mattfb
Chairman of Selectors
I woke up this morning at 8:30am and saw Stuart Downing eating breakfast at the table and watching the Sky sports news.
“Good morn-
“ssshhh”
Stuart seemed far to interested in the news and obviously had no intentions of listening to anything I had to say so I sat myself down and listened in.
“It has been confirmed that Manchester City will be without key defender Richards and attacking midfielder Elano for today’s match against Middlesbrough at the Riverside stadium”
“YES! Haha, you beauty!” Stu said jumping up at the same time
Stu was very pleased with the news, and what boro fan/player wouldn’t be? Stuart being an attacking midfielder was obviously happy he didn’t have to come up against Richards and the loss of Elano would really hurt Manchester City as he has been by far their best player this season.
“And good morning to you too, Matt!”
“Morning mate. What time do we have to leave?”
“Around midday”
I had to go earlier with Stu as I lost my license for 6 months after drink driving, and I have another 3 months to serve on that suspension. It was a bit annoying because it meant I had to just wait around whilst the boys prepared themselves.
We sat down and spoke about football and Stus plans for the match as we ate breakfast. Stu then went and got ready and soon enough it was midday. I got myself a spot in the technical area with 5 other players who were back up’s to the first team as well as the injured Allidadere. All 6 of us would be playing in the reserves side on Wednesday night but these other 5 players were the guys that were on the fringe of the first team. Me on the other hand, well Gareth just wanted me to be around the first team.
It was a big game for us, as we are just 5 points off the drop zone. We need a win to put a bit of distance between ourselves and the others down below. On the other hand Man City were sitting 7th, hunting desperately for a UEFA spot and weren’t ready to give up their position any time soon.
Stu and I got into his car, ready for the 15 minute drive that was ahead. We put on some music then continued the football chat, discussing and arguing about who we thought the best premier league players, who would win the comp, the best player in the world, the best keeper and strikers and so on. We had been discussing these things all morning and it was good because it made me feel like a good mate of Stuarts already which helped.
I was really excited about going to the game, as I had only been to a few EPL matches since my arrival in England a year and a half ago. I got out to Anfield whenever I could but it wasn’t too often. I’ve never played in a premier league stadium as Palace have bundled out in the FA Cup and League cup against Championship sides the last few times which really disappointed us. But Palace was the last thing in my mind. I was know focused on my future, which was at the Riverside stadium and I was about to see the action close up and I was delighted.
We pulled up in the car park around quarter past 12 and there were a few reporters around. They looked puzzled to see me here so early and one of them came up to me.
“Coll, are you playing today?”
“Nah mate, just a spectator”
Disappointed that they couldn’t report any breaking news they turned their attention to Stuart. I saw Gareth outside the doors which led to the dressing rooms and I made my way over.
“Hello Matthew, you’re here early”
“Yeah mate I had to come with Stu”
“Oh yes of course. Well a few of the boys are already in so you can go in and introduce yourself”
“Yeah sure, cya”
Stuart had made his way over and we went through 2 big doors that led to a long, dimly light corridor. It was quite confronting, nothing like at Palace. There were small dim lights all along the roof and pitches of Middlesbrough players along the sides in frames. There were current players and older players. I noticed quite a few of Juhinho and the League cup trophy from 2004. It motivated me and made me feel determined to fight my way into the first team and win a trophy. About halfway along the corridor we came to an intersection if you will, with 3 ways to go; Turn left, go straight or go right. Straight up lead to the pitch and right led to the away dressing room so I obediently followed Stu left into the home dressing room.
When we walked in there were a couple of guys there already. There was a few coaches and that as well as Mido, Huth and Jones – a fellow Aussie. Mido stepped up and shook my hand.
“Welcome to the club mate! I hope you have a good time hanging around the first team.”
“Cheers mate, I’m sure I will.
