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Annual Trip to the 2005 Army v Navy Rugby Game at Twickenham

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What can I say, this was our fourth year of going to the Rugby and the trip has become a popular one for our branch members and some regular friends.

This year we had 34 tickets to the stadium but 37 initially booked to travel. A change of itinerary may have been the reason for the increased interest. This year we travelled to Leicester on the Friday departing from Barrow at 1400 hours and picking up en-route at the M6 junctions 34 and 32.

It was definitely a liquid journey with a couple in the Harbour before we left and a number of tinnies to keep us going. On arrival in Leicester we booked in to the Camponile Hotel (another first for us) had a quick one in the hotel bar and secured permission for a nightcap on our later return. Then it was off to the Leicester Senior Services Club.

What a welcome we got there and here was another first when our newly elected branch chairman made his first small speech since taking office. That went down particularly well partly due to our presentation of a couple of litres of Rum for tot time. Our hosts put on an excellent buffet which helped to soak up a little and prevent any spillages. You will be able to see how good a time we had and what an excellent club this is with loads of character from the photos attached with this dit.

The evening came to close all too quickly and we got back on the coach to return to the hotel with the echoes of good luck and visit again soon. We WILL.

One or two were now getting peckish and while some preferred the liquid refreshment at the hotel bar a few ordered spicy pizza’s while others ventured into the city seeking some “good scran”. Mind you a few shady looking characters assembled on a dark street corner were a little unsure who these guys were approaching them with dark blazers with badges on the pockets and they legged it just in case. One of us asked innocently where we could get this “good scran” from and perhaps something was lost in the interpretation but he was offered something totally different being told this was the best stuff they could get !!!!!!!

Bed then it was Breakfast and a leisurely departure by 0930 for London. We had hoped to avoid the awful traffic of previous years but unfortunately that was just not to be. However we did get ourselves parked up at Twickenham in good time to share a few more tinnies before the game.

This was what we had come for, to see the Navy stick one on the Pongo’s. Once more that was just not to be, we came second again. Navy 8 Army 41 it was close – not.

I don’t know if the tinnies had anything to do with it but I remember quite a few declaring that “WE had never played so badly when we were that age”. So we may be taking our boots next year.

The journey home although a long way was not too arduous, but we did have to phone ahead for replenishments. We were also lucky to stop for a break at the same services that another village rugby team had stopped at. Some got pictures and autographs from the Sale Sharks including Jason Robinson, Charlie Hodgson – for our grand kids of course.

We arrived home in Barrow by about half midnight tired but once again resolved to return again next year. Who knows the Navy might win in 2006!

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