Monte
Carlo or Bust !!Monte
Carlo or Bust !!
What can I say about the ground - maybe it's not the biggest ground in
the world but it easily puts any of the UK grounds to shame in terms of
facilities and spectacle. Once you get past the usual security frisking
(which unlike most Scottish grounds was done with a reasonable amount of
humour by the guards), it's pay 50p for the match programme then up
several escalators to the pitch level. Then the long walk round
the back of the goal to where the Saints fans were situated (on the right
of the picture above). Without having had a drop of alcohol all day I was
still dumbfounded by the sheer scale of the place - and remember this only
holds the same amount of fans as Gorgie Gitland. Then came the proof it
wasn't a dream.....
Once in our seats of course (personally guided to them by our placeurs, it was time to get a bit of atmosphere going. "Oh When the Saints", "You're only Tax-Dodging Bastards" and the ubiquitous anti-Tayside Scum tunes were blasted out much to the disgust of those charming chaps from the BBC that were rumoured to be somewhere in the building (just above the Roddy, sorry Royal Box below)....
The players were greeted warmly when they came out as the
remaining Saints hordes came through the gates. We easily outsang the
millionaires for the entire game and the cheer when the boys took the
field put a lump in my throat. I mean Saints? In Bloody Monaco?... and if
you look closely at the second pic you might spot the
Sturrock-impersonating mascot that the French seemed to love.
As for the game, well the report is
to be found here, and although it
doesn't make great reading, if you were there you'd remember the game for
the rest of your life.
Afterwards, it was pretty subdued. For those of us heading to Nice it was
the Calcutta Express as we boarded a war relic of a scrapheap
train (via the windows when it was found out that the doors didn't work),
with the cries of "Stick Yer Monte Carlo up Yer Arse"
left to show that we weren't bitter in the least. Nice itself was pretty
subdued as the effects of the sun and alcohol began to show.
That was it for the football really. We went back to Monaco on the Friday
to do some sightseeing. Met Kane, Bollan, Main and Dasovic
in the Monaco club shop. Main seemed to be the only one that could manage
a vague smile but Kane took time out to talk to us even though the
disappointment was all over his face. It was good to see it in a way,
because it at least proved that the players felt they had a chance after
the performance they put in.
It was a great trip overall, with only the result being a disappointing
aspect. Still, no matter what happens on the 30th, we at least have a
bloody good incentive to make it back there next year !!!!! Allez les
Bleus.....
Back
to the Start.....