I met the other boys in the team and went to sit down on a spare bench. Slowly everyone started arriving and by 1:00pm the whole team was there, an hour before kick off. Everyone was getting changed into their training outfits and getting ready to go warm up. I was wearing some trackies and the Middlesbrough top so Gareth said I can go out and kick the ball around too. I felt a bit relieved when he said that because I didn’t want to be sitting by myself in the sheds! Gareth gave a small pre-pre match talk just telling the players to stay calm etc and then we all went out to warm up.
When we walked onto the pitch the crowd that was slowly starting to build stood and applauded when the first team walked out. I was not far behind them and went off to do some juggling and stuff whilst the boys did their warm ups. Then I noticed injured striker Aliadiere walk up the stairs. Alia injured his hand in the last match and would miss the next 2 weeks. He went and said hello to all the boys before coming over to me.
“Oh hello there, you must be Matt!”
“Hey Jeremie, hows the hand coming?”
“Good thanks mate. I’m hoping to be ready for next week but I might just not make it.”
“Ah damn, well lets hope the boys can still win today without you yeh.”
When then started kicking the ball around eventually the boys from the reserves came – Matthew Bates, Tony McMahon, Shaun Siako, Jonathon Franks and Lewis Walker – and joined in before we went off to our seats behind the technical area and the other boys went into the sheds. It was 20 minutes until kick off. All of these guys I was sitting with were either dropped from a few terrible weeks (Bates and McMahon) and the others were simply on the fringe of the first team. Me on the other hand, well I was destined to 4 months in the reserves watching the First team boys run around. Was this some plan to get me motivated? Truth be told it would probably work.
I passed the time by meeting the boys and just chatting, and before long 15 minutes were up and the players were about to take the field and the game would start in 5 minutes. The stadium was packed and Boro desperately needed a win. I was feeling quite nervous and excited at the same time, I felt like a true fan. The players made there way onto the field side by side and the whole stadium stood and applauded. They did the handshakes and kicked some balls around before the whistle was about to blow. The atmosphere was intense which wasn’t usual for the Riverside stadium, but today it felt like it was buzzing. The referee blew his whistle, Mido passed to Alves and he passed to Downing and the match was away.
“Good morn-
“ssshhh”
Stuart seemed far to interested in the news and obviously had no intentions of listening to anything I had to say so I sat myself down and listened in.
“It has been confirmed that Manchester City will be without key defender Richards and attacking midfielder Elano for today’s match against Middlesbrough at the Riverside stadium”
“YES! Haha, you beauty!” Stu said jumping up at the same time
Stu was very pleased with the news, and what boro fan/player wouldn’t be? Stuart being an attacking midfielder was obviously happy he didn’t have to come up against Richards and the loss of Elano would really hurt Manchester City as he has been by far their best player this season.
“And good morning to you too, Matt!”
“Morning mate. What time do we have to leave?”
“Around midday”
I had to go earlier with Stu as I lost my license for 6 months after drink driving, and I have another 3 months to serve on that suspension. It was a bit annoying because it meant I had to just wait around whilst the boys prepared themselves.
We sat down and spoke about football and Stus plans for the match as we ate breakfast. Stu then went and got ready and soon enough it was midday. I got myself a spot in the technical area with 5 other players who were back up’s to the first team as well as the injured Allidadere. All 6 of us would be playing in the reserves side on Wednesday night but these other 5 players were the guys that were on the fringe of the first team. Me on the other hand, well Gareth just wanted me to be around the first team.
It was a big game for us, as we are just 5 points off the drop zone. We need a win to put a bit of distance between ourselves and the others down below. On the other hand Man City were sitting 7th, hunting desperately for a UEFA spot and weren’t ready to give up their position any time soon.
Stu and I got into his car, ready for the 15 minute drive that was ahead. We put on some music then continued the football chat, discussing and arguing about who we thought the best premier league players, who would win the comp, the best player in the world, the best keeper and strikers and so on. We had been discussing these things all morning and it was good because it made me feel like a good mate of Stuarts already which helped.
