Away Days

This week we once again venture across the English Channel to visit the home of one of the continents most famous and celebrated sides. It just so happens to be in one of the worlds great bender destinations, Amsterdam, home to Ajax. John the Don managed to score us some tickets to the pre-season tournament that happened to be on the same weekend we were there for the Funky Messiahs stag do. All of us had tickets for the game on Sunday, versus Arsenal, but after two days of beer drinking till dawn, meant the actual numbers who traveled to the ground were at least half of the ones meant to go. C'est la vie. Anyway, as it is a prestige curtain raiser to the upcoming season, the game was a sell out. The hotel we use as our local HQ is nearby the Metro system that shuttles you out to the ground, but even better is right next to an Ajax supporters bar festooned with memorabilia from the early seventies, and is run by a magnificently moustached fan who showed us pictures of himself holding the European Cup. Suitably refreshed by plenty of Heineken's, we set off to the stadium, which, surprise, surprise is out of the city centre in a purpose built area. Some effort had been made to create a buzz outside the arena, the club bar is massive, and there was a couple of beer wagons spread around the joint, which is just as well, cause they serve a God awful non alcoholic abomination inside the ground. The guy at the hotel told me it was like drinking canal water, and he had a good point. They also run one of these stupid Arena card systems where you have to buy a pre-paid card to purchase grub. What is wrong with cold hard cash? The game itself was a dull pre season offering, although the crowd did try to liven things up, and booed Van Persie every time he touched the ball, him being a former Feynoord player if I am not mistaken. Nil nil was the final score, and we took of back to town. The Metro lurched forward and I went flying, my hand landing in the lap o0ff the geezer behind me, just as we were discussing Shoutys love of the Cock Ring. How embarrassing. At the airport on the way home, there were celebrity footballers, managers and pundits everywhere. We all got a wave off former Bantams manger Chris Kamara, but King Dave scooped the prize sighting, getting a hello out of the then England manager Sven Goran Eriksson himself.

Statistics

• Capacity-51,628
  
• Concessions-Poor. Had to queue up to get stupid ArenA card, then found out all they had on offer were foil wrapped burgers and chips with mayo. Don't even think about trying the non alcoholic shit they try to pass off as beer.
  
• Built-1996
• Did You Know?-Hosts a massive dance event called Sensation White were 40,000 wear white and get off their heads. Only in Holland.
  
• Visited By-Euro Bri, John the Don, King Dave, Lobon, Gster, Dutch and Two Scoops
  
• Rating-Field of Dreams-I would like to see a competitive game here, it would possibly improve rating, as it was a piss poor friendly that we went to see. It is an impressive structure, a retractable roof, not a bad seat in the house and a massive screen at either end for replays and the like, but still lacked a certain something. Also suffers from the out of town curse that infests the modern thinking behind new stadia. Stay away from the food stalls.