It was time for the annual FeltZ trip, and this year the trip went to Hartlepool, Newcastle, London, Manchester and back to London again.

Day one – Thursday 14th of December 2006

Believe it or not, but for a change from other trips this trip started at Fotballpuben. That was because we had to have a directors' meeting in OGB Travel (Old Grumpy Bastards Travel), and at the agenda we only had one important case; degradation of Postmesteren.

Report directors' meeting OGB Travel 14th of December 2006

Location: Fotballpuben
Presence: Strilen, Kjellmo, Tennis and Ebbe.
Not presence: Postmesteren

Case number 1: Degradation of Postmesteren.
- Suggestion to downgrade Postmesteren from “Travel guide assistant” to ”Assistant communication chief assistant, aspirant”.
- No arguments against.
Decision: Passed with 0 dissenting votes.

Case number 2: Small changes of the titles for members of the board.
- Of practical causes (easier to translate into English) some of the board titles were suggested changed.
- Tennis was a bit worried for the new titles Strilen and Kjellmo got, but when he got manager and chief in his title, he approved it.
Decision: Passed with 0 dissenting votes.

Case number 3: Intake of 612crew into the board.
- 612crew was suggested as a new member of the board and as ambassador for feltz.net.
- No arguments against.
Decision: Passed with 0 dissenting votes.

Additional there were deliveries of ID-card to those who were presence. The card were also provided with barcodes, so if anyone should disappear on the way, or don’t know where they are, the barcode could easy be scanned to tell who we were, or where we belongs. By the way, the new titles are as follows:

Strilen: Travel Chief Executive Officer, Chief
Kjellmo: Travel Chief Executive Officer, Chief
Tennis: Purchasing manager, Chief
Ebbe: Assistant train chief, Assistant
Postmesteren: Assistant communication chief assistant, Aspirant
612crew: Felt Z – Ambassador, Department head of division

Report end

With our motto ”Out on tour, always sour” (not sure if that comes out right in English, but who cares?) in mind, we travelled to Flesland (Bergen Airport) where Postmesteren got his new ID-card. And there was nothing to say at the way he reacted, because it was definitively in the same style accordingly our motto.

We could now have told you about all what happened till we came to Hartlepool, but except that Strilen and Postmesteren nearly missed the plane because of smoking, nothing exceptional happened.

We’ve been many times in Hartlepool, and normally we use to take our traditional walk from Yates in Victoria Road to one of the many pubs in Church Street. But this time we felt for trying something else. So when we saw a taxi just around the corner from Yates, we went over and asked the driver if he knew about nice, small, local traditional pub within 10 minutes drive away. He said there was a pub (The Causeway) not so far away and we therefore asked him to drive us there. When we came to The Causeway, it turned up to be a really cosy pub. A bit brown and dark, but just the way we like it. Unfortunately it was blues night just that evening and unfortunately we got seats very close to the band, so after a few rounds with lots of different stuff we went further on.

One pub more, midnight snack with kebab and burgers and that day was over.

Day two – Friday 15th of December 2006

As usual (at least for som of us) we stood up by eight for breakfast, but as soon as it was done it was time for a short breakfast nap. When we woke up again by ten Kjellmo, Strilen and Ebbe went for a small stroll in the area around Douglas Hotel, and when we came back to the hotel the two last ones also were ready for a short walk. Accidentally (and damn it, it was not our fault) King Johns Tavern had opened when we walked past it, and since it would be a busy day, we just as well had breakfast, lunch and dinner straight away. And just at that moment we all understood that this very day, it would be difficult to keep up with our motto ”Out on tour, always sour”.

Strilen and Kjellmo had long time in advance decided to visit Middlesbrough that day, to pick up tickets for the match on Monday and for Strilen to attend the club shop. But when the time came closer to one o’clock, all five of us decided to go to “Smoggieland”. Without getting into more details, we can give away that Strilen never picked up the tickets and he never attend the club shop neither. But we managed to get to Middlesbrough, and back to Hartlepool again.

