WBLSC WAGs trip Liverpool V Middlesboro 30/04/05 has been added below! 

The Club's recent trip to the Man City game was very enjoyable, both with the result and the craic!  The match itself was the typical old cliche 'a game of two halves'.  A forgetable 1st half, whereby a Dudek mistake gifted City the lead (against the run of play) and a 2nd half of some blistering attacking football.  Playing into the Kop, the Reds atacked James' goal with wave after wave of some of the best attacking football not seen at Anfield for a long time.  A sublime Stevie G pass, split the City defense and Milan expertly finished with a drive into the corner of James' goal. 1-1.  With the Reds now pursuing the winner, (in recent time we would have fallen for the inevitable sucker punch) but under Rafa Benitez the Reds have a new resolve.  The Red wave continued with City finally buckling, a Milan Baros shot came back off David James and in the incoming Stevie G drilled the winner passed the helpless City keeper. 2-1 FT.  A well deserved winner, the Reds might of stuttered during the fisrt half but once into their stride, the flowing football brought the desired result.  We know the Reds have a long way to go but the journey will not be a tedious one if we play the kind of football produced during the 2nd half of this game!        

MAN CITY TRIP SPONSORED BY BRANDY & BAILEYS!       The Club during this trip followed the usual routine, 1. late night on boat, followed by very little sleep.  2. Early arrival at the Rubber Duck 7.45am (The Mecca of Merseyside).  3. Exchange pleasantaries with mein host Eric & purchase cheap beer for a number of hours!  4. Go to the Vernon Sangster sports hall for some pre-match refreshments (more beer).  5. The match!  6. Apre-match pints in the Vernon Sangster!  7. Back to the Duck (beginning to lose all feeling from the neck down). 8. Back to boat (I think).  9. Wake up, back home in Belfast, fully refreshed!!! (my poor head)!  10. Get ready to do it all over again in a few weeks!  

Special mention must go to our revered member Vernon, finally proving that copius amounts of Brandy & Baileys will indeed paralyse you and Shaggy who slipped into a coma in John's minibus and who was only revived on hearing the lid of a bottle of Miller being popped!  Kay also recieves a commendation for introducing Vernon to the paraplygic delights of Brandy & Baileys and who also required help on boarding the ship and who had to be prised from the Duck's bar with a crowbar.  Myself (who shall remain nameless) of course had a few beers over the weekend, just to be sociable.  Next week we'll just have to do all over again at the W.B.A match, can't wait!

As shown by the photos below some members brought their children to the W.B.A. match and for many of them it was their first trip to Anfield, as it was a superb 3 nil victory, it's one trip they'll not forget.  Of the match itself, Luis garcia was outstanding, polishing off his  Man of the Match performance with the 3rd goal, after setting up Stevie G for the first.  The second was scored by Steve Finnan, who had his best ever game in a Red shirt.  The match was a tremendous display of attacking football and 3 nil didn't flatter us in any way, on the hour Xabi Alonso replaced Stevie G and he didn't disappoint either, his range of passing and reading of the game mark him out as a very special player.  No brandy & Baileys this trip but other beverages were consumed between the Duck and the Vernon Sangster Sports Hall, to the staff of both establishments we say many thanks and keep the beer flowing!

Junior members Jenny & Claire at the W.B.A. match.

Soup & Pearse

Kieran & son

Fra, 'bright eyed & bushey tailed' on an early morning arrival in the Duck for WBA game.

Fra finds salvation with Tommy, Pat & John with some 'early mornin' pints in the Duck. Mmmm Nice!

Tommy Pyper being presented with the inaugural 'Anto Conway' WBLSC 'Club Person of the Year' award for 2003/04, by Fra Conway, Anto's father.   The award was named after our late member Anto Conway who passed away last year, the shield was donated by his family.  Congratulations to Tommy our first 'Club Person of the Year'.                               

