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Dublin Hammers Trip - Ipswich Town - Saturday 5th October 2024

The ‘DJ just told me to f*#k off’ Trip - West Ham United 4 vs Ipswich Town 1

I didn’t get to go on either of the Dublin Hammers official trips last season so I was delighted and excited to be heading to the airport at 4.45am to meet up with everyone for our 6.25am flight to Stanstead.

Stopping off in the airport corridors to have a quick bite to eat I headed towards gate 209 where the flight would depart. Shocked and stunned was my first reaction as I noticed there was no bar near the gate – a terrible error on behalf of the organisers (Tom Jones... Out!). So I headed back up the stairs to meet Paul Smith enjoying his first of the day. He told me that the lads were scattered throughout the various bars in the airport with one hardy member having arrived at 3.25am – now there’s enthusiasm for you.

Now, a first for the club, today we were flown over by a Dublin Hammer! Mick turned up to meet us in the bar and informed us he was flying us over. For years we were sceptical when he told us he was a pilot, yet there he was in the bar looking very offical in his pilots outfit (drinking coffee... in case you were wondering). Anyway, we all finally got to the gate to board the flight and away we went.

After an uneventful (thanks to Mick) flight we meet up in Stanstead and headed to get the executive travel coach (Tom Jones... In!) to our hotel in Romford. A quick pep talk from Bad News on what the plans were for the weekend, made sure we all knew where we were headed for the next 36 hours.

Kevin Murphy was first up to the hotel Reception to tell the reception that we were checking in... she looked confused as she informed us that check in was at 3.00pm and as it was 8.30am that wasn’t on the cards. When we explained that Kevin was over enthusiastic and that we were just dropping our bags you could sense her relief.

A short walk through Romford to the train station and then a wait as Paddy Rogers tried to navigate purchasing a ticket while in possession of a phone that even the manufacturers had forgetten they had produced – thankfully the British Rail ticket guy showed remarkable patience during this protracted period.

So it was train bound to Stratford and the walk through the shopping centre to the mecca that was formally Stratford’s Best Café (now the Best Meze and Grill Café). Unsurprisingly the waitress knew Liam’s order since he was a regular and will probably be in line for a Christmas Breakfast on the house. The grub here is really good and sets you up well for the day.

While the lads headed to enjoy an early beer I headed up to the shop with Jake to invest in a new hat (I say invest as they’re £25 so I’m expecting it to be placed on my coffin many years from now!) along with something from the sale rail.

Back in Ye Olde Black Bull the lads were getting into the mood for the match – although most were reluctant to say we were going to bash Ipswich.

On to the ground and I have to say great seats in the Billy Bonds Stand (Tom Jones... definitely In!). We had only just finished singing Bubbles when Bowen played a lovely ball into the box for Antonio to score – cue mayhem. Within 5 minutes poor defending from a corner allowed Ipswich to equalise and you could sense the crowd getting nervous. They needn’t have worried as we played really well – this new attacking football is great to watch – and with Bowen on fire and Wan Bissaka causing mayhem on the right we never really looked in danger. Kudos rattled the upright with a great header and Soucek had one cleared off the line before Antonio powered a header off the crossbar that bounced on the goal-line and Kudos was quickest to head it over the line. 2-1 at halftime and smiles all around.

The second half started and Bowen added a third following a poor hurried clearance from their keeper. Bowen showed his class midway through the half with a lovely ball to the unmarked Paqueta at the back post for a tap in. So a 4-1 home victory left us all very happy leaving the ground.

Back in Ye Ole Black Bull we were all in high spirits as we enjoyed a few much needed refreshments. We were joined by two young Hammers from Dublin, Malachy and Oliver decked out in their West Ham kit who were attending their very first West Ham game – I have told their father that the lads will have to go to all the home games from now on – lucky mascots.

It was then back to the hotel in Romford to finally check in and get something to eat. I opted for the very upmarket and salubrious surroundings of McDonalds!

We gathered at the night’s preferred pub, only a short walk from the hotel and featured a DJ according to Bad News. What he didn’t tell us was that the clientele were the type that had taken far too many protein shakes and a significant amount of Columbian marching powder!

On arrival the DJ was blasting out some hardcore techno sounds while the locals threw shapes on the floor (including a lot of shadow boxing).

Thankfully later in the evening the DJ opted to play some oldies from the 70s and 80s so we took over the dancing area and the fun began. A sailors hat was found on the bar and members took turns wearing it for photo opportunities. Later in the evening the DJ asked for requests... we duly obliged giving him a number of suggestions for dancefloor classics, he did play the odd one, but mostly they were completely ignored and he even told one or two of us to... f*#k off!

I left around midnight but a few hardy souls ventured onto Yates for more drinks and dancing. Now Yates has a policy of taking a copy of your ID on entry, so since Linda didn’t have any on her the solution was a photo of herself and Liamo smiling happily holding Liamo’s passport.

The next morning saw us gather for breakfast in the hotel, check out and leave our bags with Reception and head to the shop to buy more overpriced items.

After that we met up in The Goose where stories of the previous night were recounted (including Liamo and Bad News close relationship). There was much laughter (which drew funny looks from others in the pub) as tales then turned to stories from previous trips and some of the wonderful (and stone mad) characters that had travelled with us over the many years.

The bus arrived at the hotel so we headed back, picked up our bags and headed to the airport. As ever there was KFC (no chicken for Paul after an unpleasant experince the night before in KFC) along with your preferred beverage – lager or cider. There were a few songs sung as we rattled along the motorway.

We regrouped in the bar in the airport after getting through security for the last drinks and then it was on to the flight and home. I’m not sure what the two people beside me thought of me as I instantly fell asleep and woke up as we came in to land.

Another cracking trip, coupled with a great result and performance. Thanks to all involved. Tom Jones... IN!

Report by Gerry Murtagh. The photos are from everyone! back to top of page