Sporting Lisbon away 2005 – How it was, when it was

In 2005, under Graeme Souness, we managed to reach the quarter-finals of the UEFA Cup against Sporting Lisbon.

At that point a lot of the guys had been banned from football after our stay in Breda a few years earlier.

A lot of my playmates got those orders, but Tony won’t miss this European Quarterfinals.

So I convince my old drinking buddy and huge Toon fan Kev Hill to join me on a two-day trip to Lisbon. Now Kev is a great boy but a generation older (think Stone Island meets Rod Stewart and that’s Kev in every detail).

Nice flight to Lisbon, check into our hotel and me and Kev explore Lisbon and we decide to take a walk to the beautiful old port area.

Strolling downstairs, I notice some guys in immaculate suits selling sunglasses. Well I’ve been all over Europe and you see the sunglass sellers looking downcast and in most cases needing a decent meal. Poor guys. Anyway, after walking past our third pair of spotless sunglass vendors, I say to Kev, “I’ll tell you what, I’ve never seen such well-dressed street vendors before.” To which Kev replies, “That’s because they’re the local drug dealers, Tony!”

Doh!!

Anyway, further down the waterfront I bump into an old acquaintance, Michael from Weslington, who tells me that the tabs are really cheap here and it’s a shame Monty is banned as he could have stuffed his boots. Say goodbye to Michael.

As we walk away, Kev asks me if I’ll take any tabs home for Monty, but before I can even answer, my phone goes off and Monty’s name flashes.

The conversation begins with our usual fraternal greeting…

Monty: “Oi oi are you double kiss?”

Myself: “I’m three-piece (cute).”

Monty: “Double Baree, I heard the Jim Reeves (himself/tabs) are Triple Cush.”

Myself: “Yeah buddy, cute like (a nut).”

Apparently I come from a middle class family in Low Fell. That’s how I talked the whole time.

Then I had to explain to Monty that I didn’t have any extra paper (money) with me, nor an extra holdall. Don’t worry, says Monty, in an hour you will meet Hoffy from Crammy, who will take care of you.

So three hours later I’m sorted and Kev and I decide to have a nightcap at the hotel where he manages to quarrel with a couple of other toon fans about Laurent Roberts’ lack of tracing!!!

Match day and we were out early, then a subway to the game, 1-0 in the first leg quickly turns into 2-0 on aggregate and we are dreaming of returning to Lisbon for the final.

Then Patrick Kluivert missed an absolute substitute and then we were 3-2 behind overall. I’ve seen enough, I storm through a group of cops dressed as Robocop and take a cab to the airport.

Just as we drive off, I hear a roar from the ground. I look at the cab driver who had the match in his radio. He shakes his head and says it’s Aerporto.

An hour later I’m at the airport drinking a super buck as our supporter trip arrives with Kev carrying my extra bag of tabs I left at the hotel, double doh!!!

Flight home and guess what, me and Kev managed to fly out to Cardiff again on Sunday for an FA Cup semi-final. Yet again to see Souness team capitulate, this time to Man Utd

This is Kev and I at Wembley earlier this year.

I always thought Graeme Souness was the worst manager we’ve ever had until FCB hired Steve Bruce.