Our trip for the Palace match got of to a wonderful start! (not).  Our original sailing of 10.30pm was delayed until 2.30am and then further delayed until 4.00am, this though didn't put us off, no.  With the remedial & recuperartive effects of alcohol and limited sleep we ploughed on, undaunted and with great expectation we arrived at Anfield, via 'The Duck & Vernon Sangster' (purely for medicinal reasons of course) to witness what we hoped would be a handy 3 points.  'Long story short' we got out of jail!  Palace had three goal attempts all day and scored from two of them, meanwhile we are scorning chance after chance (scorning not scoring).  As with the previous week against Birmingham, we are battering teams with loads of possession and goal chances but our inability to kill (lesser) teams off will be costly.  "You'd think we lost this match" I hear you say, but we won't get two penalties every week (even though they were cast iron pens), our forwards (NB not strikers, well maybe Milan's a striker) are not taking their chances, against better teams you get fewer chances and have to defend better. FT 3-2 Milan Baros hat-trick (injury time penalty). Rafa has 'The Reds' heading in the right direction and our disastrous injury crisis (now Milan's out) would hurt any team and because of this, I wouldn't set our sights to high this season.  Having had such a start to his reign as Boss, qualifying for next season's Champions League would now have to be regarded now as a success.  Any cup would be a bonus!                                                                                                                   

We must applaud the Crystal Palace fans who were immaculate during the minutes silence for Reds Legend Emlyn Hughes.

First time visitors to Anfield, Melissa & Chris, with Julieanne.

Danny gives the match day programme a close perusal in the Vernon Sangster. (honest Mum not my Bud)

In the Duck (where else?)  Julieanne, Chris, Tommy, Shaggy, Lawrence, David, Pat & Deborah and 'lottsa luverly pints'.

The first of many photos to come.  Outside the train station in Nice.              'We'll get the next train or the one after that.'  Coming soon. Pat does the 100 yard dash in under 10 minutes!!

Celebrating after finding a bar with pints of 3 Euro 50!   (Dearest pint in Nice 8 Euro, cheapest pint 3 Euro 50).  That was why Waynes became our haunt in Nice.

The club banner got an airing at the Stade Louis II.  There are more images to follow plus the stories behind our first foreign whirlwind adventure (no Shrek or Donkey on our trips).

Larry, Desy & Brian going to check out the casino in Nice before they tackled the one in Monte Carlo.

" Do ya's want to buy a Brown Suede jacket for 150 Euro!"

The teams line up at the Stade Louis II.

In Waynes Bar Nice, a reason to celebrate, cheap beer at last!

With the Kop's very own 'Badge Man' Peter Badgio before the Monaco game!

How much?  The first (of many) pints in Nice (note the shock on Brian's face when he got the bill).

Later on that evening outside Nice train station.  Brian had finally gotten over the shock and took a shine to David's cardie! "No Pat, they don't do 'em in your size."

Marty & Milan, having a rest in Nice before the match.

Shaggy, Milan & David in Wayne's Bar, where else?

The Man Utd trip was also our 'Kids Match' this season, whereby members bring their children to the our first trip in the new year.  

At kick-off, Michael, Paul, Jonathon & Mark. All seem a bit nervous but are enjoying the occasion.

Apres-match pic, disappointed with the result.  Unlike their fathers they couldn't drown their sorrows but put on brave faces.  The least said about the match itself the better.

Áine & Francine on the boat. This was their 9th visit to Anfield and although disappointed with the Manc result, both of them will return to see their heroes next season.

Julieanne & Clare.

Kirsty observes the noble art of 'drowning your sorrows.'  Those participating are, Miceal, Sean, Marty (also observing), Soup, Kirsty (observer), J.P., & David.  This was quite early in the evening, as the revellers are mostly upright.

'Me and my daddy.'  Clare & Brian.

"If I could walk 500 miles." David with those well known Scottish balladeers 'The Proclaimers!'   Who were performing in the 'Duck.' 

Fra & Tommy enjoying the 'Proclaimers' gig earlier.

