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Blue Kipper on Tour With Paul Mac and Sunlink

It all started after the Switzerland game. I turned to Tracey and said, “That was brilliant I wish I was there”, She said,” Why don’t you go over for the Croatia game?” “That’s a great idea love, “ I said.

I thought about three lads who might be interested in going, Two couldn’t make it, One, Steve (Sunlink) was well up for it. We eventually settled for a flight from Liverpool on the Sunday afternoon, flying into Faro, on the Algarve, meeting up with Steve’s brother, and staying at his rented Villa, in the Almancil area. The Villa had En-suite bedrooms, and as I woke at about 6:30am on the Monday morning I thought I was back living at me ma's. Steve sounded like my arl fella on the bog after a night on the ale.

At about 10:30am, we made the long trip north to Lisbon, It took about three hours. When we got there it was time for a liquid lunch, Steve and me found a nice little back street café. The whole of Lisbon city centre was awash with England and Croatia fans, and the atmosphere was party like. We sorted our match tickets and headed off for the stadium.

When we got there we were met by thousands of England fans, who had congregated by the fountain outside the ground, it was great to see, the fans in such great spirits. In general it was just great to be there. We hadn’t, at that point any idea, how we were getting home, after the match,
or where we were staying that night, if we didn’t get flights, but at the time it didn’t matter, just being there was the important thing.

Once inside the ground, we found a nice balcony for the Bluekipper flag to go on, we then just looked around in amazement at how superb the stadium was. We both agreed, that, this is how all new stadiums should be built.As for the game, well you all saw it, and all I will say is that to be there in the stadium during Wayne’s finest hour was just amazing. And we were telling everyone who would listen that Wayne was “Ours”, they all responded with “for how long though?” To which we replied “Fuck Off”

At half time we got a stroke of luck, we bumped into Ritchie Harrison from Huyton. Those who don’t know Ritchie may remember his Everton flag at Japan 2002; it seemed to be at every game. He gave us the number for a guy who had chartered a few planes, which were leaving Lisbon that night, so Steve rang this guy (Miles), who told us to be at Lisbon airport after the game.

Jay Daley, another scouser, was instrumental in getting us on flights home, even though we were on separate flights, Steve to Manchester, and me to Gatwick.The guys who chartered the flights even offered to put me up in their hotel room as we landed at Gatwick at 3:30am, which was good of them. They eventually sorted me out with a lift to Leeds, which came in handy, they
also wouldn’t take any money off me for the flight, because they knew Jay so well, and he was a good mate (Talk about getting a result).
The guy who took me to Leeds wouldn’t even take the £20 I offered him for the lift. So here I was, in Leeds at 7am. I got sorted with a Coach from Leeds to Liverpool, but the arl arses made me pay £9.50 (joke)

All in all me and Steve had a great time, and really enjoyed each others company, but the biggest mention has to go to Wayne Rooney, he made sure, that me and Steve, and countless other blues, had the biggest smiles in the Estado de Luz that night, He made us proud to be Evertonians.

Paul Mac(23/06/04)

World Cup 2002 - Sushi Blues

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