Before the game between Hartlepool and Rochdale, we all joined The Corner Flag, which is in one of the corners of Victoria Park. And in there we saw some of the most pathetic thing we have ever seen. Over the bar there were a few scarves, including a vif (vålerengen) scarf and an rbk (rosenborg) scarf. That is a scandal of it own, but at the rosenborg scarf it said as follows: ”You never walk alone”. Hello? What the hell is that? We all know that the ”moustache pack” or “moustache pack of scoundrels” (that’s what we call the people from Trondheim) always have and always be will pathetic, but from now on they just as well can stamp “Pathetic” in their forehead. Because this is definitely the most tragically we have seen at a supporter scarf ever.

Inside the stadium we hanged up our new FeltZ flag, but there is no more to tell you about the game than that Duffy scored the winner for Hartlepool in the 17th minutes. And since this already had been a very long day, additional to that we should early up the next morning, we stop today’s story here. So then it is up to you all to fantasize about what more happened that day.

Day three – Saturday 16th of December 2006

We managed incredible enough to get up about eight, and now we were ready for a trip to London, with return to Newcastle after the game(s). Strilen, Kjellmo, Postmesteren and The Ambassador were going to Emirates Stadium, while Ebbe and Tennis were going to Lofthus Road. But first we had to get to Durham so we booked a minibus. When the minibus turned up at last we were A BIT short of time, so the driver asked us if it was OK if he was speeding A BIT, which we agreed to. But we regret that immediately. Maximum speed he had was 80 m.p.h., and I promise you that it was not A1 we were driving at. But we came to Durham at last and after about 15 minutes waiting, the train approached the station.

Fair enough, we’re old and grumpy, but we travel with style, so this time we went by 1st class. And we can definitely say that we were ready for 1st class, but were 1st class ready for us? Oh yeh, actually you should even think that they knew we were coming, so there was nothing to complain about what service concern. Free coffee, whatever we wanted to drink they had and smiling and gallantly staff. Whatever more can you ask for? And the trip went really fast, though we were a bit disappointed that we didn’t get faster to London than the travellers at 2nd class.

In London we split up, and though the two groups experienced two different worlds what stadiums concerned, it came out as an okay experience for both of us. Before the game at Emirates we meet up with the Evesham boys Gary, “Loverboy” and the rest at Auld Triangle and after the game we meet up with Baso and Dermot at The Arsenal Supporter Club pub. The game at Emirates, Arsenal vs Pompey, had 4 goals, partly fast tempo and nice goals. While the two travelling to Lofthus Road experienced an okay game with a nice atmosphere at a small, but intimate stadium.

After the game(s) we all meet up again except Tennis who was left in London. Also this time we went by 1st class. This time we got a small compartment for our self, with just a door that divided us from the rest. Strilen was appointed as automatically door opener, and apart from that the conductor was a bit “nazi”, the trip back north went fast and comfortably. The Ambassador jumped off in Durham, while the four of us that were left kept on to Newcastle where we took a taxi to Jesmond and Avenue Hotel. On the way up to the hotel we saw that there were lots of people in the town centre, but we decided to stay in the Jesmond area for a few pints before we said good night.

Day four – Sunday 17th of December 2006

Postmesteren and Ebbe took the plane back to Bergen this morning, while Strilen and Kjellmo travelled to Manchester to watch the game between Manchester City and Tottenscum. We did, of course, travel at 1st class this time also, but it was not the same standard at this train that it had been the day before. No service, but the consolation have to be that there was chock-a-block at 2nd class while it was plenty of space where we were seated.

In Manchester we took 2 pints (you know, just a few) at Piccadilly station before we shared a taxi with a home fan to City of Manchester Stadium. And it should be no doubt that this is one of the finest stadiums in England, but maybe it’s to ordinary compared to lots of the new ones.

