Away Day Tales: Episode 7 - Deepdale (26th Oct 2002)
The 2002/03 season was memorable for me, having drawn with Brentford to secure promotion back to Division One (now called the Championship) in the previous year, I travelled the country watching every single Reading game that season. 51 games in total and many of them coming with a memory and story to be told.
My trip to Preston was no different. Route Planner had the 220 mile trip estimated as 3 hours and 40 minutes and wanting to visit the National Football Museum which was at Preston's stadium at the time (it has since moved), we gave ourselves a generous 6 hours to make the journey north, knowing that the M42 around Birmingham was always a problem with speed restrictions and road works.
As usual, our journey up to Birmingham was a smooth one and after getting around the dreaded M42, we joined the M6 which would take us the remaining 90 miles to our destination and then this for the following 5+ hours:
Somewhat bizarrely, there would be an inter-junction sprint before the inevitable stand-still 5 minutes later and then the long, painful wait as kick off fast approached.
We eventually managed to get there for Half Time (beating the supporters coaches which had departed even earlier than us) and as we drove into the car park, the joker (to put it politely) parking attendant helpfully pointed out to us:
You're a bit late aren't you
Yes my Northern friend, we are. A 7 hour journey, without stopping was not what we had planned.
We arrived 1-0 down to a Richard Cresswell goal, a goal that still to this day I have never seen (update: I've just remembered I have it on that season's DVD so I'll have to take a look!) and then 45 minutes of some of the shittest football I have ever encountered. Official figures say that 981 of us were there on that day, how many missed it due to the traffic I don't know.
Update: Eddie Lewis crossed from the left wing for a decent diving header from Cresswell. I've now seen the goal and it's telling that there were no other highlights of that match on the DVD.
👇 12:30 in the video below (which by pressing play, should start at that exact moment
We lost 1-0, then got back in the car for another 6 hours sat on the Motorway in traffic. 13 hours driving, 440+ miles, plenty of £££s for 45 minutes of utter dog shit.
I've never returned and I've still never been to the National Football Museum.
As usual, if there are any teams or grounds you'd be interested in hearing my story from, then please let me know in the comments. Thank you for reading.
Previous Away Day Tales
Episode 1 - Anfield (20th October 2012)
Episode 2 - The Manor Ground (17th March 1998)
Episode 3 - Griffin Park (20th April 2002)
Episode 4 - Upton Park (31st March 2012)
Episode 5 - Old Trafford (16th March 2013)
Episode 6 - Wembley Stadium (18th Apr 2015)
Closing 31st July - Fantasy Football Scotland
▶ https://steemit.com/hive-100604/@the-gorilla/50-steem-prize-fund-2021-22-fantasy-football-scotland
Closing 13th August - Fantasy Premier League
Closing 13th August - La Liga Fantasy Marca
Limited to 16 entrants
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I was gonna say something similar! And also, I was wondering how you remembered every detail but realised this was too awful an experience for you to just forget😂
Make it 20😑😑
I remember a lot about that season from our trip to Derby on the 1st day (where I got to see the great White Feather (Fabrizio Ravanelli) play to the play-off semi-final and Alex Rae's crucial goal.... you've just reminded me of something... I have that season on DVD!! I've never watched it because the play-off final defeat was too painful but with it being 20 years ago, I can finally watch Cresswell's goal!!
Contest cancelled 🤣🤣
Oh come on!!😂😂
I'm glad you had the recording
You snooze, you lose 😆
😂😂😂
I enjoyed the story. It was as if I was moving with you, the way you narrate it. Can't stop imagining
Thi is great experience an believe in your next match you would definitely improve upon your performance and win hopefully?
Thanks for sharing.
The next game was at home to Bradford City which we won 1-0.
That is great.
Well done
Football is really a game of emotions