2008 MLS CUP: New York Red Bulls vs Columbus Crew

I follow this team "Columbus Crew" and have a subscription to MLSnet.com for $19.99 a season to be able to see some games live on the internet. Finally I have an alliance to a team thats won something. "The Crew" are "2008 MLS Champions"

15 men went to mow....

It should have been 17, but 2 people who had paid for their ticket didn't come. It was the whats becoming annual fixture between Ipswich Town V Queens Park Rangers (until 1 team gets promoted or relegated) where an increasing group of regulars from the Moreton Hall Pub make the journey to Portman Road. Last year it was only 12 in size.

To start the day, and line our stomachs, we had agreed to meet up in the North End Cafe, on St.Andrews Street in Bury St.Edmunds. After a fry up, mug of tea, and a bet on the score on today's game at William Hill, we made our way down to the railway station to catch the train to Ipswich.

Once off the train we made the short walk across the road from the station into the Station Hotel, and I see something new in all the 22 years I've been going into pubs. In front of the curved window is a burger grill and they started cooking in the room, and it stunk. I think I preferred the olden days of cigarette smoke, than grease, in Pubs.

After leaving the Station Hotel, we all went on to the Golden Lion, a Witherspoon's pub (pictured above) in the centre of Ipswich. In a Witherspoon's pub the beer is cheap, and the Golden Lion was no exception. They had some bitters on in a beer festival at £1.69 a pint, and lager from £1.89 a pint, so more than one round was purchased in there. On the way to the ground 3 of us in a round together stopped off at the Black Horse for one more.

If Carlsberg done signs, it'd probably be the best sign in the world !

Of the 17 tickets purchased, 11 of them were for the away section of the ground, as we have a small number of QPR fans in the pub, and hence the reason for the annual trip to this fixture. The away section is pictured here in the far end of the Cobbold stand, from my seat in the North stand.

For as long as I have been going to support Ipswich, the North stand has always been called the same, but a suggestion, on Facebook, has been made that it be changed. Now I would normally be horrified at this apart from the fact the name suggested was the Sir Bobby Robson stand. This I would be happy with as he was the manager who brought us the most success on the football pitch, and went on to achieve so much in the game, a true gent and legend, who is now battling Cancer for the 5th time.

The players of both teams lining up to kick-off the 2nd half of the match (picture taken through the window in the bar in the corner of the North stand). The game ended 2-0 to Ipswich, after 2 second half goals from substitute John Stead. After the game we all met back up in the Golden Lion again, before going back to the station to catch the train back to Bury St.Edmunds, and a final pint and regroup in the MHP before going home.

No.5