Well...its the night before the game here in Toronto and deserved of an alternative pre match report.
It's been an eventful few days here 'downtown' and many sights have been seen, talked about and discussed over many a beer. The players are on an alcohol ban whilst here and it seems the men behind the scenes, ie physios and the like, are included in this too. All except for one...Ludo - you have been found out
It has been fantastic meeting up with both registered 'kumbers' and 'browsers' (of which there seem to be tons UTJ!). We worked out that the miles travelled by all of us for the two matches would take one of us around the world. Of course, mathematical abilities were somewhat numbed with alcoholic consumption, but that statistic sounded good at the time.
The last two days were set aside for meeting people as they flew/drove in to Toronto and for people to explore this rather lovely, multicultural city and it's touristy bits and bobs. Today however, a few of us ventured down to the BMO ground for the promised afternoon of MLS pre match events and goodies.
Ray and Tammy (Maxie) had driven to Toronto and offered us a lift to the ground in their enormous thing called a car.
Looked like a truck to me but it had enormous seats so I sat down and smiled, grateful not to be getting the tram (streetcar) in the pouring rain. Loved the sign on the rear window of the truck/car thing that said 'Following West Ham and Obama'. Plenty of rather obscene comments later and despite having no map, we arrived at the BMO.
The place was deserted. Threre were plenty of activities going on but it seemed like the millions of Toronto residents and visitors had decided to give this entertainment a miss. After Coley and Tomas challenged each other on speed 'soccer' events we decided to have a look at the outside of the ground through the gates. Well...just as we walked by the delivery gates an opportunity arose. Someone had left a gate open. We swaggered on through it as if we went there every day. onto the pitch go the lot of us. We decided that if caught,we would say that we were representing the British fans back home and needed to report back on the state of the pitch to ease anxieties. After a wander around we saw a security guy head our way and we 'politely' left the ground as expected. Not before photos and the burying of the £1 coin.
Coley and T running from the hunky security guards...
A quick trip in a cab back to our hotel after a visit to the Bud beer tent, gave us the chance to shower and change ready for the night events. On arrival at the Imperial pub we were greeted by many Hammers dressed up for the 'MUZIK' pre match party. Some WHU flags adorned the outside of the pub ensuring we were at the correct establishment. Plenty of beers and introductions were made and after 20 minutes we were all the best of friends.
A certain amount of piss taking was taken when someone who shall remain nameless, turned up in these:
The evening drew on rather quickly and by 8.45pm people started departing for the pre match party and promises of our boys and Beckhams lot (he only flew into Toronto this morning btw). Off they went with their pens and players photos for autographs for people and kids back home (themselves!) leaving us child burdened ones to enjoy the rest of the night consuming some more beer and awaiting garbled drunk texts from those who went.
I have quite a few more photos and expect to get alot more tomorrow when Tomas plays his role leading our lot onto the pitch. He reckons he is going to high 5 Beckham tomorrow instead of the customary handshake but I am sure he will behave in a respectable way however he chooses to meet and greet the MLS All-stars.
I have had many questions asking how Tomas managed to get this rather esteemed role and many people seem to assume that we had to pay for the privilege. That is not so... He actually wrote a letter to 'Dear Mr Alan Curbishley' way back in April saying he was going to the Toronto match and wondered if he could be put on a waiting list to be a mascot there. Miss Nagalingam contacted us some while after and confirmed that, yes indeed Tomas, we would love you to be a mascot. She has been the one who has taken the time to sort it all out with the MLS guys and it is much appreciated by Tomas and myself. Thank you Miranda. I will work on the KUMB getting its position back in the press room tomorrow afternoon
Managed to blag a souvenir poster for Tomas today but gawd knows how I am gonna get it back through customs
More soon...
as one does when shopping downtown...
