If the rewards do come, then you'll be even happier 🙂
Thank you very much sir
please sir help me check post if i really try
Or there is anything to correct thanks
https://steemit.com/hive-190926/@morgan76/steemphotos-contest-5-or-best-mom-ever-by-morgan76
Ok sir, let me take a look at the post