I was really excited about going to the game, as I had only been to a few EPL matches since my arrival in England a year and a half ago. I got out to Anfield whenever I could but it wasn’t too often. I’ve never played in a premier league stadium as Palace have bundled out in the FA Cup and League cup against Championship sides the last few times which really disappointed us. But Palace was the last thing in my mind. I was know focused on my future, which was at the Riverside stadium and I was about to see the action close up and I was delighted.
We pulled up in the car park around quarter past 12 and there were a few reporters around. They looked puzzled to see me here so early and one of them came up to me.
“Coll, are you playing today?”
“Nah mate, just a spectator”
Disappointed that they couldn’t report any breaking news they turned their attention to Stuart. I saw Gareth outside the doors which led to the dressing rooms and I made my way over.
“Hello Matthew, you’re here early”
“Yeah mate I had to come with Stu”
“Oh yes of course. Well a few of the boys are already in so you can go in and introduce yourself”
“Yeah sure, cya”
Stuart had made his way over and we went through 2 big doors that led to a long, dimly light corridor. It was quite confronting, nothing like at Palace. There were small dim lights all along the roof and pitches of Middlesbrough players along the sides in frames. There were current players and older players. I noticed quite a few of Juhinho and the League cup trophy from 2004. It motivated me and made me feel determined to fight my way into the first team and win a trophy. About halfway along the corridor we came to an intersection if you will, with 3 ways to go; Turn left, go straight or go right. Straight up lead to the pitch and right led to the away dressing room so I obediently followed Stu left into the home dressing room.
When we walked in there were a couple of guys there already. There was a few coaches and that as well as Mido, Huth and Jones – a fellow Aussie. Mido stepped up and shook my hand.
“Welcome to the club mate! I hope you have a good time hanging around the first team.”
“Cheers mate, I’m sure I will.
I met the other boys in the team and went to sit down on a spare bench. Slowly everyone started arriving and by 1:00pm the whole team was there, an hour before kick off. Everyone was getting changed into their training outfits and getting ready to go warm up. I was wearing some trackies and the Middlesbrough top so Gareth said I can go out and kick the ball around too. I felt a bit relieved when he said that because I didn’t want to be sitting by myself in the sheds! Gareth gave a small pre-pre match talk just telling the players to stay calm etc and then we all went out to warm up.
When we walked onto the pitch the crowd that was slowly starting to build stood and applauded when the first team walked out. I was not far behind them and went off to do some juggling and stuff whilst the boys did their warm ups. Then I noticed injured striker Aliadiere walk up the stairs. Alia injured his hand in the last match and would miss the next 2 weeks. He went and said hello to all the boys before coming over to me.
“Oh hello there, you must be Matt!”
“Hey Jeremie, hows the hand coming?”
“Good thanks mate. I’m hoping to be ready for next week but I might just not make it.”
“Ah damn, well lets hope the boys can still win today without you yeh.”
When then started kicking the ball around eventually the boys from the reserves came – Matthew Bates, Tony McMahon, Shaun Siako, Jonathon Franks and Lewis Walker – and joined in before we went off to our seats behind the technical area and the other boys went into the sheds. It was 20 minutes until kick off. All of these guys I was sitting with were either dropped from a few terrible weeks (Bates and McMahon) and the others were simply on the fringe of the first team. Me on the other hand, well I was destined to 4 months in the reserves watching the First team boys run around. Was this some plan to get me motivated? Truth be told it would probably work.
I passed the time by meeting the boys and just chatting, and before long 15 minutes were up and the players were about to take the field and the game would start in 5 minutes. The stadium was packed and Boro desperately needed a win. I was feeling quite nervous and excited at the same time, I felt like a true fan. The players made there way onto the field side by side and the whole stadium stood and applauded. They did the handshakes and kicked some balls around before the whistle was about to blow. The atmosphere was intense which wasn’t usual for the Riverside stadium, but today it felt like it was buzzing. The referee blew his whistle, Mido passed to Alves and he passed to Downing and the match was away.
