Late report - Turin

[NorfolkJim]

Having gone back to work and had time to reflect and read other accounts - heres the report I put up on the official board - hope its of some interest

I booked with the vacation club which, despite a few wary warnings on the board, turned out to be a thoroughly professional outfit who laid on an excellent trip at a very good price.

I had to be at Gatwick by 6. Gatwick is the hardest airport for me to get to from Norfolk though maybe the easiest for most Fulham fans. I was afraid I'd sleep through my alarm so elected to stay up all night and set out at 2am for what turned out to be a less sleepy drive than I had imagined.

Check in was good and I had a couple of hours to indulge my other anorak passion of plane spotting for a while until boarding.
The flight into Torino was especially pleasing for the low pass over the Alps which gave me one of the best views I've had of those snow capped peaks. Most often the plane is way higher and you only get the looking straight down view which is deceptive and plain by comparison. The aircraft drifts South and turns to pass over Turin for landing at the airport to the North of the city centre and affording views of the Stadio Olympico to those on the right of the plane. Sadly I'm on the left, I only see the factories.

7 Buses are waiting for us and to theorganisers considerable irritation the Italian Police insist on giving us the blue light treatment into the city centre (as if we'd kick off on the motorway!). I was on the first coach and in the front seat which gave me a great view of the most comic and inept police escort I've ever seen. Think clowns at the circus, think keystone cops. These sad little police cars charging accross junctions for the overdressed copper inside to leap out dukes of hazard style and wave a lollipop at the exactly as per the steriotype Italian traffic.

A number of near misses later and they drop us unceremoniously outside the city centre, maybe a mile out. Lucily the weather was lovely and having come wrapped up for -5 I found myself distinctly overdressed for the blue sky and sunshine.

Travelling Europe to visit an English/Irish pub not being my thing, I tried to take in some of the sights and Torino being laid out in a gridiron, getting lost was no real threat.
The Mole Antonelliana dominates the city like some bizarely stretched St Pauls Cathedral. It has a great viewing platform apparently, which was shut. Theres lots to see if you like architecture and hunting for well hidden supermarkets.

Having walked miles I thought I'd go in search of the Fulham fans and quickly located the Shamrock. I felt very uncomfortable in there so left and went up to the Huntsman. The place was packed and had spilled onto the street. As I tried to get in a glass flew and angry words were exchanged. It felt a bit iffy but inside seemed ok at first. It just didn't seem Fulham in there to me, some of the people in there were behaving very poorly compared to say, Sofia. The loo in there was a couple of inches deep in, well, you know what. I had a pint and decided to exit at which point I noticed the shelter outside had been broken. Really from then on it went downhill.

I had to meet Clebi and once we'd met up he gave me a lift to the ground. We were passed by the shuttle busses which looked to be packed worse than Roma ones were. Once in the ground - well enuff has been said - it wasn't good.

So more blue lights back the 20 mins to the airport. 30 mins, 40 mins. Motorway to Milan.

At this point one of of 7 coaches (presumably the one with the organiser on board) sped past us all and the police and more or less brought the convoy to a half by blocking the lane - this is on the motorway to Milan - A row ensues between the police and the organiser about which airport we need to go to. We say Turin, the police say Milan. Eventually common sense prevails, we turn around and return to Turin.

I get on the plane. We take off. I see the pretty lights out the window. Theres a bump, we're on the ground at Gatwick.

They say a tired driver is more dangerous than a drunk driver - I think "they" are right. Not sure how I got home alive. I set out at 3pm, twice stopped and went to sleep 'cos I was swerving all over the road, but still got home at 7am. Its a 3 and a half hour drive Gatwick - Norfolk, so obviously didnt sleep much. Next time I'll get a bloody Hotel.

Felt really bad about my time at the stadium on and off the pitch, having only had a great time on the European Tour so far. Think we will win 2-0 on Thursday. April 1 - what a date for Quarter Finals


P.s - it seems a number of the posts on the official board detailing the trouble in Italy have been removed. Very 1984

Read more: http://cc.fulhamfc.com/forum/topics/we-love-you-fulham-we-do?commentId=3232738%3AComment%3A90907#ixzz0iH7qtsko

[Jimpav]

Thanks for making the effort Jim. Are you at the cottage on Thursday?

