Football. The people’s sport, as the fellas says. Along with running, Pocari Sweat, and the Thursday Murder Club, it’s been a constant along my travels. Made particularly enjoyable this year with the way results have turned out. It’s a very handy way to get chatting to fellow travellers and good entertainment. Although, often times I’ve been happy enough just on the phone talking shite in the group chat (an all-timer of a year for muggin’ off yanited fans).
As the season comes to a close (couldn’t give a shite about the Club World Cup) I wanted to reflect on some of the highs.
The Reds
In Dublin before leaving, Liverpool beat Real in the Champions League. When I arrived in Bangkok they beat City. So a great start to the results as I began m travels, and there was many more to come over the next few weeks. A particular highlight was finding a late bar in Pai with a West Ham fan from London. We trashed them, but he was good craic!
A few weeks prior, I picked up a retro jersey at a market in Bangkok (those green and white away ones in the 90s were class) and I’ve worn it so much it has started to fall apart – the things from the market not always of the highest quality, who’d have thunk it – so I picked the same one up again at a market in Hanoi!
While in Da Nang I stayed at an AirBnb with a projector where I watched us beat PSG away. The following week saw us knocked out of the Champions League and a loss in the Worthington Cup final, but the main prize is the league and I happily watched Liverpool romp home to when that with ease. Securing Salah and Van Dijk is massive too, so a great season for The Reds.
Winning 20 is absolutely class, and, as I write this, it seems like there’s some good transfer discussion. What I’m saying is: quadruple next year cert.
The Hoops
Not been a big Celtic fan since the 2000s glory days but i must begrudgingly say, they do have class fans and community. Back in December I watched them beat Rangers in the League Cup Final at a crowded Irish bar in Bangkok.
Alas, I saw them then lose the Cup Final to Aberdeen in Hanoi more recently. A much smaller crowd but I’m glad I went to watch it – good craic and sound crowd. Ended up meeting an Armagh lad who knew two Summerhill mates from their time teaching in Hanoi a few years back. Small world!
The BOR
My Rovers watching has been poor I must admit – the late KO in Ireland makes it a bit trickier, compared to when I was in South America (we were also doing much better then, funny that). I do get plenty of updates from Mam and the lads too - often waking up to see some hilarious and scathing comments. I’m delighted that I’ll be back just in time for the glorious cup run #RussellIn.
The BIG
There haven’t been many international games of note while I’ve been away. I missed the Bulgaria wins due to the Da Nang Marathon, but they were great to see. Some friendlies coming up this week so will watch them with a few scoops.
The Cup Finals
Great year for cup finals and teams winning their first trophy in either a while, or ever. I can’t begrudge Newcastle fans too much and absolutely delighted for palace. Of course, a massive highlight was seeing Spurs win, ergo seeing Yanited lose, the Europa League final.
The entire knockout stages of the Champions League was great, as it always is, and staying beside the Shamrock Sports Bar was class as they show all the games. Alas I missed both legs of the most exciting tie (ever?) between Barcelona and Inter but got to watch a few games live. Missed a lot of the final too due to the Ha Long half marathon, but didn’t miss much of a game.
Would have been fun to be back home for it, especially after seeing a pic of the lads inexplicably wearing sombreros for it.
Tips
No betting tips as I’m not a gambling any more (curse you magic beans!) but some advice for watching football over here:
- Seek out Irish bars. Our great export to the world and often synonymous with sports bars
- Join expat/location specific groups on Facebook. Best way to find information about upcoming events. I didn’t think Reddit was that helpful in this regard
- SE Asia is football mad and I managed to watch a midweek (2am game) everywhere other than Siem Reap
So that’s my football journey over the past few months. Good craic enhanced by great results!.
DavAI SummAIriser
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