'Count the trophies'  Although hugely disappointed with the result, a great time was had by all, the kids yet again enjoyed their trip, while the adults enjoyed the age old tradition of 'drowning their sorrows,' which should be noted occurred both prior and after the match (they must have known something).  All those on the trip showed great bouncebackability and are willing to do it all over again.  N.B.  Some pics of very drunken committee people didn't make it this time.  P.S.  where's the match report you say, 'couldn't be ar*ed' I say.

Bouncebackability was the key word to describe this sojourn into the unknown.  With high spirits we all arrived at the boat (on time) 8.30pm and after the usual bag searches for illicit alcohol (as if we would) we settled ourselves for the monotonous waiting for the minibus to begin embarkation (usually about an hour).  Two hours later we were told the sailing had been cancelled as a container had blocked the boarding ramp and it was unlikely if the ship would sail at all!  After lots of wailing and gnashing of teeth, our intepid bunch of travellers came upon a plan (very Baldrick in its inception), "we would fly to Leeds/Bradford airport, then bus it up to Liverpool."   This plan was arrived at, after other similar plans had been dismissed, eg, flying to Liverpool, Manchester, Bristol, Cardiff, all were deemed either impractible or too expensive, other plans included sailing with Stenaline to Stanraer and walking to Liverpool? (they were no coaches available to drive to Liverpool) or sailing Dublin to Hollyhead, the same problem though, no coaches were to be found anywhere.  Like any democracy (uh?) we couldn't finally agree on what to do, we were like the vultures in the Jungle Book "what do you wanna do?"  I don't know, what do you wanna do?"  I don't know what do you wanna do?"  (You can see where I'm going with this).  Anyway, long story short, after 4 hours of feverish inactivity (thank you Fra for your foresight and Gin & bitter lemon) we were finally told to board the ship "whoo hoo", the container had been removed and repairs to the ship had been completed.   We eventually sailed at 2am and after a bite to eat we availed of the bar facilities and had a few!! pints.

 Next morning we arrived in Liverpool at 10.30am bright eyed and bushytailed (yeah right!) and made our way to that Mecca of Bootle 'The Rubber Duck'.  After saying our hellos and having our customary 'cheap' pints, we headed off to to the Vernon Sangster to meet Eric & Stefan from the Swiss Liverbirds, the remainder of the party decided that their classical Greek studies needed to be updated and went to an establishment named after some Greek godess (of love?), well Eric & Stefan made us drink more beer!! and just to be sociable we complied. "Eric, Fra, Stefan & Tommy, who's just had a bright idea, lets have more beer and why has Pat got the wrong date on the photo?"                                                         We then went to the match and while hardly a classic, it was a most important victory (get in there Igor!) with Djimi supplying the cross, you gotta feel Rafa's definitely got everyone playing for their shirt.  Players that couldn't get a lookin during the previous regime are now displaying what they are capable off.  Igor and Djimi's displays in Europe especially have been outstanding.  Oh I haven't mentioned Bolton yet?  Well after a bombardment the luftwaffe would've been proud of, we weathered the storm and with a team consisting of no strikers, eventually played our way into the game.  God bless Big Sam Allerdyce and his myopia, I don't know what game he watched but apart from raining balls from upon high, Bolton didn't provide much football, the better team won on the day.  Liverpool 1 Bolton 0.

The trip home was a complete opposite of the outward journey, the boat was on time and apart from a 'jobsworth' of a ship's pursor nothing much happened, except for "David's amazing world of animal impressions" surreal doesn't come close or do it justice, lets just say a career in the circus awaits David.

   Stefan & Eric from the Swiss Liverbirds, who we met while at the Bolton trip and made us drink beer, honest.

The 'Amazing David' with his repertoire of animal sounds (now available for bookings), it was like having Seigfrid & Roy on the boat with us.  A clearly stunned Shaggy was mightly impressed with David's linguistic gymnatastics!

