Saturday July 20 - Arrival in Ramsey

Had a whole year gone so quickly? Time for the pre-season tour already?? Wahey - get out the bucket and spade, here we come!!! TED BLAIR brings us his DAFTS tour diary.

So it was a lovely 7.30am start for the Tame Rotherham Fan (TRF hereafter) and I as we headed to London City airport - handily placed just a few mile away from us in the east end - and by midday we had settled into our B'n'B in Ramsey on the north-eastern side of the Isle of Man - more famous for cats without tails and crazy motorcyclists than displays of football prowess. The previous IoM tour (Summer 2000) had seen the DAFTS contingent establish base-camp in downtown Douglas but this time we were after a little bit of peace and quiet - hence our billet in Ramsey ("where everyone knows your name"). Not a large place at all but cosy and compact. And Darlo had been drawn to play their first two games here so not a bad choice.

Sunday July 21 - Isle of Man Select X1, Ramsey

After the first of a seemingly endless stream of marvellous breakfasts, TRF and I went out to check out the beaches on what was a glorious sunny morning - the best weather we'd actually have but little did we know it. Very few other people were out and about despite the beautiful weather (one of the great things about the island, lovely beaches ignored by most visitors to the island) though one bloke had kindly brought out his dog which kept TRF entertained by allowing her to throw its toy into the water every 30 seconds or so. Simple stuff but it kept her quiet...

We had a brief wander round the boating lake and then made a recce of Ballacloan - the venue for our first game - before meeting up with Associate Director Mark Meynell and chewing the fat over a cup of coffee. Before too long it was time for MM to collect fellow director, Richard Hilary, who was coming over on the Sea Cat.

DAFTS web-meister Steve Duffy joined us later in the day and after dropping his things into the B'n'B we wandered off for some pre-match beers. It wasn't long before we spotted those stalwarts of previous tours, Gavin Ellis and Geoff (G&G), sat outside the Royal George doing what they do best - guzzling beer and talking sh**e!

We were then joined by Mark and Richard before setting off for the game across the swing-bridge and through the scenic harbour - certainly one of the prettiest walks to a ground I've made.

Entry to the game was a fairly reasonable £4 and the refreshments were good value too. As if instinctively aware of this fact, His Daftsness Neil Johnson appeared - having just flown in - and proceeded to tuck in. It was a bit of a shock to find that the referee for the game was our old 'friend' Eddie Wolstenholme - who officiated at the abandoned game at Sheffield United just a few months back - and who has also made his mark on some Darlo games in the past. He didn't let us down at all - plenty of little mistakes that allowed for some pre-season spleen-venting.

The match was pretty much one way traffic for most of the first-half - Maddison and Nicholls bossed it in midfield, Reed and McGurk kept things tight at the back and Valentine and Rundle linked up well down the left-had side. By half-time, a goal from Rundle and Conlon apiece meant the game was as good as over. Darlo took their foot off the pedal in the second-half when we should really have extended our lead by several goals - in the end we had just one courtesy of Neil Wainwright. Mick Tait had been named as one of the subs but was not used. After the game finished, Ashley Nicholls (pictured above)was presented with the MOTM award - well deserved. OK - it was 'only' a victory against the IoM side - who'd not had a competitive game in a year - but we felt good. We did the only thing possible - a few more beers and then a ruby as the winning glow settled in.

Monday July 22 - Ramsey and Douglas
Throughout the coming week, Ramsey was to play host to Yn Chruinnaght Inter Celtic festival which featured groups from all Celtic countries performing music, dance and song. So after a restorative breakfast we wandered into the centre of town in search of some of this culture. We found it in the main shopping precinct - a troupe of Welsh dancers from Wrexham all done up in traditional Welsh dress.

For one of their dances they appealed for volunteers to join in. Cue lots of coughing and looking shifty in the small crowd of onlookers. I donned my camera and tried to look serious about photography and so avoided the clutches but Steve was not so lucky. Given all the years Steve has lived in Wales, he is virtually Welsh (Eh?!!)and so surely he'd pick it up quite easily? Cue the sort of dancing that you see performed by drunk elderly uncles at weddings. Still, a very game performance by the lad so we'll not mock too much.

Following this, we retired to the Royal George where we were joined by Mark and Richard - Mark having left his car in Ramsey after last night's curry. Following Steve's example, Neil and I decided we'd go for some physical exercise and challenged Mark and Richard to a Fans -v- Directors pool tournament. The Fans were winning 2-1 when the Directors asked for the best of five. They clawed their way back to 2-2 and it was all down to the final game - all very tense until the boy Johnson did bad and downed the black.