Unfortunately Manchester City opened incredible bad and after 16 minutes Davenport scored for Tottenham. And it didn’t become any better for City when Huddlestone scored a great goal from distance, which gave Tottenham a deserving two goals lead by half time. After the break it seemed like it should continue, but suddenly Manchester City woke up and in the 64th minutes Barton reduced for City. And now City took more and more over the play. And even the home supporters woke up, but unfortunately for them there were no more goals.

It was just below 40 000 spectators at the match, but to get away went like a dream. Just outside the stadium there were lots of buses, in a long rank, which was filled up really fast. It only costs £1.5 and as soon as one bus was chock-a-block it set on towards the town centre and Piccadilly station, while the next bus was filled up just as quickly as the first one. And listen SK Brann (and Norwegian football); here you absolutely got lots to learn.

At the station we took out our luggage from the left luggage and found the Virgin Trains to London. Of course at 1st class, it was now become a habit. Unfortunately Virgin Trains had an offer to all the passengers on board to upgrade their tickets to 1st class for only £15, something that lead to that the carriage we were seated in, were filled up with Spurs fans and other pack of scoundrels. But at least, no one got a seat at our four-seat table. None!

When we came to Euston in London we took a taxi to Paddington where we meet Tennis again at Niki Hotel. And as usual when we’re in the Paddington area we popped in at Dickens, where we ended the day with a dinner and something additionally.

Day five – Monday 18th of December 2006

Early this morning we dropped into the dining hall to get our self a proper English breakfast, but since it was new owners of the hotel, they also had changed the breakfast. They were now serving continental breakfast and if we wanted English breakfast we had to pay £4.50 extra. This is unfortunately something that happens more and more at The British Isles, and in the future it is smart to ask in advance if English breakfast is included in the price. We became, to say it gentle, pissed, so we took a short walk further down the road to a breakfast café that were a bit cheaper than the hotel.

Tennis had to set off early, while Kjellmo and Strilen took a long breakfast nap at the hotel. About one o’clock we went over to Dickens for some food before we should head towards Craven Cottage and the game between Fulham and Middlesbrough. Just before 3pm Tennis turned up again, but while he went over to the hotel to rest a bit, the two other of us travelled to Putney Bridge to meet some from MSS (Middlesbrough Supporters South) at a pub just on the other side of Themsen. Since we both are old orienteers, we had no problem to find the meeting place “Duke’s Head” close to Putney Pier. Problem was there on the other hand when Strilen discovered that this was the first non-smoking pub in Putney. But just as in Norway, you just have to accept it. In addition to meet representatives from MSS we also should meet a Norwegian Middlesbrough fan (jespinho) and one or more of his friends. It’s like this, that we always use to turn up early, so there we were and no one else. But finally Geoff Vickers from MSS turned up, but at that very moment Tennis called us. He was now on his way to Putney Bridge, so suddenly it was time for us to move on again. Coincidentally, while we were walking towards the bridge we meet jespinho and his mate, but when we told them that it was not any “big” atmosphere at ”Duke’s Head” they decided to join us back over the bridge. We were supposed to meet Tennis at a pub named ”O’Neill’s” (Strilen was there in January), but now it turned up to be renamed. Luckily some one could help Tennis anyway, so he managed to find it.

In addition to meet MSS and jespinho we also should meet Rob Nichols from FMTTM. He had 3 tickets for us, but he was unfortunately behind time, because the bus from Middlesbrough had used much more time than planned. Even so, we also were short of time, so when a taxi turned up on our way towards Craven Cottage, we tried to call it. He meant the trip was not long enough, but luckily there was another taxi which stopped. The taxi driver just laughed, drove us for about 3 minutes and looked happy. Outside the away end Rob still hadn’t turned up, and since Geoff had three spare tickets, we got them (for free) just in case of Rob not turning up before the game started. 2 minutes before KO Rob turned up anyhow, so we didn’t need the extra tickets just then. But Rob didn’t find his ticket, so he used one of the MSS tickets.

