Some of the lads felt we would need some drinking vessels so some tumblers were smuggled out inside coats. As we were leaving the landlord bade us good night and said that it would be good if we could at least rinse the glasses out if we were going to borrow them!
We parked ourselves in one of the bedrooms and had a sing song. It did not last that long as I recall. Jimmy gave us a song but had to head for the last tube service and after the long day tiredness overtook most of us and we were glad to get to bed for the night.
We were up quite early the next morning for breakfast and then checking out by 10am. With the game not until the evening we decided to spend the day seeing the sights of London. It was bitterly cold when we left the hotel and headed for the Tube Station.
First task though was to the pub across the road. It was closed and outside the door there was a small crate of milk. Beside it the lads left the glasses they had taken the previous night – and yes, they had rinsed them out.
We did the usual tourist type stuff. Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace. This was a time when the “Troubles” in the north of Ireland were still on the go so perhaps not unsurprisingly in view of the loyalties of most of the party there were some uncomplimentary comments at the latter 2 places.
By late afternoon it was time for some food and a few pints. We met Jimmy Higgins in a pub in the centre of the city where he had come straight from work. With him as our pilot we made the tube journey to Upton Park.
The Straw House made me laugh, I was once offered an upright hoover before a match for a £5er which the guy brought out of a long trench coat like it was contraband….good deal you may think….but I was 16 years old and not really in the market for a vacuum cleaner. 🙂
Some brilliant memories there, Mike. Thanks for sharing.
Hail Hail.