Meanwhile TRF and Steve were in deep conversation with a bloke called Tony, future father-in-law of Adam, the chap who presented Ashley Nicholls with his MotM award last night. I told you it was a small island. Tony was insistent that we made a pilgrimage to the wildlife plantation at Ballaugh with a bag of grain for the wild ducks there, which are apparently so tame they’ll eat right out of your hand. One day we’ll teach TRF the same trick… TRF, Richard and I were then ferried to Douglas by MM who delighted in showing us around some of the hairier bits of the TT course and trying to demonstrate some of the cornering techniques in his hire car.

After a quick wander round the town and a visit to the internet café to see what was happening in the real world, we met up with Richard in the lounge of the Empress Hotel. We hadn't been there long when the Rochdale team trouped in, presumably following a training session. They certainly seemed to have plenty of players there, including our old chum Michael Oliver (who will live long in my memory for keeping Andy Clarke on-side at Wembley - maybe a bit harsh). Steve, Neil and MM then arrived - MM doing more chauffeur duties - and we departed for a few pints of locally brewed Busheys at the The Rovers Return - well worth a visit if you don't mind all the Blackburn Rovers memorabilia on display. We then made our first visit to the NSC stadium of the tournament to take in the Luton -v- Wrexham. TT and Mick Tait were also there keeping an eye on both teams. Luton made most of the running and took a 2-1 lead before Wrexham came back and won 3-1. Big Fat Joe not a happy chappy - but do we care? Exactly.

A quick taxi back to the Promenade for a few beers and then a meal at the Wok Inn. After the meal, we met Gavin & Geoff outside the restaurant, on their way back to their lodgings. Gavin couldn’t resist treating us to a view of his belly (move your mouse over the picture above for the full experience!), under the mistaken belief the camera had a wide-angled lens. He told us how he’d met a group of Wrexham fans, and greeted them with an opening conversational gambit of, "Wrexham? Shouldn’t you be in the Konica League of Wales?"It was all downhill from there. Apparently he’d also bumped into Joe Kinnear, and given him his opinion on why Luton are going to do diddly-squat this season. Never let it be suggested that alcohol played any part in shaping these views. It was time to hail a cab and beat a hasty retreat to Ramsey.

Tuesday July 23 - v Rochdale in Ramsey

Time for some more culture in the shopping precinct. On this occasion it was not quite so obviously Celtic - Breton folk rock in the guise of a band called Kroazhant. I was a bit sceptical at first - well they are French - but this was actually quite good (if you like that sort of thing). Despite performing in drizzle for some of the performance and playing to a number of old folk who looked beyond help, they got a good reaction from the crowd of shoppers, OAPs and mothers. Some bits sounded similar to Focus with essence of Ozric Tentacles and Tea Party thrown in. So good we even bought their CDs.

Time for a quick wander around the harbour before our next port of call at The Swan where there was going to be some Cornish music and, according to local rumour, some Cornish grub as well. By the time we got there though most of the place was busy and we couldn't get near the band. Off to the relative quiet of the back bar and to have some lunch and play some pool instead. Strains of the music filtered though but it all sounded a bit diddly-diddly to me so probably not a big loss. Off to the local internet lounge for a quick check on any gossip from the Darlo boards but all appears relatively quiet back home so TRF and I return to Base Camp for a wee nap - all this listening wears you out!

Met up with Mark and Richard in The Trafalgar - later joined by G&G and Neil who had decided to forgo a nap in preference to some early beer-ing about town. True to form, G&G do not resemble judges. And so to the big game - a chance to reach the final if we dispose of the mighty Dale. Mark and Richard debate the finer points of Big Bazza's contribution to the team performance quite vigorously and agree to differ (I think that's as diplomatic as I'll make it!) and we're convinced the award of the MoTM award to Bazza is a deliberate act of provocation.

Since G&G and Neil were not particularly sober, they provided most of the entertainment for the local crowd during the match - the Dale fans being very quiet indeed. It all got very tense towards the end of the game but we hold out - we're all going to Wemberley…..no, make that Douglas. Eat your heart out, Alex Ferguson!

Mass celebrations on the pitch after the game - well as good as we can make them - and the "Looneys of Ramsey" pitchside advertising hoarding from the local furniture chain is utilised by a few of us - took pictures of Hilly, Bishop Quaker and Shrewsbury Exile, all to appear on their websites at some point and FHM if they strike it lucky. Mark and Richard cadge a lift back to Douglas with TT and Mick Tait - an unused sub yet again - and we toddle off to Timm's Brasserie, minus Neil, who joins us later for a Diet Coke and the remnants of TRF's chips. Then to bed, where we dream of cup glory...

Wednesday July 24 - Peel and Ramsey

Buoyed by the winning performance the night before, we decide it is time to explore a few of the beauty spots on the island. So all aboard the Manx Electric Railway and off to Ballaglass Glen (pictured left) for a bit of exercise and nature at its finest. A lovely walk along the glen - all very peaceful and calm though a bit steep in parts for the less sure-footed in the party. But before we turn completely into a bunch of David Bellamys, we rejoin the train and go a few miles along the coast to Laxey.