[finnster01]

Thanks for posting that Mr Jim, your posts are always very pleasant reads. Just wish this trip would have been better for you. I tried to line up a trip with my daughter but with me in the US and daughter in London, it was never going to be easy with the logistics so it didn't happen. We had such a good time in Vilnius and want to repeat, but after hearing about all the crap that went down, I am happy we didn't go. It would put her off Fulham away for life.

[NorfolkJim]

Thanks for making the effort Jim. Are you at the cottage on Thursday?

Yes I am. I have my train tickets ready. I'm just trying to keep a low profile at work because the line manager is looking for someone to cover a collegue on Thursday afternoon. I've cunningly left my schedule for Thursday afternoon empty (wonder why?) and am desperate to keep under her radar so as to get down to the Cottage by 6pm

[NorfolkJim]

Thanks for posting that Mr Jim, your posts are always very pleasant reads. Just wish this trip would have been better for you. I tried to line up a trip with my daughter but with me in the US and daughter in London, it was never going to be easy with the logistics so it didn't happen. We had such a good time in Vilnius and want to repeat, but after hearing about all the crap that went down, I am happy we didn't go. It would put her off Fulham away for life.

Yes Vilnius was super. I've booked to take my Mrs there in July for our 20th anniversary as I found it quite charming there. Met Roy out sightseeing and had a really nice chat with him. He comes over as a real gent, gives you time, doesn't seem put out by the attention of strangers.

I had a great trip in Basel too. I heard later there was a bit of a skirmish outside the ground but I was well away by then.


I've never seen anything like in Turin - Fulham fighting Fulham - unbelievable

[Jimpav]

Great stuff and good luck with work. Your dedication is inspiring.

I'm hoping that win, lose or draw we will show the Juve fans the true meaning of being Fulham.

[Jimpav]

Sorry to correct you Shady but punches were thrown and landed. I agree that it was probably a fight between mates but the fighting was nasty.

[finnster01]

finnster you keep posting about the "all crap that went down" but are only going on hearsay.... it actually effected very few & those involved were all there in a group together ...it wasn't a riot but an arguement amongst a group of mates. It rarely happens and was eventually dealt with... people only noticed it because it dragged on because there were no stewards in the ground to deal with it quickly. Punches weren't thrown a bit of pushing and shoving..
I'm not trying to defend them but don't understand why you are making such a big deal about it.


You should be focusing on the other 1500 plus who had no aggro and apart from the result had nothing to moan about... and had a fantastic trip...

It was my 1st trip for a European game and would recommend it to anyone.

Look Shady, I am indeed acting on hearsay, so I have nothing to produce on the evidence front, but there seems to be a lot of people that didn't like it. I know one thing, if I brought my daughter along I would not have tolerated any of it. Why is it that you can not bring your kids to a Fulham game in Europe without any admin? Was a non-issue when I took her to Vilnius.

If not understanding moaning about the safety of your own blood, especially when you only have limited time to spend with them, I am sorry I wasted your bandwith.

[Jimpav]

I was at the back of the top tier- right above it all. The bloke wearing the blue away shirt took a few on the face just after our goal. Funny way to celebrate but each to their own!

[NorfolkJim]

I'm not acting on Hersay Shady1 -

I went back and had a good read of what I wrote on the official board after I read what you posted here as I remember the bad old days and I know you do too.

Fact - 20-30 blokes beating the hell out of each other
Fact - six or seven men piling into one bloke on his own and kicking him in the head
Fact - big bloke in disttress - several around him trying to protct him
Fact - bloke bigger than me being pushed 3-4 rows onto two women next to me
Fact - at least 3 blokes falling onto me having been punched and fallen down several rows
Fact - several seats smashed to pieces
Fact - This went on for a good 30 minutes and only died down towards half time
Fact - I saw blokes punching each other in the face even as they cheered our goal , WTF!
Fact - I was caught up at the front of it but I was angry and astonished and wasn't prepared to run away - Plus I thought it had to stop, but it kep restarting it.
Fact - Not only was it piss heads involved, there was a couple who just like a bit of trouble. I've seen them before - they kick it off and stand back to watch the "fun"
Fact - I was stone cold sober - This was a drunken brawl, not on a par with the hooligan violence of the 80's but still completely out of order for Fulham - I've never seen anything like it before - Fulham fighting Fulham.

