Football

We arrived in the car park fifteen minutes before kick off and went to the bar. The girls each got a plastic pint of lager and we headed to the turnstyles. £5 each and £2 for a prograamme.

We were greeted by an avuncular chap who shook us by the hands. He turned out to be the stadium announcer. We hung around for a while as the teams finished their warm up. Some one was going around the Clapton crowd handing out free red and white Santa hats. We got ours.

The teams entered the pitch to the strains of the Romanian national anthem and as soon as ends were determined we all headed down to the shelter behind the goal that Clapton were attacking. And the singing started. And continued.

There were around 100 Clapton and about 15 home supporters (although these could just have been locals who turned out to watch some football). The announcer had explained that many of the FC Romanian team had headed home for Christmas and so were unavailable. This could have also been the case for their supporters as well.

The songs were varied; far more varied than at a league match. Fewer fans led to an ability for just about anyone to start a song and others to pick up. The lyrics were amusing and clever. The noise in the confines of the shelter significant. How it carried across the pitch, I am not sure, but it worked where we were.

The crowd was very friendly. Louisa found herself the subject of a very persistent admirer. Cans of Polish lager dominated as the beverage of choice. The air was thick with sweet smoke and many of the crowd were chain smoking.

When the first goal was scored, the crowd surged forward and mayhem ensued for a while.

Refereeing decisions were met with derision when against Clapton and applause when in their favour. "The referee's a lizard" and "ESL Mafia" (Essex Senior League) were chanted in derision. Actually the referee was decent. Better than many I have seen in the Premier League.

Barking came in for most abuse in the chants. I think this is something to do with Barking objecting to the political nature of Clapton's Ultras. Generally the chants and songs were good natured. Some in Spanish and Italian. Many with deeply anti fascist sentiments.

Half time and one of the crowd stepped forward to tell us to be back in position - at the other end - in good time for a banner to be unfurled.

Into the club house. No queues for the loos. The girls got pints and then i ofund the tea bar where they did a green tea. No Premier League side does that. £1 as well. Three pints of lager for under a tenner as well. Great value.

So we took up our places shortly before the socond half and a banner was dropped from the roof proclaiming the union between fans and team. "Clapton United". The banner trapped air in the shelter and made it, momentarily rather like a very large bong. A number of songs were sung about the owner and his accountant and the boycott.

Penalty to FC Romania at the other end of the pitch so I didn't see whether it was deserved or not but post match reports suggest that it was. Having lost one goal keeper to injury; his understudy walked out recently without a club to go to. An outfield player had stepped into the breach and was hailed throughout the match, even as the goal was conceded.

The equaliser reflected the run of play to that point. The goal was met by a barrage of noise and the team took the hint. Pressure was applied. Some close chances and then a delightful effort went in. Mayhem again. The Romanians' heads went down and one or two more could have increased the lead but weren't necessary.

Nasty injury to a Clapton player. No stretcher and so Jerry the stand in goalkeeper, stood in as a medic and helped his teammate off the pitch.

A substituted player came and stood in the crowd instead of sitting on the bench. He was warmly greeted and spent time chatting to some kids among the spectators.

The final whistle. A chorus of "Well played Romania". Applause from the Romanian players. In fact, the Romanians showed more respect for the travelling fans than many defeated Premier League sides show for their own fans.

And then the Clapton team came over. They stood facing the fans on the other side of the goal posts and led the singing. When they were done with that, they proceeded along the barrier shaking hands with all the supporters before posing for a photo in front of the fans. A little speech of thanks and support for the boycott and they eventually went off to the changing room and the supporters drifted away into the night.

Would do again.