A lovely little town - renowned for its enormous water-wheel, mines and beach, we simply wander just 100 yards from the railway halt to the Mines pub. Thankfully they have the Okells seasonal beer - a thirst-quenching wheat beer - as well as the omnipresent bitter and mild which can be a tad boring. Also in residence when we arrive are a group of Rochdale fans - no doubt drowning their sorrows a lot sooner than they'd anticipated, though they tell Neil they were really on their way up Snaefell and dropped in to the pub for what's quaintly known as 'a slash'.

Suitably refreshed it was back on the train to Ramsey - and yes, a bit of shut-eye prior to tonight's game. Getting to be a bit of a habit this… TRF and I later joined Steve and Neil - they'd been to try out another bar, manned by a geriatric barmaid with a cement-rendered hairdo and sparkly frock. It's a bit of a parallel universe for those couples and loners who have nothing better to do each afternoon - a bit unnerving. Rather the usual pre-match drinks in the Trafalgar, we opt for a visit to Ramsey's finest (i.e. only) tapas bar, Bar Arriba, but we're a bit early for tapas so get stuck into the red wine instead - very hearty - and a nice white wine for the lady. Finally we get some food including the local speciality, Queenies (scallops to the non-Manx), black pudding (in homage to 'Dale) and patatas Arriba-style.

DAFTS line-up: All together for the group photo, (l-r) Steve, Liz (TRF), Neil, Gavin and Geoff Pic: Ted Blair

The game between the Isle of Man and Rochdale probably turned out to be the best we saw all week - the local boys had sorted themselves out after losing to us and Rochdale looked quite sharp. Old chum Mickey Oliver certainly made a better impression than he had done earlier in the week and he even managed to get on the score sheet - go Mickey! We were distracted by the touchline antics of Dale keeper Neil Edwards, who at a mere 5' 9" and with dubious blond highlights looks like Andy Collett's Mini-Me. The IoM held out well - the central defenders doing a very good job - and it was no surprise when one of them, captain and Steve Lomas lookalike Lee Dixon, was awarded MoTM.

Thursday July 25 - Peel and Ramsey

And so to the first football-free day of the holiday. What to do? As Bow Wow Wow once said "go wild in the country". The Curraghs Wildlife Park is just a short bus-ride away from Ramsey and looked to be good value, especially as the day started to brighten up - in reality we could be said to be swapping the viewing of one lot of dumb animals for another kind. But that would be unfair to the residents of the wildlife park...

It has to be said they did not have the widest variety of animals on show - the penguins were underwhelmed by our arrival and then there were some funny deer-type rats. At one point I ventured off-trail through some bog to try and catch a glimpse of some bird of prey in order to identify it but I was worried about getting lost and ending up in some Cajun-type backwoods town. Cue duelling banjos...

Once we'd had our fill of nature and all it has to offer, we caught the bus to Peel for a quick pint at the White House - an oft CAMRA Pub of the Year winner and rightly so - a good choice of beers including that perennial favourite of old CAMRA chaps, Taylors Landlord. We then nipped into another local pub for some grub - no decent beer so it has been expunged from my mind. The town of Peel is only small and is most notable for its castle and its ice cream. Last time we visited the castle so this time it was the turn of the ice-cream. And very nice it was too. Even the local gulls approved.

From Peel we took the bus back over the island to Douglas and a visit to the T-shirt shop on the North Promenade. Time to get some DAFTS shirts made just in case people are wondering who we are... On the way along the prom, we spotted the Clark(e) twins, Matt and Ian, who were together seen again later in the evening discussing team formations, or chat-up lines, or something. I decided to pop into the Hilton hotel for a wee - and bumped into Craig Liddle by the lifts. He said he was still training hard - it had been rumoured that some of those with injuries were going back to the mainland - but he would not be risked in the final. Neil and Steve then nipped off to the pub - espying three of our players having the odd shandy - whilst TRF and I wandered along the prom. We'd seen Big Fat Joe and Mick Harford a bit earlier and then we came across the Luton team playing cricket on the beach. A hotly contested affair since the losers had to strip off to their shorts and plunge into the cold, murky waters. Perhaps something similar should be done to our boys when they next fail to make the grade?

Whilst waiting for a bus to take us back to Ramsey, we had a brief chat with Adam Reed who was wandering back to his hotel. He confirmed that the lads had been having a day off and doing what they wanted - seems quite a few had been playing golf. How do they cope with the excitement?

Go to the final part of tour diary

Go to DAFTS home page

Go to Isle of Man tour 2002 match reports

Go to Manx tour 2000 page