Chelsea ECL Group Away Games by Flat Eric
Genk Away
We chose to drive. It was only 190 miles from Calais – about the same distance as the manc away game. I booked the Eurotunnel immediately the dates were released. £58. On the day we leave at 5.30 and get a 7:20am train. We were meeting the Tadley guys at Folkstone, and drove in Convoy. We wanted to get to Genk for 12 lunchtime. We weren’t far behind that. We found the hotel, which was right next to the main square. A great location. It was a small place, family run. The lady gave her Labrador the room kkeys and the dog went up to the correct room! Quite a good gimmick. We dumped the bags and went in to the square for some lunch and a few beers. Then around the corner to the bars. Flags were out – and the songs were constant. A minor incident where about 80 Genk fans came wondering over, I heard, but they were run back again. I was told the police ran with them, which was odd. Very minor as most people in the bar didn’t even know it had happened.
Back to the hotel for a splash and off to the bus station for one of the buses that were being laid on to get everyone to the ground. The traffic was terrible. We ended up jumping out and walking/jogging the last 2 or 3km to the ground. In the rain! In we go – no flags allowed. Why do they do that? The game looked ok at first, then Luiz misses a penalty and we end up throwing away two points when they equalise. We looked poor again. What is going on with the team?
Out the ground and on to buses back to town. Straight into the bar until 2am – then back to hotel for some alcohol-infused kip. Breakfast in the morning and then a drive back to Calias, via Brussels. We passed that monstrous EU building – it is massive. How much does that all cost?! We stopped for some lunch and the other guys wanted to buy some tobacco as it is so cheap there. We found a nice square, just off the main drag, where we had some beer-free lunch. Then on to Calais, and a very quiet train. The Tadley flag came out in the tunnel for a few pics. Home about 8pm. A frairly quiet trip, really, but we all enjoyed it.