I dont see how you can say it was just a couple of blokes and nothing really. I'm not in the habit of imagining these things

[Admin]

I'm not acting on Hersay Shady1 -

I went back and had a good read of what I wrote on the official board after I read what you posted here as I remember the bad old days and I know you do too.

Fact - 20-30 blokes beating the hell out of each other
Fact - six or seven men piling into one bloke on his own and kicking him in the head
Fact - big bloke in disttress - several around him trying to protct him
Fact - bloke bigger than me being pushed 3-4 rows onto two women next to me
Fact - at least 3 blokes falling onto me having been punched and fallen down several rows
Fact - several seats smashed to pieces
Fact - This went on for a good 30 minutes and only died down towards half time
Fact - I saw blokes punching each other in the face even as they cheered our goal , WTF!
Fact - I was caught up at the front of it but I was angry and astonished and wasn't prepared to run away - Plus I thought it had to stop, but it kep restarting it.
Fact - Not only was it piss heads involved, there was a couple who just like a bit of trouble. I've seen them before - they kick it off and stand back to watch the "fun"
Fact - I was stone cold sober - This was a drunken brawl, not on a par with the hooligan violence of the 80's but still completely out of order for Fulham - I've never seen anything like it before - Fulham fighting Fulham.

I dont see how you can say it was just a couple of blokes and nothing really. I'm not in the habit of imagining these things

Shady had his fold-up push bike in the way so he couldn't see clearly...

[NorfolkJim]

Is it possible that Shady had had a pint or two, 'cos I know when your on the happy juice then you really don't know what is going on around you and often wake up next to the evidence that this is true.

[SHADY1]

I was stone cold sober ....don't see the point of going all that way not to enjoy the game and remember it thanks...I saw the pushing and people falling I had clearly moved away and was watching the game by the time this happened... i'll stand corrected and move on..... hope you'll do the same and focus on the great things that have happened and not this incident....cheers bye

[FatFreddysCat]

Superb report again Jim. :54:

[NorfolkJim]

I was stone cold sober ....don't see the point of going all that way not to enjoy the game and remember it thanks...I saw the pushing and people falling I had clearly moved away and was watching the game by the time this happened... i'll stand corrected and move on..... hope you'll do the same and focus on the great things that have happened and not this incident....cheers bye

Glad you enjoyed the game anyway Shady. I know you go way back. All the sensible people moved well away and left them to it. As you can see in my report I still had a lot of fun in Turin and I'm hoping we progress as I'd like to go on another Euro trip having waited so long for them.
You're right though - time to move on and look to Thursday and the good things of this season.

[White Noise]

Thanks for posting that Jim - a first class read as ever.

I am sure Thursday night will be an altogether more positive experience. It will be interesting to see how many Juve bring and whether they think they nailed on for a win.

[Dragoman]

Great report, NJ. I was in the second to back row of that tier and saw the onset of the aggro. I was pushed over, as was my son, when it kicked off and we moved away. Your report is pretty accurate in nearly all respects.

[Peabody]

Whether it was two blokes or twenty dose'nt really matter, the fact is that something very  nasty happened and was bad news for Fulham. The remarkable thing is the silence from the club. People have commented that the Fulham Stewards in attendance were filming the whole sorry incident and yet we hear nothing from FFC about this. I would have thought that a club statement would have been issued by now but no. . I think the club are burying their head in the sand.

[LBNo11]

...Peabody, if the club released official details of the incident then it would be jumped on by the media and tarnish our enviable image.

As a consequence I hope that the club do investigate and take action on the miscreants, but keep it to themselves.

The biggest damage to the club's reputation would be if these same people are allowed to carry on attending matches as if nothing has happened...

[finnster01]

...Peabody, if the club released official details of the incident then it would be jumped on by the media and tarnish our enviable image.

As a consequence I hope that the club do investigate and take action on the miscreants, but keep it to themselves.

The biggest damage to the club's reputation would be if these same people are allowed to carry on attending matches as if nothing has happened...

Amen to that Ed