We had seats a bit on the left side at Putney End, a stand that strange as it may seem was assigned away and neutral fans. Just in front of us there were a lot of free seats and we went down to hang up our FeltZ flag. The stewards said it was okay, but when we started to hang it up (or should we say lay it down) they told us to do it in the middle of the stand together with the flags that already were there. So we walked over to the middle and started to hang up our flag again. But no, it was not supposed to be that simple and easy. A dark, womanlike “nazi” steward came over to us and told us that it was enough flags there already, so we had to stow away our. We tried desperate to explain her that there was only 3 flags there already, and that there was plenty of space, but no way. Even when we tried to give a damn about what she said, it didn’t help. And as that was not enough, just a few seats in front of us there were 3 persons, two of them with bare upper body, which she just had to hassle. Though they were not preventing any ones view, they were told to sit down, and whatever argue they tried to come up with, it didn’t help. The strange thing was that more than hundreds Boro fans were standing further back on the stand, that she obviously didn’t dare to say anything to.

The match started with well play and many good chances from the away team, but what does that help when the referee wanted it otherwise. In the 12th minutes McBride is stumble in Boateng’s legs, and the referee rewards Fulham a penalty. Helgusen takes it, and the home team is 1 nil up. To our big surprise suddenly there are more than hundred of spectators to the right of us, consequently that part that is for Boro and neutral fans, which are cheering. We and some others Boro fans tells the stewards about it, but instead of doing something about the so-called neutral fans that have gone into the stand on false premises, they choose to ignore it. It happens to be that some of us have been to over 140 games in England and Scotland, but we have never meet with more ridiculous and pathetic arrangement than this. Even the arrangement at Brann stadium is better, and that should tell it all. After this Boro collapse a bit, but Fulham is just as bad as they were earlier and the two teams leave the ground by half time with an undeserved 2 nil lead to Fulham. There is now one thing that Fulham should have credit for and that is the half time beer sale. Instead of a few sales outlets behind the stand, that normally does that you first get the chance to buy a beer two minutes before second half starts, Fulham had more than 10 salesmen equipped with cooling bags. This turned up to be very effective. Actually our best experience we have had in England. But this is enough bragging, and we set over to inner field.

Second half started like the first, with huge Boro pressure and well play, but again the ball just doesn’t want to cross the line. Not before the 74th minutes scores so it’s 2-1 to the home team. Even though Boro pushed and pushed on, the ball still didn’t want to cross the line another time and Fulham could take with them totally undeserved 3 points on a bad day. But on another hand, football has never been fair.

After the game we brought with us our unused FeltZ flag and went back to Putney Bridge. Fair enough, we had a drinking break at one of the pubs in the area, but when they closed it was time to get back to Paddington, where we ended the day with kebab and burgers, plus a coffee and Baileys at the hotel room.

Day six – Tuesday 19th of December 2006

Last day in England for this time, and then it’s nothing more to do than wait, wait and wait. That was not a problem for Tennis, because he had to go around looking at shops. Since the flight back to Bergen didn’t leave before 8’ish in the evening, and since we had to check out from the hotel at 10.30, Strilen and Kjellmo brought all the luggage to Liverpool Street to get it looked in. Since we didn’t have any specific to do for the next hours, we decided just to walk around in the area. Just across the street from the station we found a pub with the glorious name ”Dirty Dick’s”, and of course we had to visit it. The pub turned up to be an old traditional pub, so this we can definitely recommend this pub. After one pint we went further on, and after a visit in a book shop we found another pub. One pint there too, and then off to the next one, etc. This sounds maybe intense, but four pints of beers in four hours is not that bad. And this is something we absolutely can recommend. If you got a spare day and don’t have anything to do, find an area and have a pub crawl and relax. Use long time at each beer and have fun. But find an area that there it’s not so many tourists in. If you want to drink beer with other Norwegian you just as gladly may stay in Norway.

About 4pm Tennis came back to Liverpool Street and we headed for Stansted. We were frightened of long queues and stress and bustle to get through the check-in and the security control, but actually it went incredible well. Except that the plane was 40 minutes delay, the trip back home went very well. So now we have to see if we manage to get enough money for another trip in February.

You can see pictures from the trip here.