TPL
PEA 0-4 Chonburi
IPE Stadium, Chonburi
27th October, 2007
Derby Day and we had plans. Rather than everyone making their own way to the IPE, in the north of the city, we decided to meet in the usual spot - behind Chonburi Municipal Stadium - where we always gathered to catch the buses for away matches. So, about two hours before kick off, a few hundred Sharks fans had congregated, ready to make the short trip across town. We ate and drank, and talked about how we were relishing the afternoon ahead. There was an air of expectation and excitement, as we looked to extend our eight match unbeaten run and close in on the league title.
When it was time to depart, the locals were treated to an amazing, colourful sight, as a police escort led the convoy of buses, cars, pick-ups and motorbikes, all bedecked in two shades of blue, on the 10 minute journey through the back streets and across Sukhumvit Rd. They even stopped the traffic for us! It was a joy to see the bemused looks on the faces of the motorists whose journies had been delayed to let this joyous - and by now increasingly raucous - procession pass. We had turned the whole day into an event that has gone down in eastern seaboard football folklore. The match had an awful lot to live up to.
Thankfully, the team didn't disappoint and we hammered our hapless neighbours 4-0, with a scintillating display of attacking football, that thrilled the huge travelling support and sent out a clear message to our rivals. The emphatic victory was also captured by the ESPN/Star Sports cameras and featured on their midweek football show, Top Corner, the following Thursday, accompanied by Dez Corkhill's excellent commentary. Thus showing the whole of Asia what Chonburi FC - and their pioneering fans - were capable of. All in all, it was an incredible afternoon and certainly one of the best away days I've ever experienced, and one I will never forget.
No comments:
Post a Comment