While the match itself wasn't memorable except for Igor's first goal at Anfield, we still had a good time.  We all send our best wishes to the Rubber Duck's Eric, who recently had an accident and we wish him a speedy recovery.  We are now gearing up for the Boro match, whereby we will be bringing our WAG's, (best behaviour that weekend).

Larry showing Clodagh & Joan his new Lois Vuitton handbag he bought that morning on a stall in Liverpool.

"Oh my god! Who's that with Larry & Pat?"  Just some nice bloke they met in Aldo's Place.

Julieanne asks the Invisible Man "What's all the fuss about 'Confessions of  an Irish Naturalist..... was it very cold when David made the DVD"?  "Should've called it 'Little Man Tate."

Some of the WAG's in a scene from Macbeth "hubble, hubble, toil and trouble." (I know they're are 3 witches in Macbeth but how could you choose between these 4 who to leave out of the photo?)  Pic taken in Aldo's Place.

Shaggy, Eamonn, Annette, Brendy & Tommy in O'Neill's consuming vast amounts of falling down water.

'No kekbabs and pasties for our WAG's'  No, they get slap up meals in their yearly visit to Chinatown.  Peter, Julieanne, Fra & Julie, all obviously excited after being served their starters by the one legged waiter, Tai Wan Shu.

'Mmmmm, I wonder if I can order a pizza.'  Pat, Deborah, Annette, Brendy & Pauline muse over the menu.

Brian, is that a pagoda carved out of a whole carrot or was the waiter trying to tell you something?

While we would usually make comment about the goings on during our WAG's weekend, unfortunately on this occasion we must draw a veil of secrecy over most of the events as we must protect the identities of the innocent (husbands & boyfriends) and who will hope to visit Liverpool in the future.  Copies of David's DVD 'Confessions of an Irish Naturalist in the corridors of the Park' are currently being sold on ebay and are selling well in Thailand.

'Rafa the Gaffa'.  Rafa says we are a better team than Everton and will fight until the end of the season to gain the 4th spot.  Sounds a bit like a certain Frenchman, but at least the brand of football has improved.  This is a transitional season, with a new manager, new players and a new (pleasing to the eye) style of football.  A League (Carling) Cup win and securing 4th spot in the league would have to be regarded as a decent season.  How better could our season have been without the long term injuries to senior players, Gerrard, Alonso, Cisse, Pongelle, Kirkland, Garcia, Josemi, Sami, Finnan, Baros, Smicer and Kewell, all been out of the team this term, even Chelski with their (dodgy?) Russian mullah would've been stretched.  We must push on with what we've got, Smicer & Kewell have been added to recent squads, while Xavi Alonso hopes to be fit before the end of the season. 

P.S. After all of that, we won the EUROPEAN CUP!!!  Rafa the Gafa, what can he achieve when he's gets a fully fit squad of players?  Roll on 05/06 season!

Merci Gerard.  Anyone who puts Liverpool FC before their health must have our respect.  Bill Shankly once said ' to some people football is a matter of life & death' but to him it was much more important than that ' he was missquoted many times (just like I've probably did) but we all sort of know what Shanks meant and so did Gerard Houllier.  After his heart scare, no one would've blamed him for walking away but like us all, he deeply cares about Liverpool FC and felt he had to return.  The Roma match will never be forgotten, his return to the dugout that night inspired the team to a famous victory but maybe that is when Gerard should've stepped aside, his legacy would've been secured, his desire unquestioned, since that time his decisions were questioned and examined like never before.  The last 2 seasons shouldn't deminish the success's of 2001 & 2002, managing LFC nearly cost GH his life, King Kenny moved on when his health started to suffer.  Some times knowing when to go is the hardest decision of them all, unfortunately GH had to be persuaded, even so we all must say 'Merci Gerard' for giving us some more good times.  Watching football should never cost anyone their life or their health, as supporters of Liverpool FC know better than anyone else.

P.S.  Gerard Houllier was one of the first to congratulate Rafa and the players in the changing room after our triumph in Istanbul.